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Active & Passive Construction. Powerpoint by Sandra Jameson Nazareth Area High School. Resources: Warriner’s High School Handbook http : / / grammar.ccc.commnet.edu http://www.englishgrammar101.com . Active Voice.
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Active & Passive Construction Powerpoint by Sandra Jameson Nazareth Area High School Resources: Warriner’s High School Handbook http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu http://www.englishgrammar101.com
Active Voice Subject and verb relationship is straightforward:The subject is a be-er or a do-er and the verb moves the sentence along Ex. The executive committeeapproved the new policy. S V The committee is doing something: approving
Passive Voice The subject of the sentence is neither a do-er or a be-er, but is acted upon by some other agent or by something unnamed Ex. The new policywas approved by the executive committee. S V The policy isn’t doing anything. It is having something done to it.
Why does it matter? Writing in active voice tends to be more interesting. More interesting to read about people doing things than being the “victim” of things.
Other Reasons to Avoid Passive Consider the following examples… Cigarette ads were designed to appeal especially to children. The President was advised that certain members of Congress were being audited. What is the vibe we get from these sentences? Try changing them to active sentences to see the difference.
Other Reasons to Avoid Passive Now look at these: We designed the cigarette ads to appeal especially to children. The Head of the Internal Revenue service advised the President that her agency was auditing certain members of Congress. In these active sentences, someone is responsible for the action!Rhetoric red flag!! Passive can be used for manipulation of audience!
Do Not Mix Never mix passive and active in the same sentence: Bad: The executive committee approved the new policy, and the calendar for next year's meetings was revised. Better: The executive committee approved the new policy and revised the calendar for next year’s meetings.
When to Use Passive When it is more important to draw our attention to the person or thing acted upon Ex. The unidentified victim was apparently struck during the early morning hours. When the actor in the situation is not important Ex.The aurora borealis can be observed in the early morning hours. Technical, mechanical, scientific writing… the details of process are much more important than anyone's taking responsibility for the action
When to Use Passive When we wish to shift emphasis from what was the object in a first sentence to what becomes the subject in subsequent sentences. Ex. The executive committee approved an entirely new policy for dealing with academic suspension and withdrawal. The policy had been writtenby a subcommittee on student behavior. If students withdraw from course work before suspension can take effect, the policy states, a mark of "IW" . . . .
One more thing… • Verbals or verb forms can also take on features of the passive voice. Infinitive: Subject: To be elected by my peers is a great honor.Object: That child really likes to be read to by her mother.Modifier: Grasso was the first woman to be elected governor in her own right. Gerund: Subject: Being elected by my peers was a great thrill.Object: I really don't like being lectured to by my boss.Object of preposition: I am so tired of being lectured to by my boss.
Group Practice http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/passive_quiz.htm
