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What are “be” verbs? How do writers use them?
“Be” verbs describe states of existence objectively, in terms of both
when
and
what
.
There are three main ways we use “be” verbs:
As Helping verbs to help us understand when actions happen.
She is running (now); She was running (before).
As Linking verbs to link/connect the subject to additional information.
I am tired (I=tired); They are sports fans (they=sports fans)
To construct the passive voice, which is when a sentence’s subject changes from
the agent (the do-er of the action) to the object (the thing being acted upon).
passive
: The ball was thrown by him;
active
: He threw the ball.
What are some examples of “be” verbs?
Present tense: am, are, is; (I am, you/they are, he/she/it is)
Past tense: was, were; (I was, you/they were, he/she/it was)
Past participle: been; (I have been; he/she/it has been, they have been)
Present participle: being; (I am being)
Writers are sometimes told by readers to use more “active voice.” What is
“active voice”?
Sometimes “be” verbs are necessary in writing. However, it is easy to overuse them.
Overuse can result in “weak” and “ambiguous” writing. Replacing “be” verbs with
active verbs has many benefits:
Writing is stronger/clearer.
Writing is more descriptive.
Vocabulary is expanded.
Writing is less repetitive/more succinct.
Active
Voice and
“Be” Verbs
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Active Voice and “Be” Verbs
For example, check out the following sentences to see how eliminating “be” verbs can
strengthen a sentence:
Biology is interesting to me. Biology interests me.
My paper is an examination of gender. My paper examines gender.
The bell is a symbol of freedom. The bell symbolizes freedom.
What are some ways that writers can edit their work to bring in more active
voice?
As mentioned before, “be” verbs can be used as helping verbs and linking verbs as
well as for constructing passive sentences.
Editing linking verbs
Many alternatives come from the five senses and bring some amount of subjectivity
into writing, so make sure you use them appropriately.
Some examples: seem, appear, become, grow, remain, stay, prove, feel, look, smell.
He appears angry.
My argument remains unchanged.
The evidence becomes crucial.
Editing helping verbs
We can return to a sample pair of sentences provided earlier in the handout.
Biology is interesting to me. Biology interests me.
Here, we cut the “be” verb, “is,” and rewrite and reposition “interesting” to create a
more active sentence.
Editing passive sentences
You can change a
passive
sentence to an
active
sentence by simply moving the actor
in the sentence from the end of the sentence to the beginning of the sentence.
My appendix was taken out by my doctor. My doctor took out my appendix.
