Verb Tenses

Events occur at same time, keep same tense-if not, then change the tenses

Active Voice-Action is done by its subject Passive Voice-Action done to the subject

Voice

Why?-less direct-less forceful-less concise-requires more words to express thought-results in awkward writing-hard to identify the performer of the action-sounds weak

Avoid Using the Passive Voice

-you don’t know the performer of the action-don’t want to reveal the performer of the

action-you want to emphasize the receiver more

than the performer of the action

Use passive voice when

“Lie” means to rest, to recline, to remain in a lying position-no object

“Lay” means to put, or place something somewhere-obect

Six Troublesome Verbs

“Sit” means to rest in a upright, seated position

-no object

“Set” means to put or to place somewhere-objectMnemonic Device (help you to remember)I sit with an i; I set the book on the edge with

an e.

Sit and Set

“Rise” means to gain an upward direction-no object

“Raise” means to move (something) in an upward direction; to grow or to bring to maturity-object

Mnemonic Device (helps you to remember)“All rise and raise the window.”

Rise and Raise

The form the verb takes to show attitude of the person using the verb

3 Types of Moods

Mood

-A fact-An opinion-A question

Indicative

-A direct command-A request

Imperative

-A suggestion-A necessity-A condition contrary to fact-A wish

Subjunctive