GRAMMAR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

GRAMMAR: ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT VAGUE PRONOUNS

Components to cover: • ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE • SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT • VAGUE PRONOUNS

VERBS AND VOICE Voice is the form a verb takes, to indicate whether the subject of the verb performs or receives the action. There are two types of voice: active voice and passive voice.

WHAT IS ACTIVE VOICE? Example Active voice is used to 1. Lebron threw the basketball show that the subject of before the buzzer. the sentence is performing 2. Lebron shot the basketball from or causing the action. the free throw line. 3. Lebron scored three points.

WHAT IS ACTIVE VOICE? Active Voice – indicates that the subject of the verb is acting Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences are said to be in the active voice. The example shows that the subject is doing the verb’s action. Example The dog jumped onto the boy. The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb). Kristy will give a book report to the class. Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb). The computer ate my paper. The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb).

REASONS TO USE ACTIVE VOICE? Most writers prefer to use active voice because it is more direct. Example Active: The waiter dropped the tray of food. Passive: The tray of food was dropped by the waiter.

REASONS TO USE ACTIVE VOICE? Active voice is less awkward and clearly states relationship between subject and action. The active voice sentence pattern propels the reader forward through your writing thus avoiding weak prose. Example Passive: Your request for funding has been denied by the review committee. Active: The review committee denied your request for funding.

WHAT IS PASSIVE VOICE? Example Passive voice is used when the subject is the recipient of the action. 1. The ball was thrown by Lebron. 2. The basket was shot by Lebron. 3. The score was made by Lebron.

WHY DOES IT MATTER? Active voice is more direct and concise. Passive voice is usually wordier. Active voice is like watching Lebron play. Passive voice is like watching gum stuck on the bleachers in the stands. MOST OF THE TIME, YOU WANT TO USE ACTIVE VOICE!!!!

WHEN WOULD YOU WANT TO USE PASSIVE VOICE? adjectives 1. When intentionally trying to hide the subject of the sentence. 2. When intentionally trying to minimize the guilt of the subject 3. When passive voice better emphasizes the main point of the message Example 1. A politician might say, “The mistake was made by someone. ” Hiding the subject helps him/her hide the blame. 2. A cheating boyfriend might say, “Cheating was committed by me. ” 3. “Children were harmed by the drunk driver. ”

FORM OF PASSIVE VOICE The passive voice requires a "double verb" and will always consist of a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle (usually the "en/ed/t" form) of another verb. Example Active: John baked the bread. Passive: The bread was baked by John. (Was is a form of the verb “be”. ).

FORM OF PASSIVE VOICE Example Writers should be familiar with the forms of "to be" , often called linking verbs, so that they can easily identify the passive voice in their work. Review the forms of "to be": am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been

FORM OF PASSIVE VOICE Example is kicked--------had been Note the forms of "to be" kicked was kicked-------is going to in the examples of the verb "to kick" in various be kicked is being kicked-----will be forms of the passive kicked voice has been kicked-------can be kicked was being kicked------should be kicked

FORM OF PASSIVE VOICE The passive form of writing is indirect where as the active form of writing is direct. Example Passive: The cookies were eaten by the children. Active: The children ate the cookies. Passive: The tunnels are dug by the gophers. Active: The gophers dug the tunnels.

ACTIVITY 1 Change the sentences below to the active voice: 1. We are taught grammar by Ms Sullivan. 2. He was praised by the teacher. 3. The injured were taken to the hospital by the firemen. 4. The town was destroyed by an earthquake. 5. The teacher was pleased with the boy’s work.

ACTIVITY 1 Change the sentences below to the active voice: 6. The building was damaged by the fire. 7. By whom were you taught French? 8. You will be given a ticket by the manager. 9. The streets were thronged with spectators. 10. We will be blamed by everyone.

ACTIVITY 1 Change the sentences below to the active voice: 11. The trees were blown down by the wind. 12. The thieves were caught by the police. 13. The letter was posted by Alice. 14. We were received by the hostess. 15. The snake was killed with a stick.

ACTIVITY 1 Change the sentences below to the active voice: 16. The minister was welcomed by the people. 17. He was found guilty of murder. 18. This house was built by John Mathews in 1991.

ANSWERS TO ACTIVITY 1 1. Ms Sullivan teaches us grammar. 2. The teacher praised him. 3. The firemen took the injured to the hospital. 4. An earthquake destroyed the town. 5. The boy’s work pleased the teacher. 6. The fire damaged the building. 7. Who taught you French? 8. The manager will give you a ticket. 9. Spectators thronged the streets. 10. Everyone will blame us.

ANSWERS TO ACTIVITY 1 11. The wind blew down the trees. 12. The police caught the thieves. 13. Alice posted the letter. 14. The hostess received us. 15. They/somebody killed the snake with a stick. 16. The people welcomed the minister. 17. They found him guilty of murder. 18. John Mathews built this house in 1991.

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Subject verb agreement simply means the subject and verb must agree in number. This means both need to be singular or both need to be plural.

BASIC RULES OF SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Singular subjects need singular verbs. Plural subjects need plural verbs.

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Example Pronouns such as everyone and everybody seem plural, but they are always singular — so they need a singular verb. Everyone who worked on science project is a winn Someone has to answer the

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Phrases that come between the subject pronoun and its verb — may contain plural words and confuse. . Example Each of the basketball play excited about tonight’s ga

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Verbs that accompany pronouns such as all and some will be determined by whether the pronoun is referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not. Example Some of the workers on the b have left for the day. .

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Verbs that accompany pronouns such as all and some will be determined by whether the pronoun is referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not Example Some of the salt was spilled floor.

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT None is usually regarded as singular, but it can be used as a plural pronoun. Example None of the boys has helped game. OR None of the boys have helped game.

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Example Phrases such as together with, along with, and as well as seem to combine subjects, but they do not. Some of the tile in our room, as w hall, was soaked. The major problem we had, toget that of our teacher, was tardiness

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Example Either of those answers seems to When either and neither appear as a subject alone You can have the bed by the wind the one by the door. Either is oka (without the words or me. and nor), they are singular.

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT Example Verbs in the present tense for third-person, singular subjects (he, she, 1. He asks for help. it and anything those 2. She asks for help. words can stand for) 3. They ask for help. have s-endings. Other verbs do not add sendings.

ACTIVITY 1 Choose the right options in the sentences given below: 1. Each of the men (were/was) given ten minutes to speak to the president of the company. 2. Beyond the river (is/are) a dress store and a shoe store. 3. Here (is/are) your notebook and dictionary. 4. Neither of the corporations (has/have) received the necessary state charter yet. 5. My entire supply of checks (was/were) missing.

ACTIVITY 1 Choose the right options in the sentences given below: 6. Physics (is/are) taken by many students to complete their science requirement. 7. a natural monopoly (is/are) public utilities. 8. Neither of the unions (has/have) studied the working conditions yet. 9. sitting in the chair by the file cabinets (is/are) the secretary. 10. the data (was/were) published by the company.

ACTIVITY 1 Choose the right options in the sentences given below: 11. The cost of goods (vary/varies) greatly in the different states. 12. Where (is/are) one of the letters from Brown and Company? 13. Neither of the salesmen (wants/want) to help me. 14. One of the trade marks (has/have) not been registered yet. 15. Five percent of the profits (is/are) to be distributed to the stockholders.

ACTIVITY 1 Choose the right options in the sentences given below: 16. Food tests taken on Friday (confirm/confirms) my original diagnosis. 17. Neither the employers nor the union (desire/desires) a strike vote. 18. Neither the size nor the color of the envelopes (are/is) correct. 19. Each of the loans (has/have) been recalled by the bank. 20. The news of the economic decline (has/have) been upsetting.

ANSWERS TO ACTIVITY 1 1. Each of the men (was) given ten minutes to speak to the president of the company. 2. Beyond the river (are) a dress store and a shoe store. 3. Here (are) your notebook and dictionary. 4. Neither of the corporations (has) received the necessary state charter yet. 5. My entire supply of checks (was) missing. 6. Physics (is) taken by many students to complete their science requirement. 7. A natural monopoly (is) public utilities. 8. Neither of the unions (has) studied the working conditions yet. 9. Sitting in the chair by the file cabinets (is) the secretary. 10. The data (were) published by the company.

ANSWERS TO ACTIVITY 1 11. The cost of goods (varies) greatly in the different states. 12. Where (is) one of the letters from Brown and Company? 13. None of the salesmen (want) to help me. 14. One of the trade marks (has) not been registered yet. 15. Five percent of the profits (is) to be distributed to the stockholders. 16. Food tests taken on Friday (confirm) my original diagnosis. 17. Neither the employers nor the union (desires) a strike vote. 18. Neither the size nor the color of the envelopes (is) correct. 19. Each of the loans (has) been recalled by the bank. 20. The news of the economic decline (has) been upsetting.

WHAT ARE VAGUE PRONOUNS? Ambiguous pronouns lack a clear antecedent, while vague pronouns lack an antecedent altogether. .

VAGUE PRONOUNS Avoid vague reference. This occurs when a pronoun refers to a general idea or thing instead of a specific noun. Example Vague: They say more rain is on t (Who is/are they? ) Clear: The weather bureau says m is on the way.

WAYS TO CORRECT VAGUE PRONOUNS You can combine the two parts into a single statement. Example The fact that Harry was always lat his teacher crazy. Harry’s habitual lateness drove hi crazy.

WAYS TO CORRECT VAGUE PRONOUNS Vague pronouns could be replaced with a noun. Example Harry was always late for class, habitual lateness drove his teach

WAYS TO CORRECT VAGUE PRONOUNS 1. You could add a noun to this. 2. You could add a noun before which. Example 1. Harry was always late for class habit of his drove his teacher 2. Harry was always late for class which drove his teacher cra

ACTIVITY 1: Here are some sentences for you to correct. Try to correct each one in more than one way. 1. Harry promised to stop smoking, which I didn’t believe for a minute. 2. Prof. Jones doesn’t seem to care if students cheat, and this really bothers me. 3. My roommate decided to major in Physics, and it came as a big surprise to all her friends. 4. Many people go to the gym at least three times a week; they find that this gives them more energy. 5. My roommate has three long papers to write this weekend, which she can’t possibly do. 6. When the senators realized the bill would be defected, they tried to postpone the vote but failed. It was a disaster.

ANSWER TO ACTIVITY 1: 1. Harry promised to stop smoking, but I didn’t believe him for a minute. 2. Prof. Jones doesn’t seem to care if students cheat, and this indifference really bothers me. 3. My roommate decided to major in Physics, and her decision came as a big surprise to all her friends. 4. Many people go to the gym at least three times a week; they find that frequent exercise gives them more energy. 5. My roommate has three long papers to write this weekend, but she can’t possibly finish all three papers. 6. When the senators realized the bill would be defected, they tried to postpone the vote but failed. The entire effort was a disaster.

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