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please dont laugh at me for being dense!!! Urgent help needed for DSs homework.

24 replies

poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:15

He has to write an account of fireworks night using PASSIVE VERBS. He doesnt know what they are and nor do I We have looked it up on the net and neither of us understand!!!

Anyone able to explain it to us very simply

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advocateofthedevil · 06/11/2006 18:18

The boy was bitten by the dog

as opposed to

the dog bit the boy

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advocateofthedevil · 06/11/2006 18:19

The sky was lit up by a shower of sparks


as opposed to

a shower of sparks lit up the sky.

i think

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LIZS · 06/11/2006 18:22

I am being licked by a dog . Passive
The dog is licking me. Active

Seems a bit advanced tbh !

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:23

errrrm ..... we both still have blank faces!

so what about the sentence..

the noisy people entered the building or

the people entered the building noisily. The first one is

correct yes???

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:25

or am I missing it completely???

errrmmmm

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LIZS · 06/11/2006 18:26

neither ! I think it has to use a derivative fo the verb to be ! ie The building was being entered by some noisy people.

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:26

so, passive verb is something that has happened

active verb is happening in the present. Yes?

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advocateofthedevil · 06/11/2006 18:26

the noisy people entered the building is ACTIVE

The building was entered by the noisy people is PASSIVE

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beckybrastraps · 06/11/2006 18:27

The building was entered....

What sort of things do you want to say?

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:27

am I just being dense but I think this is a bit difficult for a 9 year old..... or is it just me??

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LIZS · 06/11/2006 18:27

Not necessarily, it can still be in the present but the subject/object reverse.

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advocateofthedevil · 06/11/2006 18:27

An active verb is someone doing something
a passive verb is something being done to someone

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Whizzz · 06/11/2006 18:27

Passive - the subject of the verb is affected by the action rather than DOING it

The dog is being stroked by John rather than John is stroking the dog

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Freckle · 06/11/2006 18:28

Think of Active as you are doing something whereas Passive is where something is being done to you.

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:31

ahhhh the mud is becoming clearer....

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advocateofthedevil · 06/11/2006 18:32

"Fireworks night was spent by us at the display at school. The display was visited by 100s of people with hats and scaarves being worn by all. The display was started with a loud bang as the sky was lit up by a rocket."

it's actually very difficult!

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popsycal · 06/11/2006 18:34

i thikn of passive verbs as what kids do to avoid telling the truth......

you: where are the sweets?
them: the sweets were eaten......

you: what happened to my favourite vase?
them: it was broken....

passive verbs 'hide' the 'do-er' of the action..

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:38

LOL popsycal

Well DS has got as far as ...... the date!! I have a feeling I am in for a loooong evening

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popsycal · 06/11/2006 18:39

I am year 5 teacher if that helps....

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Blu · 06/11/2006 18:45

An active verb is whren the 'subject' of the sentence is DOING the verb, a passive verb is when the subject of the sentence has the verb done to them.

So:
My Mum and I were chilled by the cold air. The sky was illuminted by the fireworks, and luckily our toes were warmed by our thick socks.

Do this in 'word' and the green wriggly line will tell you to consider revising it as it is passive - stylistically not very interesting to read!

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:54

oooo yes DS is in year 5. He is struggling with this one I can tell you... as is his mummy !

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 18:56

DS says he likes advocateofthedevils write up... can she do his homework please !!

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poppiesinaline · 06/11/2006 19:04

thanks everyone for all your help.... he seems to be scribbling away now... whether its correct or not is another matter!!!

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somethingunderthebedisdrooling · 06/11/2006 19:13

if the subject of the sentence does the action in the sentence, it is an 'active' verb.

the dog (subject) bit the boy.

if the object of the sentence did the action then the verb is said to be 'passive' - since the subject did nothing.

the boy was bitten by the dog (object)

passive sentence usually have the word 'by' in them.

passive make for very boring reading as the mind likes the subject of sentences to do the action.

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