ENGLISH 7 QUARTER 3- WEEK 3-4

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICES

ANECDOTE

Philippine literature in the Period of Emergence as a tool to assert one’s identity; strategies in
listening to and viewing of informative and short narrative texts; word relationships and
associations; informative speech forms; and use of direct/reported speech, passive/ active
voice, simple past and past perfect tenses, and sentence connectors.

THE BIG IDEA

ACTIVITY 2.Understanding sequence

Active and Passive Voice

Voice tells you whether the subject of the verb performs or receives the action of the verb.
If the subject performs the action, the verb is in active voice. In passive voice, the subject of the verb receives the
action or is the object of the action.
Active voice: The girl sings a song. The subject, girl, performs the action of singing.
Passive voice: The song is sung by the girl. The subject, song, does not perform the action of singing. It is the object of
the action, which means that it receives the action.

DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING

ACTIVITY 2.Understanding sequence

A verb in the passive voice includes a form of the verb be, a past participle of a verb, and any needed helping verbs. Here
are examples of sentences in each tense, showing active-voice and passive-voice verbs.

Active voice is usually more direct and clear. In most sentences, you should use active voice. However, you may use
passive voice when you want to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action, or when you do not know who
performed the action. You may also use passive voice to avoid pointing fingers or naming names:

Active voice: Sara Jones broke that vase last night.

Passive voice: That vase was broken last night.
Use the voice that best achieves your purpose with the fewest words.

• In active voice sentences the subject does the action.

Example: Liz played the piano.

• In passive voice sentences the subject receives the action.

Example: The piano was played by Liz.

The sentence that uses the active voice is stronger, uses fewer words, and clearly shows who performs the action.
The sentence that uses the passive voice is weaker and less direct. It is, however, not incorrect to use the passive voice.
ENGLISH 7 QUARTER 3- WEEK 3-4

• Sometimes the doer of the action is omitted in passive voice sentences. Example: The piano was played.

When we write in the active voice, we use verbs to illustrate an action. This is most common way we use these parts of
speech. Verbs can also be used to describe a state of being or happening rather than having it carry out an action this is
the passive form. We do not commonly use this form in writing. This form of writing purposefully avoids the first person
account. When determining if a sentence is in active or passive voice, the use of any version of "to be" before a verb,
such as "had been seen by" or "were sent by" is a good indicator of passive voice.

Use the active voice

Generally, try to use the active voice whenever possible. Passive voice sentences often use more words, can be vague,
and can lead to a tangle of prepositional phrases.
Active vs. passive voice
In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of sentence performs the action. In a sentence written in the
passive voice, the subject receives the action.
Active: The candidate believes that Congress must place a ceiling on the budget.
Passive: It is believed by the candidate that a ceiling must be placed on the budget by Congress.
Active: Researchers earlier showed that high stress can cause heart attacks.
Passive: It was earlier demonstrated that heart attacks can be caused by high stress.
Active: The dog bit the man.
Passive: The man was bitten by the dog.
Converting sentences to active voice
Here are some tips and strategies for converting sentences from the passive to the active voice.
Look for a “by” phrase (e.g., “by the dog” in the last example above). If you find one, the sentence may be in the passive
voice. Rewrite the sentence so that the subject buried in the “by” clause is closer to the beginning of the sentence.
If the subject of the sentence is somewhat anonymous, see if you can use a general term, such as “researchers,” or “the
study,” or “experts in this field.”
When to use passive voice
There are sometimes good reasons to use the passive voice.
To emphasize the action rather than the actor
After long debate, the proposal was endorsed by the long-range planning committee.
To keep the subject and focus consistent throughout a passage
The data processing department recently presented what proved to be a controversial proposal to expand its staff. After
long debate, the proposal was endorsed by . . . .
To be tactful by not naming the actor
The procedures were somehow misinterpreted.
To describe a condition in which the actor is unknown or unimportant
Every year, thousands of people are diagnosed as having cancer.
To create an authoritative tone
Visitors are not allowed after 9:00 p.m.

WEEK 4 - ANECDOTE

THE BIG IDEA

ACTIVITY 2.Understanding sequence

An anecdote is a short story or account about a person or event that is typically amusing, informative,
entertaining, or biographical in nature. Anecdotes usually relate to the subject matter that people are discussing to
make a point or simply share a relevant story. They can be used in everyday life or in literature. For example, if
coworkers are discussing pets, and one person tells a story about how her cat comes downstairs at a certain time every
night, then that individual has just shared an anecdote.

DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING

ACTIVITY 2.Understanding sequence

Anecdotes cover a wide variety of stories and tales, especially since they can be about basically any subject under
the sun. You might be checking out at the supermarket one day and the cashier comments on your brand of apple juice.
Perhaps that will spark the employee to share a quick story about the summer she and her four-year-old went apple
ENGLISH 7 QUARTER 3- WEEK 3-4

picking in Upstate New York. That's an anecdote; such stories come up all the time. Other everyday examples of
anecdotes include:
I once had a border collie. She was so smart! Every morning, I'd open up the front door and she'd run out, pick up the
newspaper and deliver it to my husband at the breakfast table.
Oh, I love Ireland! I visited the west coast six times last year. Last time I went to Kilmacduagh, an old monastery where
the winds whip with songs of the deceased who are laid to rest there. While I was there, I swore I heard something. I
think it was a ghost!
El Meson is my favorite Mexican restaurant. They have the best Sunday brunch every week. One time when I went
there, they prepared a wonderful traditional buffet with tetelas, gordita de harina, café de olla in a clay pot, and more
that you just can’t get anywhere else. It was just like my abuela used to make!
Is that a white rose? Wow! I love them. My grandfather had a massive rose garden with over 200 different species. Every
Friday, he'd go out into the garden, clip a dozen, and make my grandmother a bouquet. Does love like that exist
anymore?
Childhood Anecdote Examples
It's very common for people to share stories about their childhood experiences with friends and other family members.
Reminiscing in this way can be a lot of fun. It's also a great way to get a conversation started or keep one going. After all,
everyone has childhood experiences they can share, and to which others can relate.
When I was a child, my family went on a summer vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains every year. One year, my aunt
saw a black bear while she was hiking. She was so terrified, she ended up sitting on a boulder for an hour just to make
sure it had gotten far enough away from her. She still won't go hiking alone anywhere.
I remember learning how to swim. I took lessons at the community pool in the town where I grew up. One of the
lifeguards, Ms. Jen, really helped me get comfortable with holding my breath. She'd play this bobbing game with us that
had a fun song to go along with it. Whenever I get in a pool, I still sing that song in my head.
Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around the time I spent helping my mother plant and tend a vegetable
garden in our backyard. She let me help till the rows and plant the seeds. Going near okra plants made her itch, so she
let me pick all of that myself. To this day, okra makes me think of her.
Before I had my tonsils removed in sixth grade, I was sick a lot. I got strep throat often and I missed a lot of school. I
dreaded going to the doctor, as I would always get a shot and foul-tasting medicine. After the tonsillectomy, I hardly
ever got sick again. As a result, middle school was a lot better for me than elementary school.
Anecdote Examples About Interesting Events
People experience interesting things throughout their lives, not just during childhood. Sharing anecdotes about one's
experiences is a fun way to interact with friends, coworkers and family members.
One evening, I went to see a movie with my roommate and some other people from our dorm. I drove my car to the
theater. Imagine our surprise when we got to the car to find the windshield covered with slices of ham. To this day, I
don't know who put ham on my car or why.
While walking through the neighborhood behind my mostly wooded property, I saw what I at first thought was a
strange-looking white dog on the edge of the woods. I pointed it out to my husband, who recognized it as a small albino
deer. It still lives in the woods. The deer is fully grown now. I see it fairly often.
My dog Cody loved the water. He loved to swim; he would swim all day long when we visited my mom. One day, she
needed him out of the pool area. He was soaked, so she put him in the garage, but didn't close the windows. He leaped
up five feet and soared through a screen to get to the pool.
When we were in graduate school, we had no money. My then-boyfriend (now husband) had a gas card on his father's
account for emergencies. There were several times that we had no money for groceries, so we would go food shopping
at the gas station convenience store using that credit card. His dad was not happy
Famous Anecdotes in Literature
Your favorite novels are giant stories with complex narratives. In the midst of each story, the characters might share
little anecdotes with one another. It's a nice opportunity for the character to blossom and for the reader to learn more
about them.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby contains a number of anecdotes. In this example, Daisy Buchanan shares a story about the butler. This
anecdote is significant because the Buchanan family kept the story of their butler a secret. Interpretations of this story
and its importance have been discussed by readers for years.
“'I'll tell you a family secret,' she whispered enthusiastically. 'It’s about the butler’s nose. Do you want to hear about the
butler’s nose?... Well, he wasn’t always a butler; he used to be the silver polisher for some people in New York that had
a silver service for two hundred people. He had to polish it from morning till night, until finally it began to affect his nose
--'
'Things went from bad to worse,' suggested Miss Baker.
'Yes. Things went from bad to worse until finally he had to give up his position.'”
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Dumbledore shares the following anecdote with a visiting headmaster in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K.
Rowling. This story relays the magical majesty of Hogwarts.
"Oh, I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor. Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong
turn on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I had never seen before,
 ENGLISH 7 QUARTER 3- WEEK 3-4

containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I
discovered that the room had vanished."

APPLY YOUR UNDERSTANDING

ACTIVITY 2.Understanding sequence

Directions: Identify whether each sentence is written in active or passive voice.
________________1. Max’s head was bumped by the cupboard door.
________________2. The dog is fed by Thomas
________________3. The letter was written by Marshall
________________4. Thomas feeds his dog.
________________5. The surgeon removed the diseased tissue.

Directions: Does the anecdote given fit the situation? Why or Why not?

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

ACTIVITY 2.Understanding sequence

1-5. Situation: A farmer has problems growing corn.

Anecdote: “About two years my soybeans wouldn’t grow, so I decided to change out the soybeans to corn. The
corn grew, and I planted soybeans this year and they grew well.”

DOES IT FIT? WHY OR WHY NOT? ______________________________________________________________________

6-10. Situation: A friend gets a new pet and is surprised by how much work it is to keep a pet.
Anecdote: “I remember when I got my puppy, Charlie. He would try to chew on everything and we had to train
him not to bite. We had to watch him all the time like he was a child.”

DOES IT FIT? WHY OR WHY NOT? ______________________________________________________________________