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 = ateTHINK: 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 = studiedTHINK: 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 givenTHINK: 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 BEING8) PAST PROGRESSIVE = WAS/WERE BEING9) FUTURE PROGRESSIVE = WILL BE BEING10) PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE = HAVE/HAS BEEN BEING11) PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE = HAD BEEN BEING12) 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/are swum

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/were run

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 been played

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 being frozen

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 being walked

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 being thought

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 be eaten