I am writing a short story .Is it compulsory to write every dialogue as "xyz"she beckoned or is "xyz"she beckons more correct?I am good at writing stories but i am not sure about the creative writing part or the nitty grittys of the grammar of creative writing .Is my question pertaining to the usage of active / passive voice?
2006-11-12 21:49:39 · 13 answers · asked by gulliver 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
"where were you?".
will be right.
2006-11-12 21:52:18 · answer #1 · answered by Gia 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the best one would be:
"where were you?" she questioned.
Usually short stories are written in the past tense, irrespective of the tense within the quotation marks.
No this does not pertain to active/passive voice. See the following links on the difference between the two.
Hope this helps
2006-11-12 22:10:54 · answer #2 · answered by ludacrusher 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
actually both are correct. and yes your question does pertain to the usage of active/passive voice.
it really all depends on how you wish to write the story or rather how you wish to have the reader follow your story. you may use both tenses actually. for example, you can be writing a story in the active voice which would bring the reader in more. but then say you are explaining something within the short story. you can easily use the passive voice.
its a story. the whole thing doesn't have to be one voice. switching it appropriately and effectively can work to your benefit. you only true stick to one voice when writing essays or things of that nature.
2006-11-12 22:00:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anthony Taurus 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are correct in raising the question of active / passive voice. In actuality, both are correct. It just depends on the tense at which you have placed your entire passage in.
If your statement is written in the past tense, then use the first one: "Where were you?" she questioned.
If, on the other hand, it was in the present tense, then use the second one: "Where were you?" she questions.
Be consistent in using your tenses.
Now if you have been reading carefully, my second "If" statement uses "was" which should have been "is" as my entire response is in the present tense ... just another food for thought. ;)
Hope this helps! Keep the compositions coming! You're on to something great!
2006-11-12 21:57:55 · answer #4 · answered by jjerc 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The first one as you are talking about a past tense.
2006-11-12 21:52:36 · answer #5 · answered by Johny0555 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends whether you are writing in the past or present tense. She questioned implies she asked the question earlier and she questions implies she is asking the question now.
2006-11-12 22:59:13 · answer #6 · answered by clairelou_lane 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it depends what tense you are using. She questioned is the past tense and she questions is the present tense. so it all revolves around what tense you are wrinting in.
2006-11-12 21:53:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
''Where were you she questioned''. It something she wanted to know as in past/tense. Like where have you been?
2006-11-12 21:52:32 · answer #8 · answered by Scatty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she asked or she questioned is past tense. she questions is present tense. so it depends on when she did the questioning, if she already did it, then she questioned or asked, if she is questioning now, she questions
hope this helps
2006-11-13 00:40:04 · answer #9 · answered by Shadow 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I find your question quite stunning, and I now consider myself quite stunned.
2006-11-12 22:05:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
the first one sounds much more better. i read alot of stories and the first one would keep me more interested!
2006-11-12 21:51:20 · answer #11 · answered by Kirsty N 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋