Download Mod 2 L3 Active Voice

Lesson 3 Active Voice
Usually, the subject of a sentence does the action. That is
easy to see in this sentence:
Jason hung the picture.
The verb in the sentence is an active verb because the
subject does the action.
What about this sentence?
The picture was hung.
First, is this a complete sentence? Yes it is. It has a subject and a predicate. Picture is
the subject of the sentence. Does the picture do the action? No, the picture does not
do the action; the picture "receives" the action. The verb was hung is a passive verb
because the subject does not do the action.
Passive verbs are always two-part verbs. There is always one of these helping verbsam, is, was, be, been-plus a main verb. This does not mean that whenever you see
one of those helping verbs, you are looking at a passive verb.
Passive verb: Jason was called upstairs.
Active verb: Jason was calling for help.
How can you tell the difference? Ask yourself these two questions:
What is the subject?
Is the subject doing the action?
If the answer to the second question is "yes," then you have an active verb. If the
answer is "no," you have a passive verb.
Sometimes, you have to use passive verbs when you write. Maybe you don't know who
did the action, so you have to write, "The picture was hung." Most of the time,
however, our writing will be clearer and more interesting if you use active verbs.
Lesson 3 Active Voice
Compare these two paragraphs. The one on the left uses mostly passive verbs. The one
on the right uses active verbs. What do you notice?
A grand opening was held last
night by the art museum. A new exhibit
was unveiled by the museum director.
The collection of international textiles
was assembled by Vince DiSilva. The
textiles have been displayed previously
by DiSilva in London and Los Angeles.
The collection has been hailed by critics
as the largest and most diverse of its
kind.
The art museum held a grand
opening last night. The museum
director unveiled a new exhibit. Vince
DiSilva assembled the collection of
international textiles. DiSilva has
displayed the textiles previously in
London and Los Angeles. Critics have
hailed the collection as the largest and
most diverse of its kind.
Underline the subject of each sentence below. Put an X next to each sentence that
contains a passive verb.
Steve viewed the exhibit.
_ _ The exhibit was lit with special lights.
_ _ Elijah was looking at one display.
_ _ Visitors were entertained by a pianist.
Practice writing sentences with active verbs. First, look at the sentences above that
have passive verbs. Rewrite one of those sentences with an active verb.
Now, write a new sentence about something that visitors might do at a museum. Make
sure you use an active verb.
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