Page 146 - SpringBoard_ELD_Grade6_Flipbook

HEW
Learning Target
How english Works: Passive and Active Verbs
ACtiVitY 3.6
• Adjust language choices according to social setting and audience.
• Use a variety of verbs types, tenses, and aspects appropriate for the text type
and discipline on familiar topics.
active and Passive Voice
The author of “The First Americans” uses mainly active voice verbs in his letter. The active voice is more direct and forceful than the passive voice. That makes it appropriate for a formal style of writing. In this activity, you will adjust and rewrite passive voice sentences to make them active.
The chart that follows lists five sentences from “The First Americans” rewritten in the passive voice. Analyze each sentence to find the subject and main verb. Then rewrite the sentence so that it is in the active voice. Check your answers in the text of the letter.
sentence with Verb in Passive Voice
sentence with Verb in active Voice
The Indian has long been hurt by these unfair books.
These unfair books have long hurt the Indian.
Games were played by us—games that brought good health and sound bodies.
Indians were called thieves by white men.
Baskets that were beautiful were made by us.
White men who kill for fun are thought to be murderers by Indians.
Unit 3 • Changing Perspectives • Part 3: The First Americans 123
Language
resources
active Voice Verb: a verb that expresses an action done by
its subject
The first Americans told legends. Passive Voice Verb: a verb that expresses an action done to its subject
Legends were told by the first Americans.
Language
resources
Passive Voice
The passive voice
emphasizes the person or thing receiving the action rather than the one performing the action, as in the sentence, The book was donated by a member of the community. The passive voice is useful
when you don’t know who performed an action.
when the performer is difficult to specify.
when you don’t want to give away the performer’s identity.
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