E Prime (it means English Prime) is a way of speaking English without using the verb "to be" in any way ("be, is, am, are, was, were, been, and being"). Instead, an E Prime speaker or writer uses different verbs like "to become," "to remain," and "to equal" or they might choose to rearrange the sentence to show that the "thing" does not actually "act". For example, in E Prime, a writer would change the statement "Mistakes were made" to "Joe made mistakes." This change in wording reveals an actor (Joe) where the previous form concealed the actor. Users of E Prime would consider the changed sentence more accurate.
E Prime
Questions and Answers
Q: What is E Prime?
A: E Prime is a way of speaking and writing English without using the verb "to be" in any way.
Q: What verbs can be used in place of "to be" in E Prime?
A: Verbs like "to become," "to remain," and "to equal" can be used as alternatives to "to be" in E Prime.
Q: What is the purpose of using E Prime?
A: The purpose of using E Prime is to eliminate ambiguity in communication and to encourage clear thinking by revealing actors in sentences that may have been previously concealed.
Q: How would someone using E Prime change the sentence "Mistakes were made"?
A: A person using E Prime would change the sentence "Mistakes were made" to "Joe made mistakes" to show an actor in the sentence, which was previously concealed.
Q: What does it mean to reveal an actor in a sentence, according to E Prime users?
A: To reveal an actor in a sentence means to show the person or thing that is performing the action, and it is considered more accurate by E Prime users.
Q: Can E Prime sentences still include passive voice?
A: E Prime does not strictly prohibit passive voice, but its use is minimized to maintain clarity and accuracy in communication.
Q: How does E Prime encourage clear thinking?
A: E Prime encourages clear thinking by forcing speakers and writers to identify and explicitly state the actors in a sentence, which can help eliminate ambiguity and promote greater understanding.