VOICE: NOT A TENSE AT ALL

VOICE:NOT A TENSE AT ALL

Voice refers to whether or not the subject is actually performing the action described by the verb. There are two types of voice: 1) ACTIVE VOICE: the subject is performing the action described by the verb 2) PASSIVE VOICE: the subject is NOT performing the action but is, instead, being acted upon. EXAMPLES: ACTIVE: Mr. Alig constructed the new buffet table. PASSIVE: The new buffet table was constructed by Mr. Alig. ***Notice how the D.O. in the active voice sentence becomes the subject in the passive voice sentence.

Compose a sentence about what the woman is doing. It should contain a verb in the active voice.

Now compose a sentence about what is going on, but make the pie the subject. The verb should be in the passive voice.

Compose a sentence describing what’s going on with a verb in the active voice.

Now describe what’s going on from the perspective of the nail. This should contain a verb in the passive voice.

Active or Passive? • That book was written by H.G. Wells. THINK: verb = was written THINK: subject = who or what was written? (book) ASK: Did the book do the writing? NO! = Passive voice

Mr. Alig ate an entire section of the dessert buffet at Golden Corral. • THINK: verb phrase = ate • THINK: subject = Who or what ate? (Mr. Alig) • ASK: Did Mr. Alig really do the eating? YES! = Active Voice • The students studied for their tests. • THINK: verb phrase = studied • THINK: subject = Who or what studied? (students) • ASK: Did the students really do the studying? YES! = Active Voice • A test will be given by Mr. Alig tomorrow. • THINK: verb phrase = will be given • THINK: subject = Who or what will be given? (test) • ASK: Did the test really do the giving? NO! = Passive Voice

EASY WAY TO SPOT PASSIVE VOICE KNOW THAT THE VERB PHRASE WILL ALWAYS BE MADE OF ANY OF THE 12 TENSES OF “BE” FOLLOWED BY A PAST PARTICIPLE. 1) SIMPLE PRESENT = AM, IS, ARE 2) SIMPLE PAST = WAS, WERE 3) SIMPLE FUTURE = WILL BE 4) PRESENT PERFECT = HAVE/HAS BEEN 5) PAST PERFECT = HAD BEEN 6) FUTURE PERFECT = WILL HAVE BEEN

7) PRESENT PROGRESSIVE = AM/IS/ARE BEING 8) PAST PROGRESSIVE = WAS/WERE BEING 9) FUTURE PROGRESSIVE = WILL BE BEING 10) PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE = HAVE/HAS BEEN BEING 11) PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE = HAD BEEN BEING 12) FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE = WILL HAVE BEEN BEING *************************************************************** TO FORM THE PASSIVE VOICE, PUT “BE” INTO ONE OF THE 12 TENSES LISTED AND THEN ADD A PAST PARTICIPLE TO THE RIGHT.

Examples • was eaten • is being studied • had been played • will have been being known (yuck!) • is done • will have been seen

EXAMPLES • Put “swim” into the present tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the present tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “swim” behind it. ANS. = am/is/areswum

EXAMPLES • Put “run” into the past tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the past tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “run” behind it. ANS. = was/wererun

EXAMPLES • Put “play” into the present perfect tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the present perfect tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “play” behind it. ANS. = have/has beenplayed

EXAMPLES • Put “FREEZE” into the future progressive tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the future progressive tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “freeze” behind it. ANS. = will be beingfrozen YUCK!

EXAMPLES • Put “walk” into the past progressive tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the past progressive tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “walk” behind it. ANS. = was/were beingwalked

EXAMPLES • Put “think” into the past perfect progressive tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the past perfect progressive tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “think” behind it. ANS. = had been beingthought

EXAMPLES • Put “eat” into the future tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the future tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “eat” behind it. ANS. = will beeaten

VOICE: NOT A TENSE AT ALL