Write an Active Voice Sentence for Each of These Passive Sentences
(From a Tune up Manual for a 1970 Volkswagen)
Directions: To make passive sentences active, you must:
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See and eliminate all ‘to be’ verbs (is, are, was, be, been, were, am) and their helping verbs
ending in ‘ed’ (aimed, attached, based, checked, located, positioned, provided, purchased,
pushed, recommended, replaced, required, secured, set, timed, used).
Invent and insert a (missing) subject at the beginning of the sentence (you, you understood, we,
Volkswagen).
Note: Often, passive voice sentences don’t say anything of use. When you spot a sentence that
doesn’t tell the reader how to do a task, don’t rewrite it. Delete it.
1. Although these instructions are based on the 1970 VW engine, you can apply these
instructions to any 1960s Bug model.
These 1970 VW engine instructions also apply to any 1960s model Bug.
2. And since the engine is similar to other, older VWs, you can apply these instructions
to them as well.
[DELETE]
3. German cars are built with metric-sized parts.
You will need metric tools to work on your Volkswagen car.
4. This user’s guide has been written in such a way that you can easily move from step
to step without hurting yourself or causing damage to your car engine.
Follow the user guide instructions, to easily step through each task without
hurting yourself or damaging your car engine.
5. Be aware of the parts you are touching and your immediate work area while working
on your car.
Stay aware of your immediate work area and the parts you are touching, to
avoid injuries while working on your car.
6. If you feel heat, the engine is too hot to work on.
Do not work on the engine if you can feel heat.
7. Be aware that there may be some sharp corners or surfaces.
Look out for sharp corners or surfaces.
8. The car is not on during the tune-up.
Leave the engine off while doing the tune-up.
9. The best location is a flat driveway or inside your garage.
Use a flat driveway or your garage as the work location.
10. Space for an old mat, cushion, or stepstool to sit on while working might be useful.
Use an old mat, cushion, or stepstool to sit on while working on your car.
11. If you do not see the condenser, it may be located inside the distributor under the
cap.
If you do not see the condenser, check for it under the distributor cap (1).
(1) Or better yet, get a different user guide since we don’t even know where
the condenser is.
12. Below each spark plug, embossed or otherwise marked on the engine metal, is the
assigned number for that cylinder and spark plug combination.
Locate the assigned cylinder/spark plug number on the engine metal directly
below each spark plug.
13. You are now ready to replace the old distributor ignition points and rotor with new
parts.
At this time, use the new parts to replace the old distributor ignition points
and rotor.
14. If there is a plastic dust cover below where the rotor was, remove it and set it aside.
If you find a plastic dust cover below where the rotor was, remove it and set it
aside.
15. A magnetic screwdriver is recommended.
Use a magnetic screwdriver.
16. Be careful not to drop the screw once it is past the area protected by rags.
Do not drop the screw once it is past the area protected by rags.
17. It is important that these circular disks be in good condition if your car is to run
smoothly.
To keep your car running smoothly, ensure that these circular disks are still
in good condition.
18. Replace with new ignition points, if purchased.
If you have purchased new ignition points, then replace the old ones.
19. File down any damaged areas on the old ignition points if a new part is not available,
but replace as soon as a new part is purchased.
Until a replacement part can be purchased, file down any damaged areas on
the old ignition points.
20. The adjustment of the ignition points is critical for setting the timing of the engine.
Note that the adjustment of the ignition points is the critical setting for
engine timing.
21. Check that the rags under and around the distributor are still in place.
Verify that the rags under and around the distributor have not moved.
22. Tighten the screw until there is no movement.
Tighten the screw until it no longer moves.
23. Pull off a piece of masking tape and firmly attach it to spark plug wire #1, where it
is visible.
Using a piece of masking tape, mark spark plug wire #1 in a visible location.
24. Look at the rotor’s metal tipped end and determine which spark plug wire it is
pointing to.
Determine which spark plug wire the rotor’s metal tipped end points to.
25. If the meter needle does not move, the batteries should be replaced.
Replace the batteries if the meter needle does not move.
26. The timing is now finished.
This step completes the timing task.
27. If you are not careful when lining up the old and new caps, you may end up misswiring the spark plug wires.
Line up the old and new caps carefully to prevent miss-wiring the spark
plugs.
28. The gap on the threaded end of the spark plug should be.
Locate the spark plug gap on the threaded end.
29. It is time to replace the spark plug if it is oily, black, or light tan.
Replace the spark plug if it is oily, black, or light tan.
30. If the belt moved more than an inch, the belt is too loose and needs to be tightened.
If you can move the belt more than an inch, then it’s too loose and needs
further tightening.
31. Repeat steps 4 through 8 if the belt is still loose until the tension is properly set.
If the belt is still loose, adjust the tension by repeating steps 4 through 8.
32. Take a few minutes and review the following, to ensure no steps were overlooked.
To ensure that you have not overlooked any steps, take a few minutes to
review the following material.
33. Examine the engine to make sure that all four spark plugs were replaced with the
spark plug wires properly attached to each.
Examine the engine to ensure that you replaced all four spark plugs, and
correctly attached each one to the proper spark plug wire.
34. The tune up is now complete.
This step completes the tune up.
35. The electrical and mechanical engine parts are properly timed by setting the position
of the ignition points in relation to the shaft.
To properly time the electrical and mechanical engine parts, set the position
of the ignition points relative to the shaft.
36. The gap distance is set as part of the tune-up.
Set the gap distance during the tune-up.
37. If the gap is not properly set, the car may not run smoothly or might backfire.
Set the gap properly to ensure that the car runs smoothly and does not
backfire.
38. The spark plug is connected to the distributor by one spark plug wire.
Connect each spark plug to the distributor using one spark plug wire.
39. Above, and slightly back from the pulley is a small protruding metal block that the
pulley notch aims to when positioned at TDC.
When positioned at TDC, the pulley notch aims at a small protruding metal
block located above, and slightly back from the pulley.
40. The hose is checked for debris during the tune-up and occasionally needs to be
replaced.
During the tune-up, check the hose for debris, and if necessary, replace it.