Creating Super Sentences

Another Mnemonic

From Mrs. D

OUTCOME: Learn to create SUPER

sentences by using “active voice.”

Objectives: Students will learn to . . .

Identify passive “be verbs”

Change passive sentences into active

sentences

Explain why active sentences are

superior to passive sentences

A long time ago . . .

If you could give us just one tip that

would make us better writers, what

tip would you offer?

At a writers’ conference . . .

The best question . . .

Two kinds of sentences

Passive (Passive Voice)

Basically BORING

Relies on passive verbs

How many? 23

Active (Active Voice)

Interesting, CAPTIVATES

Relies on active verbs

How many? Thousands!

A memory trick

Find the boring sentences.

Get rid of the passive verbs.

Replace them with active verbs.

If only you could remember those

23 passive verbs, you could . . .

Search and Destroy

Mission!

Be, is, am

Are, were, was

Being, been, may, can, do, does

Did, had, have

Has, shall, should,

Must, might, could, will, AND would

Be Verbs

Achieving

Active Voice

By Memorizing Be Verbs

to the Tune of Brahms Lullaby

Brahms Lullaby

What is Brahms’ Lullaby?

Kudos to Aaron Neville . . .

Brahms’ Lullaby from the video, Goodnight Moon, courtesy of YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otIr5Bg9_y0

Be Verbs

Be, is, am

Are, were, was

Being, been, may, can, do, does

Did, had, have

Has, shall, should,

Must, might, could, will, AND would

Be Verbs

Be, is, am

Are, were, was

Being, been, may, can, do, does

Did, had, have

Has, shall, should,

Must, might, could, will, AND would

Be Verbs

Be, is, _____,

Are, _______, was

Being, been, _______, can, ____, does

Did, had, have

Has, shall, __________,

Must, might, could, ______, AND would

Be Verbs

Be, is, _____,

Are, _______, was

Being, been, _______, can, ____, does

Did, ______, have

Has, shall, __________,

Must, _______, could, ______, AND would

Be Verbs

Be, _____, _____,

Are, _______, _______,

Being, _______, _______, can, ____, does

Did, ______, ________

Has, _______, __________,

Must, _______, could, ______, AND _______

Be Verbs

Be, _____, _____,

Are, _______, _______,

Being, _______, _______, can, ____, _____

Did, ______, ________

Has, _______, __________,

Must, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Be Verbs

Be, _____, _____,

_____, _______, _______,

Being, _______, _______, _____, ____, _____

______, ______, ________

Has, _______, __________,

_____, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Be Verbs

_____, _____, _____,

_____, _______, _______,

_____, _______, _______, _____, ____, _____

______, ______, ________

_____, _______, __________,

_____, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Let’s review: Be Verbs Lullaby

Be, is, am

Are, were, was

Being, been, may, can, do, does

Did, had, have

Has, shall, should,

Must, might, could, will, AND would

Be Verbs

_____, _____, _____,

_____, _______, _______,

_____, _______, _______, _____, ____, _____

______, ______, ________

_____, _______, __________,

_____, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Every time you write, you are

faced with a choice . . .

Passive Verbs Active Verbs

It’s like the difference between . . .

Passive Verbs Active Verbs

Clark Kent Superman

Creating Super Sentences

Find the passive verb and destroy it.

Find the subject and the second noun.

Rewrite the sentence by switching the

order of the noun parts.

Try making this SUPER!

That play was composed by Thornton Wilder.

Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out).

That play WAS composed by Thornton Wilder.

Find the subject and the second noun part:

That play WAS composed by Thornton Wilder.

Rewrite the sentence by switching the noun parts:

Thornton Wilder composed that play.

Think, “Search and Destroy!”

I am puzzled by your question.

Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out):

I AM puzzled by your question.

Find the subject and the second noun part:

I AM puzzled by your question.

Switch the word order and tweak the verb:

Your question puzzles me.

Search and Destroy #3

The puppy is frightened by loud noises.

Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out):

The puppy IS frightened by loud noises.

Find the subject and the second noun part:

The puppy IS frightened by loud noises.

Switch the word order and tweak the verb:

Loud noises frighten the puppy.

Search and Destroy #4

Plays are performed by actors.

Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out):

Plays ARE performed by actors.

Find the subject and the second noun part:

Plays ARE performed by actors.

Switch the word order and tweak the verb:

Actors perform plays.

Search and Destroy #5

This painting was purchased by Ms. Jones.

Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out):

This painting WAS purchased by Ms. Jones.

Find the subject and the second noun part:

This painting WAS purchased by Ms. Jones.

Switch the word order:

Ms. Jones purchased this painting.

Prove that you “got it!”

Find the passive verb and destroy it.

Find the subject and the second noun.

Rewrite the sentence by switching the

order of the noun parts.

Directions: 1) If the sentence is already active, write “A.”

2) If the sentence is passive, write “P.”

3) Change passive sentences to active:

If that was too easy, try this . . .

Brahms Lullaby

_____, _____, _____,

_____, _______, _______,

_____, _______, _______, _____, ____, _____

______, ______, ________

_____, _______, __________,

_____, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Be Verbs

Be, is, am

Are, were, was

Being, been, may, can, do, does

Did, had, have

Has, shall, should,

Must, might, could, will, AND would