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Passive

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Latest post Thu, Nov 10 2005 7:25 AM by paco2004. 10 replies.
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hanuman_2000  +  156322 Tue, 08 Nov 05 08:45 AM

Hello,

Is the passive form of present perfect continuous tense possible?

If yes, please give me an example.

hanuman_2000
Joined on Thu, Aug 12 2004
INDIA
Contributing Member 1,644
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pieanne  +  156380 Tue, 08 Nov 05 01:32 PM

No, it doesn't seem to be used.

 
pieanne
Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005
South of France ...But I'm Belgian!
Veteran Member 7,517
I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...
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Jussive, 4 yr 14 days ago
 Pieanne wrote:

No, it doesn't seem to be used.

 

Agree

CalifJim  +  156431 Tue, 08 Nov 05 03:57 PM
Many people have been being assaulted in the streets of French cities lately.
And many cars have been being burned by angry young men.

Questions about unusual tenses have been being asked on this forum for as long as I can remember.

CJ
CalifJim
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member 22,380
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
Babujee, 4 yr 14 days ago
Never seen it used. Many grammar books say that it is not possible.
pieanne  +  156439 Tue, 08 Nov 05 04:08 PM

Sounds strange tough...

(nothing bad has been being reported in my tiny village so far)

 
pieanne
paco2004  +  156619 Tue, 08 Nov 05 11:06 PM

Hello guys

Professor Delmot McElholm says in his lecture note "The passive in English" for University Hannover as follows.

The progressive form of the passive theoretically exists in all the tenses, but is typically used in the present and past. Sentences like the following are extremely unusual, as they are felt to be awkward:
                 The Council has been rebuilding the Town Hall. -->
                 ? The Town Hall has been being rebuilt by the Council.

I would like to know why the passive sentence above is felt to be awkward.

paco
paco2004
Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004
Senior Member 4,095
In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English.
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CalifJim  +  156686 Wed, 09 Nov 05 02:12 AM
Paco,
I think it seems awkward just because there are so many words to say.
I don't think it sounds so awful, but it's true that these constructions just aren't used much.
CJ
CalifJim
paco2004  +  156687 Wed, 09 Nov 05 02:26 AM
 CalifJim wrote:
I think it seems awkward just because there are so many words to say.
Thanks CJ. Do you mean that the sound of "been being" (in "has/have been being done") or "be being" (in "will be being done) is unpleasant to ears?

paco
paco2004
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