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A Concise Guide to English Grammar

Phillip Haisley

Section 11.10 Homework: Voice and Modals

Total estimated time: 45 minutes
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Subsection 11.10.1 Part 1: Voice Identification

Instructions.

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For each sentence, identify whether it is in active or passive voice. If passive, identify the actor (if present) and the original active construction.
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Example (completed).

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The report was written by the committee.
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Exercises.

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Exercise 1. The researchers carefully analyzed the data.
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Exercise 2. Three errors were discovered in the code.
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Exercise 3. The new policy will be announced tomorrow.
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Exercise 4. Someone stole my bicycle last night.
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Exercise 5. The building was constructed in 1920.
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Subsection 11.10.2 Part 2: Voice Transformation

Instructions.

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Convert each sentence to the opposite voice (active to passive or passive to active). Maintain the same tense and aspect.
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Example (completed).

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Active to passive: The architect has designed the new building.
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Answer: The new building has been designed by the architect.
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Exercises.

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Exercise 6. Active to passive: The team is preparing the presentation.
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Exercise 7. Active to passive: Someone had stolen the documents before the investigation began.
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Exercise 8. Passive to active: The experiment was conducted by the research team.
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Exercise 9. Passive to active: The proposal will be reviewed by the committee next week.
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Exercise 10. Active to passive: The company will hire fifty new employees.
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Subsection 11.10.3 Part 3: Modal Meaning

Instructions.

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For each sentence, identify the modal and classify its meaning using one of the following categories:
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Example (completed).

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You must submit the application by Friday.
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Exercises.

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Exercise 11. She can speak three languages fluently.
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Exercise 12. That might be the correct answer, but I’m not certain.
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Exercise 13. You should apologize for your mistake.
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Exercise 14. He must be exhausted after running the marathon.
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Exercise 15. May I leave the room early?
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Exercise 16. They could have won the game if they had practiced more.
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Exercise 17. Explain the difference between the two uses of must:
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  • a) You must wear a seatbelt. (Meaning type: _____)
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  • b) She’s not answering the phone. She must be asleep. (Meaning type: _____)
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Subsection 11.10.4 Part 4: Diagramming Voice and Modals

Instructions.

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For each sentence, complete the labeling table, write the bracket notation, and draw a tree diagram. Use the abbreviations from the Diagram Examples section (MOD for modals, AUX for auxiliaries, V for main verbs).
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Example (completed).

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She can swim.
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Role Subj Pred
Phrase NP VP
Word She can swim
POS PRON MOD V
Multi-level labeling table for "She can swim"
Bracket notation: [S [NP [PRON She]] [VP [MOD can] [V swim]]]
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Syntax tree for "She can swim" showing the modal auxiliary can preceding the main verb

Exercises.

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Exercise 18. The letter was delivered yesterday.
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Role
Phrase
Word The letter was delivered yesterday
POS
Exercise 19. She must leave before noon.
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Role
Phrase
Word She must leave before noon
POS
Exercise 20. The report can be finished tomorrow.
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Role
Phrase
Word The report can be finished tomorrow
POS
Exercise 21. He should have called earlier.
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Role
Phrase
Word He should have called earlier
POS
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Subsection 11.10.5 Part 5: Analysis and Application

Instructions.

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Read the passage below and answer the questions.
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Passage.

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The new policy was announced yesterday by the CEO. All employees must submit their feedback by next Friday. According to management, the changes should improve workplace efficiency. Some workers believe the policy might create additional challenges. However, the final decision will be made after all responses have been reviewed.
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Exercises.

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Exercise 22. Identify all passive voice constructions in the passage. For each, explain why the writer might have chosen passive over active voice.
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Exercise 23. Identify the modals in the passage and classify each as expressing certainty/possibility or obligation/permission:
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  • Modal 1: _____ — Type: _____
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  • Modal 2: _____ — Type: _____
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  • Modal 3: _____ — Type: _____
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