Comments on: Write a Better Essay: Do You Know these Three “Unspoken Rules”? http://www.survivingcollegelife.com/2010/03/26/write-a-better-essay-do-you-know-these-three-unspoken-rules/ An inside look at college life: dorms, roommates, finals, study tips, and how to get through it all. Thu, 17 May 2012 17:19:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Jamie http://www.survivingcollegelife.com/2010/03/26/write-a-better-essay-do-you-know-these-three-unspoken-rules/#comment-11928 Jamie Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:23:40 +0000 http://www.survivingcollegelife.com/?p=670#comment-11928 @Carolyn & Emily: Oh ladies! Is my face red? (And since you can't see it, I'll tell you--the answer is an emphatic YES.) I've removed my erroneous examples and really appreciate that you took the time to offer up your corrections (and links for proof!). Thanks for watching out for your fellow readers! @Carolyn & Emily: Oh ladies! Is my face red? (And since you can’t see it, I’ll tell you–the answer is an emphatic YES.) I’ve removed my erroneous examples and really appreciate that you took the time to offer up your corrections (and links for proof!). Thanks for watching out for your fellow readers!

]]> By: Emily http://www.survivingcollegelife.com/2010/03/26/write-a-better-essay-do-you-know-these-three-unspoken-rules/#comment-11926 Emily Sat, 27 Mar 2010 06:00:13 +0000 http://www.survivingcollegelife.com/?p=670#comment-11926 Just to be clear: "He was using passive voice" is NOT an example of passive voice. "She was running like a madman" is NOT passive voice. Those are both examples of the present progressive tense. I would not condone the test that says that if "was" is used before the main verb, then it's probably passive voice. It is *perfectly* legitimate to use "was + verb+ing" as the present progressive tense. That is not at all the same thing as the passive voice. Just to be clear: “He was using passive voice” is NOT an example of passive voice. “She was running like a madman” is NOT passive voice. Those are both examples of the present progressive tense.

I would not condone the test that says that if “was” is used before the main verb, then it’s probably passive voice. It is *perfectly* legitimate to use “was + verb+ing” as the present progressive tense. That is not at all the same thing as the passive voice.

]]> By: Carolyn http://www.survivingcollegelife.com/2010/03/26/write-a-better-essay-do-you-know-these-three-unspoken-rules/#comment-11924 Carolyn Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:29:12 +0000 http://www.survivingcollegelife.com/?p=670#comment-11924 "Was running" is actually just an active past form of "to run." It has an imperfect aspect. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperfect_tense. "She ran" is the active past form of "to run" with a perfect aspect. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_tense. Neither of them are passive. In fact, you can have a passive version of "to run" using both aspects. For a past passive with an imperfective aspect, you would use "she was being run," while for a past passive with a perfective aspect, you would say "she was ran." Perfect actions are completed; imperfect are incomplete. “Was running” is actually just an active past form of “to run.” It has an imperfect aspect. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperfect_tense.

“She ran” is the active past form of “to run” with a perfect aspect. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_tense.

Neither of them are passive. In fact, you can have a passive version of “to run” using both aspects. For a past passive with an imperfective aspect, you would use “she was being run,” while for a past passive with a perfective aspect, you would say “she was ran.”

Perfect actions are completed; imperfect are incomplete.

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