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The to be verb
challenge
To be verbs pages 13-18
• White Composition Style Book
• Please read through all pages.
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Editing your essay for state of being verbs.
Am
are
Is
Was
Were
Be
Been
Being
Reasons to avoid “to be” verbs
1. They are boring; they do not
“show”
• Tom was here. ???????
Better to say…
• Tom joined the class.
• 2. They create passive
construction
To be verbs often create passive
voice
• Passive voice—the actor does not do the
acting in the sentence.
• The road was crossed by the chicken
• The chicken is the actor; therefore,
chicken needs to be the subject of the
sentence.
The road was crossed by the
chicken.
• Change this sentence from passive to
active
• The chicken crossed the road.
• What happened to the “to be” verb?
• How hard was that?????
How do I recognize passive
construction?
• A to be verb followed by a past participle…
• Was crossed
Also
• Look for to be verb+past pariticiple+
• “by……”
• The shoes were purchased by the coach.
• Fix this sentence
• The coach purchased the shoes.
• What happened to the to be verb?
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How hard was that?
When can I use a to be verb
• Usually, when the to be verb is not
followed by a past participle:
• Jon is nice.
• James is a wonderful person.
ok
• James was injured by the flying debris. ok
• In this sentence, James is the focus of
attention, not the flying debris.
•After missing ten days
of school, Lulu was
tutored by her English
teacher.
Identify the passive construction
and rewrite the sentence.
•Many new strategies
had been developed
by the Harvard
researchers.
Identify the passive construction
and rewrite the sentence.
•The books could have
been distributed by
the teaching
assistants.
• Indicate another way in
which passive
construction can be
identified in this
sentence.
Identify passive construction and
rewrite the sentence.
•The football
players were
coached. (implied by the…)
•Offer one reason for
avoiding to be
verbs.
•Offer another
reason for avoiding
to be verbs.
Respond to this sentence.
• Jon is a fine young man.
• Is the to be verb acceptable here?
Respond to this sentence:
•Mark was in the
restaurant.
• Improve this sentence
????
Mark was in the restaurant.
• Even though this sentence has
a “legal” to be verb, how could
you give the sentence more
imagery and avoid the “actionless” state of being verb?
Fix…
• The clerk was trying to
sell me several more
items than I needed.
Hint…
• Try to use the “ed” verb form
instead of the “ing” form.
• I was walking through the gate.
• I walked through the gate.
• Substitute a vivid, action verb for each to
be verb:
• The television was on all night.
• We were in the family
room when the tornado
struck.
• The concert was over at 12:00.
Expletive Construction
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There is
There was
There were
Etc…
• There is one person waiting in line.
• One person remains standing in line.
• There were many players who did not
prepare for the game.
• Many players did not prepare for the
game.
• There are ten dogs in the pound.
• The dog pound has ten occupants.
• The pound currently houses ten dogs.
Unnecessary uses of to be
• He wanted a medication that was
prescribed by a physician.
• He wanted a medication prescribed by a
physician.
Other Unnecessary uses of to be
• She recognized the officer who was
chasing the thief.
• She recognized the officer chasing the
thief.
• Anyone who is willing to work hard will
succeed in this program.
• Anyone willing to work hard will succeed in
this program.
• It was Allan who told the principal about
the student’s prank.
• Allan told the principal about the student’s
prank.
• A customer who is pleased will surely
return.
• A pleased customer will surely return.
Choosing strong verbs in general
• I got the promotion
I earned the promotion.
• I had opportunities to develop my skills.
I sought out opportunities to …
• I did not want to show up without a gift
I hesitated to show up without a gift.
Stand as soon as you can correct
the passive construction
• You have three seconds to stand. Otherwise, remain in your seat.
• I will call on someone to answer. If your response is not correct, you
must sit down; you have five seconds to answer.
• You will choose someone sitting to answer the next question.
• He or she must answer in 5 seconds.
• If you answer incorrectly, you must stay seated; otherwise, you
should stand.
• You may then choose a sitting person to answer the next question.
If the question is answered correctly, he or she may stand.
• Indicate another way in
which passive
construction can be
identified in this
sentence.
• Indicate one way in
which passive
construction can be
identified in this
sentence.
• Indicate one way in
which passive
construction can be
identified in this
sentence.
• Indicate another way in
which passive
construction can be
identified in this
sentence.
• Indicate one way in
which passive
construction can be
identified in this
sentence.
Finally, justify the passive
construction in the next two slides.
• As harvest time approaches,
apple trees are sprayed with a
chemical to prevent insect
infestation.
• The goal is to have the entire room
standing as soon as possible.
• Indicate another way in
which passive
construction can be
identified in this
sentence.
• Indicate one way in
which passive
construction can be
identified in this
sentence.
Please take out....
• Composition Style Book
• Persuasive Essay Packet
• Faulty Logic Sheet from yesterday
• (North Allegheny Style Manual on line)