🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <16047@mindlink.bc.ca> Alan_Barclay@mindlink.bc.ca (Alan Barclay) writes:
>"There was a cat on the table"
>
>vs.
>
>"The cat sprawled on the table."
>
>Notice that the first sentence is passive and the second, active.  "Was" is
>an element in many passive constructions.  For that reason alone, hunting and
>rewriting is a good idea.  (P.S. could I write this paragraph without using
>"is?" :) )

Could you write this without "is"?  How about:

   Notice that the sentence now uses an active rather than a passive
   voice.  Many passive constructions use "was".  For that reason
   alone, hunting and rewriting yields stronger sentences.

Done as a quick exercise only - there is still room for improvement
(uh, make that, these sentences could still be improved).

Now, the capital question - are my alternate versions really an
improvement as far as the reader is concerned?

The Rhealist - Rheal Nadeau - nadeau@bnr.ca - Speaking only for myself