insidelight  +  960118 Mon, 02 Nov 09 09:29 PM Hi. I´m studying Passives and the writer says that we normally use the preposition TO and sometimes FOR before the personal object, e.g.: A letter has been sent to the Minister. But he also says that some verbs like: allow,ask, cause, forgive and deny don´t take a preposition before the personal object and gives this example: Permission was refused him. Might you give me another examples of this case, I cannot understand  or applicatethis rule at all. Thanks in advance insidelight Joined on Mon, Apr 6 2009 New Member 15 Prepositions

	Mister Micawber  +  960476 Tue, 03 Nov 09 07:16 AM A few minutes was all that was allowed him. A difficult question was then asked him. And for all the trouble that was caused him, he received not a jot or tittle of recompense. All his sins were forgiven him on his deathbed. Permission was denied him. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,789 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

	insidelight  +  961540 Wed, 04 Nov 09 03:11 PM Ok, thank you very much!! So, might it be right? His friends´names were asked him and this question made him have a terrible headache. passive: A terrible headache was caused him by their asking his friends´names. insidelight

	Mister Micawber  +  961856 Wed, 04 Nov 09 10:44 PM Yes, awkward but grammatically OK.  Please realize that although many passive forms are theoretically possible, they are not actually used. Mister Micawber