grammar: active and passive voice subject verb agreement vague pronouns

GRAMMAR:ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICESUBJECT 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.

Example

1. Lebron threw the basketball before the buzzer.

2. Lebron shot the basketball from the free throw line.

3. Lebron scored three points.

WHAT IS ACTIVE VOICE?

Active voice is used to show that the subject of

the sentence is performing or causing the 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).

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

Active: The waiter dropped the tray of food.

Passive: The tray of food was dropped by the waiter.

REASONS TO USE ACTIVE VOICE?

Most writers prefer to use active voice because it is more direct.

Example

Passive: Your request for funding has been denied by the review committee.

Active: The review committee denied your request for funding.

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

1. The ball was thrown by Lebron.

2. The basket was shot by Lebron.

3. The score was made by Lebron.

WHAT IS PASSIVE VOICE?

Passive voice is used when the subject is the recipient of the

action.

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!!!!

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.”

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

Active: John baked the bread.

Passive: The bread was baked by John. (Was is a form of the verb “be”.).

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

Review the forms of "to be": am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been


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.

Example

is kicked----------------had been kickedwas kicked-------------is going to be kickedis being kicked---------will be kickedhas been kicked-------can be kickedwas being kicked------should be kicked


Note the forms of "to be" in the examples of the

verb "to kick" in various forms of the passive

voice

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.


The passive form of writing is indirect where

as the active form of writing is direct.

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


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


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


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.


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.

Example

Everyone who worked on the science project is a winner.

Someone has to answer the phone.


Pronouns such as everyone and everybody seem plural, but they are always singular — so they

need a singular verb.

Example

Each of the basketball players is excited about tonight’s game.


Phrases that come between the subject

pronoun and its verb —may contain plural words

and confuse..

Example

Some of the workers on the building have left for the day.

.


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 on the floor.


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

None of the boys has helped at the game.

OR

None of the boys have helped at the game.


None is usually regarded as singular, but it can be

used as a plural pronoun.

Example

Some of the tile in our room, as well as the hall, was soaked.

The major problem we had, together with that of our teacher, was tardiness.


Phrases such as together with, along with, and as well as seem to combine subjects, but they do not.

Example

Either of those answers seems to be right.

You can have the bed by the window or the one by the door. Either is okay with me.


When either and neither appear as a subject alone

(without the words or and nor), they are

singular.

Example

1. He asks for help.

2. She asks for help.

3. They ask for help.


Verbs in the present tense for third-person,

singular subjects (he, she, it and anything those

words can stand for) have s-endings. Other verbs do

not add s-endings.

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


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


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 1Choose 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.


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..

Example

Vague: They say more rain is on the way. (Who is/are they?)

Clear: The weather bureau says more rain is on the way.

VAGUE PRONOUNS

Avoid vague reference. This occurs when a pronoun refers to a

general idea or thing instead of a specific

noun.

Example

The fact that Harry was always late drove his teacher crazy.

Harry’s habitual lateness drove his teacher crazy.

WAYS TO CORRECT

VAGUE PRONOUNS

You can combine the two parts into a single

statement.

Example

Harry was always late for class, and his habitual lateness drove his teacher crazy.

WAYS TO CORRECT

VAGUE PRONOUNS

Vague pronouns could be replaced with a noun.

Example

1. Harry was always late for class, and this habit of his drove his teacher crazy.

2. Harry was always late for class, a habit which drove his teacher crazy.

WAYS TO CORRECT

VAGUE PRONOUNS

1. You could add a noun to this.

2. You could add a noun before which.

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.

The end

grammar: active and passive voice subject verb agreement vague pronouns

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