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Style Revision: Verbs

Style Revision: Verbs. Eliminating present progressive and passive voice. Present Progressive Tense. Present progressive tense describes an ongoing action. This tense is formed by using am / is / are with the verb form ending in - ing .

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Style Revision: Verbs

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  1. Style Revision: Verbs Eliminating present progressive and passive voice

  2. Present Progressive Tense • Present progressive tense describes an ongoing action. • This tense is formed by using am/is/are with the verb form ending in -ing. • EX: The sociologist is examining the effects that racial discrimination has on society.

  3. Present Progressive Tense • The best essays use clear and concise language. • Unless you want to specify that an action is ongoing, you should replace the present progressive tense with a simplepresent tense verb

  4. Correct the sentence… • In act 1, Brutus is struggling with his moral conscience. • In act 1, Brutus struggleswith his moral conscience.

  5. Correct the sentence… • Throughout the play, Antony is exemplifying Machiavellian qualities. • Throughout the play, Antony exemplifies Machiavellian qualities.

  6. Correct the sentence… • In Julius Caesar Shakespeare is highlighting society’s flaws. • In Julius Caesar Shakespeare highlights society’s flaws.

  7. Correct the sentence… • At this point, Cassius is convincing Brutus to change his mind. • At this point, Cassius convinces Brutus to change his mind.

  8. Correct the sentence… • In the play’s final battle scene, Luciliusis pretending to be Brutus. • In the play’s final battle scene, Luciliuspretends to be Brutus.

  9. Active vs. Passive Voice • In a sentence using active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. • EX: The people worship Caesar.

  10. Active vs. Passive Voice • In a sentence using passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed by the verb. • Also, the agent performing the action may appear in a “by the…” phrase or it may be omitted. EX: Mark Antony is feared by the people. EX: Caesar is hated.

  11. Active vs. Passive Voice • Passive voice is formed by using a “to be” verb am/is/are/was/were/be/being/been with the past participle • Past participles usually but do not always end in –ed. EX: Brutus is praised for his honor. EX: The Prince waswrittenduring the Renaissance.

  12. Active vs. Passive Voice • The best essays use clear and concise language • Sentences written in active voice offer both precision and clarity • Therefore, you should replace passive voice with active voice

  13. Correct the sentence… • In act 2 the conspirators are joinedby Brutus. • In act 2, Brutus joinsthe conspirators.

  14. Correct the sentence… • Caesar is offereda crown three times. • The people offerCaesar a crown three times.

  15. Correct the sentence… • The crown is refusedby Caesar each time it is offered. • Caesar refusesthe crown each time the people offer it.

  16. Simplifying verb forms…

  17. Step 1 Highlight all “to be” verbs am were is be are being was been *you donot need to do this for quoted passages

  18. Step 1 Highlight all “to be” verbs • Ctrl + “F” • Type “space” + verb + “space” ( am ) • Holding down the Ctrl key, double-click on each verb, omitting verbs in quotes • Select the yellow highlighter to highlight all verbs at once • Do this for all forms of “to be”

  19. Step 2 Identify instances where you have any form of “to be” + the present participle (-ing) [the present progressive] Examples: Is constantly struggling Is exemplifying Is highlighting Is showing

  20. Step 3 Change the action into a simple verb Examples: Is struggling = struggles Is exemplifying = exemplifies Is highlighting = highlights Is showing = shows

  21. Step 4 Identify instances where you have any form of “to be” + the past participle (-ed) [passive voice] Examples: Are joined Is offered Is shown Is assassinated Are swayed

  22. Step 5 Make the sentence active [remove passive voice] • Ask, “Where’s the action?” • Ask, who is doing the action? • Name the person doing the action before the verb Examples: Are joined = (Person) joins Is offered = (Person) offers Is shown = (Person) shows Is assassinated = (Person) assassinates

  23. Step 6 Whenever possible, replace “to be” with a stronger, more precise verb. Examples: Antony is deceptive = Antony deceives Brutus is honorable = Brutus exudes honor Brutus is full of guilt = Brutus feels guilty

  24. Style Revision: Prepositions Eliminating prepositions to avoid clutter

  25. Step 1 Highlight the following prepositions for to in with of about on onto *you donot need to do this for quoted passages

  26. Step 2 Remove for to in with of about on onto *you donot need to do this for quoted passages

  27. Step 3 Use a Possessive in Place of a Prepositional Phrase EX: The advisers of the president = the president’s advisers EX: The images in the movie = the movie’s images EX: The citizens of Rome = Roman citizens

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