100 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 4 Grammar Skills Properties of Verbs Verbs can have one or more of five different properties: voice, mood, tense, person, and number. Understanding the properties of verbs can help you create messages that are free of verb errors. Voice An action verb can be in either active voice or passive voice. In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. In the first example that follows, the subject (Alfred) performs the action (rowing). In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon, as in the second example. Alfred rowed the boat. The boat was rowed by Alfred. Sentences written in active voice are considered to be more direct and easier to understand than those written in passive voice. Sentences in passive voice can seem wordy or awkward. However, using passive voice is appropriate in some cases. When you do not know who performed the action, use passive voice, as in the following example. Passive voice is often used in writing scientific papers to make actions or conclusions sound more objective. The car was stolen. Mood The mood of a verb relates to the way in which the speaker or writer wants the sentence to be understood. The indicative mood is most commonly used. It expresses a straightforward statement of fact or opinion or asks a question. The imperative mood states a command or a direct request. The subjunctive mood expresses an idea, suggestion, or hypothetical situation. Examples of sentences in each mood are as follows. Indicative The snowstorm raged for two days. When will the new printer be delivered? Imperative Leave the building. Please pass your papers to the front. Subjunctive I recommend that you hire three assistants. If I were you, I would read this book. The subjunctive mood is used to give a suggestion. “You should practice your music more often.” Jacob Gregory/Shutterstock.com