The active and the passive voice ACTIVE and

The active and the passive voice ACTIVE and PASSIVE VOICE 1

The active and the passive voice SOMETHING NEW! IN EIGHTH GRADE, when we write formally, especially during essay writing assignments, we WORK HARD TO WRITE IN ACTIVE VOICE. 2

The active and the passive voice We usually use the active voice in writing and speaking. Example: The girl kicked Someone or something (the agent) does something (verb) the ball. to someone or something else (recipient) 3

The active and the passive voice In the passive voice, we change this around, so that the recipient has something done to it by the agent. Example: The ball was kicked Someone or something (recipient) has something done to it (verb) by the girl. by someone or something (the agent) 4

The active and the passive voice Here’s another example of Active Voice: The rain soaked Someone or something (the agent) does something (verb) the pitch. to someone or something else (recipient) 5

The active and the passive voice And now, we have made it Passive Voice. The pitch Someone or something (recipient) was soaked has something done to it (verb) by the rain. by someone or something (the agent) 6

The active and the passive voice Look CAREFULLY at the two PASSIVE VOICE SENTENCES! The pitch The ball was soaked was kicked by the rain. by the girl. What do you notice about the words in the sentence (hint – green)? 7

The active and the passive voice Politicians (and many others) often use passive voice to intentionally HIDE WHO is taking the action. President Ronald Reagan famously said, “Mistakes were made, ” when referring to the Iran-Contra scandal. 8

The active and the passive voice What he was really saying was that: “Mistakes were made BY MY STAFF. ” He left OUT the BY, but construction of the sentence is still PASSIVE VOICE! 9

The active and the passive voice Think of it this way! If you can add the phrase “BY ZOMBIES” at the end of your sentence, then your sentence is in PASSIVE VOICE. 10

The active and the passive voice The car was hit. (passive) The car was hit BY ZOMBIES! You need to stay in ACTIVE voice and make the subject do the action! ZOMBIES HIT THE CAR! 11

The active and the passive voice On the paper on your desk, write a PASSIVE voice sentence involving ZOMBIES! Now, rewrite the sentence as ACTIVE VOICE. 12

The active and the passive voice In these examples, spot the use of the active voice and the passive voice. The music was played by the DJ. passive The sun was hidden by the clouds. passive Delighted fans streamed onto the pitch. active Marie wrote the letter to the headteacher. active Danny was praised by the headteacher. passive 13

The active and the passive voice In these examples, spot the use of the active voice and the passive voice. In the novel Okay for Now, by Gary D. Schmidt, the protagonist, Doug Swieteck, is a maturing young man. passive In the novel Okay for Now, written by Gary D. Schmidt, the protagonist, Doug Swieteck, is a maturing young man. passive In Gary D. Schmidt’s novel Okay for Now, the protagonist, Doug Swieteck, is a maturing young man. active EXAMPLES FROM YOUR OWN 14

The active and the passive voice REMEMBER! IN EIGHTH GRADE, when we write formally, especially during essay writing assignments, we WORK HARD TO WRITE IN ACTIVE VOICE. More to come later in our future! 15

On the scrap papers, put your name. Record HOW you do on each of the three activities listed below. Label them 1/2/3. GO TO THE PARTS OF SPEECH PAGE ON MS. ASARO’S WEBSITE. DO THE ACTIVE/PASSIVE VOICE INTERACTIVE EXERCISES. THREE SITES!