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Anonymous, 262 days ago
 can anyone help me??

is it right to say: I have been revealed the secret. ? (=the secret has been revealed to me)

is this transformation possible?

THX!

Yankee  +  683854 Fri, 06 Mar 09 11:22 PM
Hi Anon

In the active voice you can say:
(1) "Someone has revealed the secret." 
You can also say:
(2)"Someone has revealed the secret to me." 

The verb "reveal" is naturally monotransitive.  However, that does not rule out the possibility of adding an indirect object as in sentence 2 (using "to me").

However, it is not idiomatic to give the verb "reveal" an indirect object this way:
*(3)"Someone has revealed me the secret.


It seems to me that is why this passive version is fine:
"The secret has been revealed to me."

And that is also the reason that this passive version is not acceptable:
* "I have been revealed the secret."
Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006
Connecticut, USA
Veteran Member 6,500
Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain
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