Transcript Be Verb

Active and Passive Voice
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Active Voice
 The subject of the sentence performs the verb
▪ Example: The dog bit the boy
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Passive Voice
 The subject is acted upon
▪ Example: The boy was bitten by the dog.

Active voice helps to create clear and direct
sentences

Passive voice adds unnecessary words to a
sentence

Be verbs
 They create boring reading
 They also create a passive voice

Eliminating “be verbs” helps to create an
active voice
 Replace them with stronger, action verbs
“Be Verb”
Usage
Be
Is, Are, Am
(present tense)
's 're 'm
(used in contractions)
Was
(past tense)
Were
(past tense)
Been
(past tense)
Being
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A book club has been formed by the librarian.
The balloons were delivered by a happy clown.
Someone broke the shop window last night.
The computer was fixed by Mr. Edmunds.
Lucinda had planted those marigolds.
The trees were being blown over by the wind.
The street lights made long, scary shadows on
the sidewalk.
The swelling on Joe’s arm was caused by the
bee sting.