Active vs. be verbs

In each pair, click on the sentence that has an active verb, not a weak be verb. (Although not all uses of be verbs are weak, you can assume that the examples in this exercise illustrate weak uses of be, am, is, are, was, were, being, and been.)

For help with this exercise, see Strong, active verbs.

Example

1 of 10

Question

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◯ Sudden weight loss can be an indicator of many serious health problems.
◯ Sudden weight loss can indicate many serious health problems.
Active vs. be verbs – 1

2 of 10

Question

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◯ We intend to update the company’s Web site by the end of the year.
◯ It is our intention to update the company’s Web site by the end of the year.
Active vs. be verbs – 2

3 of 10

Question

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◯ On our first day in Italy, we noticed immediately that our taxi driver spoke good English; he even knew all the latest slang.
◯ On our first day in Italy, it was immediately clear that our taxi driver spoke good English; he even knew all the latest slang.
Active vs. be verbs – 3

4 of 10

Question

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◯ There were several agents at Council Travel who could speak Spanish.
◯ Several agents at Council Travel could speak Spanish.
Active vs. be verbs – 4

5 of 10

Question

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◯ The CEO is aware of the fact that morale in our division has plummeted.
◯ The CEO knows that morale in our division has plummeted.
Active vs. be verbs – 5

6 of 10

Question

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◯ The chemical company was in violation of several environmental laws.
◯ The chemical company violated several environmental laws.
Active vs. be verbs – 6

7 of 10

Question

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◯ Judge Kwan believes that a televised pretrial hearing would prejudice potential jurors.
◯ Judge Kwan is of the belief that a televised pretrial hearing would prejudice potential jurors.
Active vs. be verbs – 7

8 of 10

Question

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◯ Are women more tolerant of pain than men are?
◯ Do women tolerate pain better than men do?
Active vs. be verbs – 8

9 of 10

Question

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◯ The student volunteers did not trust the psychologists who conducted the experiment.
◯ The student volunteers were distrustful of the psychologists who conducted the experiment.
Active vs. be verbs – 9

10 of 10

Question

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◯ Henry’s claim was that the supervisor had systematically denied promotion to older employees.
◯ Henry claimed that the supervisor had systematically denied promotion to older employees.
Active vs. be verbs – 10