The Hidden Doer

Active and passive, and why a writer might hide who did it

Lesson 17
Spicy

Name

Date

Chef Polpetta

Was is not proof of passive, and vague is not the same as hidden. Test the shape: could you add by someone?

Tick the right one

a“The soup was cold” is passive.“The soup was cold” is not passive, cold is not a verb.the doer

b“The recipe is kept secret” is active.“The recipe is kept secret” is passive.the doer

c“Somebody ate the last cannoli” is passive.“Somebody ate the last cannoli” is active, a vague doer still leads.the doer

d“Nonna keeps the recipe secret” is active.“Nonna keeps the recipe secret” is passive.the doer

Find the 6 mistakes

Polpetta sorted the week's sentences into active and passive, quite sure of himself. The chef cooked the soup (active). The soup was cooked by the chef (active). Mia laid the tables (passive). Somebody ate the last cannoli (active). The last cannoli was eaten (active). Nonna keeps the recipe secret (passive). The recipe is kept secret (active). Mistakes were made (passive). The soup was cold (passive).

Six labels lie. Careful: was does not make a passive on its own. One vague-looking label is already right.

Write the corrections here

SPAGhetti · Lesson 17 · The Hidden Doer · Spicy Turn over → 1 of 2

The Hidden Doer

Lesson 17 · Spicy · side 2

Name

Now you write

☆☆☆

a One event three ways, active, passive with by, passive alone, and when each is fair:

b A passive that is honest work and a passive that is dodging blame, labelled:

c A sentence with was that is not passive, and the proof:

Help Polpetta

Chef Polpetta

I tightened my report, Mistakes were made, the cannoli was eaten, and the soup was cold. Three passives, no blame anywhere, no?

Tell him which of his three is not even passive, and unmask the doers in the other two.

SPAGhetti · Lesson 17 · The Hidden Doer · Spicy · 2 of 2 Play it
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