Active and Passive Voice
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
Active voice has the subject performing the action (e.g., "She wrote the essay"), while passive voice has the subject receiving the action (e.g., "The essay was written by her").
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
Active voice has the subject performing the action (e.g., "She wrote the essay"), while passive voice has the subject receiving the action (e.g., "The essay was written by her").
When should you capitalize the word "president"?
Capitalize "President" when it is used as a title before a name (e.g., "President Lincoln") but not when used generally (e.g., "The president gave a speech").
What is the purpose of varying sentence patterns in writing?
It improves readability, maintains reader interest, and enhances writing style.
What does the prefix "un-" mean in the word "unhappy"?
"Un-" means "not," so "unhappy" means "not happy."
Convert this active sentence to passive: "The dog chased the cat."
"The cat was chased by the dog."
Identify the error in this sentence: "Him and me went to the store."
"Him and me" should be "He and I."
Correct this punctuation mistake: "Its a beautiful day outside, isnt it?"
"It's a beautiful day outside, isn't it?"
Rewrite this informal sentence in a more formal style: "Gonna go to the store, be back soon."
"I am going to the store and will be back soon."
Use context clues to determine the meaning of "voracious" in this sentence: "After the hike, she had a voracious appetite."
"Voracious" means "extremely hungry or eager."
Convert this passive sentence to active: "The book was read by the student."
"The student read the book."
Rewrite this sentence in subjunctive mood: "If she was taller, she could ride the roller coaster."
"If she were taller, she could ride the roller coaster."
What is an Oxford comma, and when should it be used?
The Oxford comma is the comma before "and" in a list (e.g., "I bought apples, oranges, and bananas"). It helps clarify meaning.
How can you eliminate wordiness in this sentence? "In order to make a decision, you need to carefully think about all of the different possible options that are available."
"To decide, you need to consider all available options carefully."
Identify the Greek or Latin root in "transportation" and explain its meaning.
"Port" (Latin) means "to carry," so "transportation" refers to carrying or moving something.
Why is active voice generally preferred in writing?
Active voice is clearer, more direct, and more engaging than passive voice.
Explain how verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) function in a sentence.
Gerunds act as nouns, participles act as adjectives, and infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
Identify the misspelled word: "accomodate, embarrass, privilege, separate."
Accommodate" is misspelled; the correct spelling is "accommodate."
What is parallel structure, and how can it improve writing?
Parallel structure means using the same grammatical pattern in a series (e.g., "She likes running, swimming, and biking"). It improves readability and flow.
How does connotation affect word choice? Give an example.
Connotation is the emotional association of a word. Example: "Skinny" has a negative connotation, while "slim" has a positive one.
Identify whether this sentence is active or passive and justify your answer: "The cookies were baked by Grandma."
Passive voice, because the subject (cookies) is receiving the action instead of performing it.
Identify and correct the misplaced modifier: "She almost drove her kids to school every day."
"She drove her kids to school almost every day."
Correct this sentence using proper punctuation: "Although I like to read mystery novels my favorite genre is fantasy."
"Although I like to read mystery novels, my favorite genre is fantasy
Identify and fix the redundancy in this sentence: "The reason why she left early was because she had an appointment."
"She left early because she had an appointment."
Define "juxtaposition" and provide an example of its effect in literature.
"Juxtaposition" is placing two contrasting elements close together for effect. Example: Light and dark imagery in "Romeo and Juliet."