Changing Voice

Directions: Given below are sentences taken from Jimmy Santiago Baca’s “Coming into Language.” Please change the construction to passive voice if active is given or active voice if passive is given. Use the strategies we discussed in class.

Subject Verb Object the door of the administration 1. Active: I would lock office. Passive:

2. Active: byfamiliar-looking word on the Passive: One night my eye was caught spine of a book. an old drunk and handcuffed him 3. Active: Some detectives had kneed to the booking bars. Passive:

4. Active: The prison administrators tried several tactics to get me to work.

Passive:

5. Active: Styrofoam cups of urine Passive: were hurled at me. and hot water my name from a list of cons who 6. Active: He had picked had no one to write to them. Passive:

7. Active: Squad car lights reddened the cool nights.

Passive: such freedom as in that 8. Active: Never had I felt dormitory. Passive: 9. Active: Suddenly, through Passive: language, through writing, could be shared with anyone who would listen. my grief and my joy The jangle of his keys and 10. Active: the sharp click of his boot intensified my solitude. heels Passive: