1. boo_radley

    boo_radley New Member

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    Which of these would be the active voice?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by boo_radley, Dec 26, 2009.

    I'm trying to rewrite something and here's the issue:

    or

    I think the second one follows the active voice, but somehow the first one seems to sound a little better?

    Thanks in advance
     
  2. DragonGrim

    DragonGrim New Member

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    the second one
     
  3. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    The second is active voice. Usually you are better off with active voice.
     
  4. boo_radley

    boo_radley New Member

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    Thanks guys for the response!

    One more question about active vs. passive. Would this sentence be in the active voice?

    Magazine cut-outs covered the walls and ceiling.

    vs

    The walls and ceiling were covered in magazine cut-outs
     
  5. DragonGrim

    DragonGrim New Member

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    Magazine cut-outs covered the walls and ceiling = active voice.

    To understand if a sentence is active, you must ask yourself if the agent that does the action is in the sentence.

    The cup was spilled? = passive, who spilled the cup?

    The cup was spilled by whom? = passive, for the agent was added in with a prepositional phrase.

    Who spilled the cup? = active
     
  6. boo_radley

    boo_radley New Member

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    Okay, thanks! I think I'm starting to grasp this :)
     
  7. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Note the presence of the auxilliary verb were, derived from the verb to be. This is the usual indicator of passive voice.
     

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