Active/Passive Voice
1.
Mrs. Edwards died of cancer a year ago.
Correct answer: No
Explanation: There is no direct object in this sentence:
Mrs. Edwards died of cancer a year ago.
"of cancer" is a cause and "a year ago" refers to a point in time; neither is a direct object
2.
Mrs. Taylor rewrote her will before losing consciousness.
Correct answer: Yes
Explanation: Mrs. Taylor rewrote her will before losing consciousness
She rewrote what? (direct object: her will). "Before losing consciousness" refers to a point in time; it is not a direct object.
3.
The court should consider the defendant's clean record.
Correct answer: Yes
Explanation: The court should consider the defendant's clean record.
The court should consider what? (direct object: the defendant's clean record).
4.
The court will request information about the deal.
Correct answer: Yes
Explanation: The court will request information about the deal.
The court will request what? (direct object: information about the deal).
5.
Granting authorization to take the children to that meeting was not a good idea.
Correct answer: No
Explanation: There is no direct object after a copula or linking verb (was). (Note: a copula or linking verb links the subject of a sentence with the rest of the sentence (the predicate) but does not directly act on, or with respect to, an object (does not supply an answer to the question "what?") as in earlier examples: "John bought a laptop" or "Mrs. Taylor rewrote her will." In addition to the verb TO BE, examples of copula or linking verbs include perception copulas (appear, seem, feel, look, smell, sound, taste), state-of-rest copulas (lie, remain, rest, stand), and change-of-state copulas (become, come, fall, get, go, grow, run, turn).)
6.
The officers conducted a thorough drug search in that location and found 25 pounds of cocaine there.
Correct answer: Yes
Explanation: The officers conducted a thorough drug search in that location and found 25 pounds of cocaine there.
What did they conduct? (Direct object: "a thorough drug search"). "In that location" refers to the place where the search was conducted and "25 pounds of cocaine" is the object of "found", not "conducted"
7.
Mr. Hunton is building the shelter near the end of the park.
Correct answer: Yes
Explanation: Mr. Hunton is building the shelter near the end of the park..
What did they build? (Direct object: "the shelter"). "near the end of the park" refers to the place where the shelter is being built and is consequently not a direct object.
8.
The plaintiff's family has owned that store since the 1950s.
Correct answer: Yes
Explanation: The plaintiff's family has owned that store since the 1950s.
What have they owned? (Direct object: "that store"). "since the 1950s" refers to a period of time; it is not a direct object.
9.
The defendant disappeared from the neighborhood that same day.
Correct answer: No
Explanation: The defendant disappeared from the neighborhood that same day.
Where did the defendant disappear from? (Direct object: "from the neighborhood"). When? ("that same day").
10.
The company manager openly encouraged the closing of a satisfactory deal.
Correct answer: Yes
Explanation: The company manager openly encouraged the closing of a satisfactory deal.
What did the manager openly encourage? (Direct object: "the closing of a satisfactory deal").
