Brushstroke #5 Active Voice

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences uses an active verb?

• The gravel road was on the left side of the barn.

• The gravel road curled around the left side of the barn.

• Rockwell was a beautiful lake.

• Canada geese could be heard across the water.

Open Ended

How does the use of active versus being verbs affect the imagery and motion in a piece of writing?

Multiple Choice

Why do authors often prefer to use active verbs instead of being verbs in their writing?

• Because active verbs create a sense of motion and vivid imagery, while being verbs can make writing feel static.

• Because being verbs are grammatically incorrect.

• Because active verbs are always shorter than being verbs.

• Because being verbs are only used in poetry.

Draw

Underline all passive verbs in this first draft. (Hint Passive Verbs are verbs of being. Examples are Is, Am, Are, Was, Were, Be, Been, Being, Have, Has)

Open Ended

How does the final draft, using more active verbs compare to the first draft which used more passive verbs?

Multiple Select

Select all the sentences that use vivid, active verbs from the spider story.

• It crawled across the floor up onto his nightstand.

• He reached for a nearby copy of Sports Illustrated.

• Hands trembling, sweat dripping from his face, he flung the magazine left and right.

• He could just see a thick, black blanket of movement.