Passsive

We say:"He's too hot to handle"

and why don't we say:"he's too hot to be handled"?

OR

"the picture doesn't show" instead of "the picture can't be shown.."

Because the sentences are in passive, right?

Can you guys show me some other words which are used the same way as "handle"?

 

Main Entry:	handle
Part of Speech:	verb 2
Definition:	manage
Synonyms:	administer, advise, apply, behave toward, bestow, command, conduct, control, cope with, deal with, direct, discuss, dispense, dominate, employ, exercise, exploit, govern, guide, hack it*, make out*, maneuver, manipulate, operate, play, ply, run, run things, serve, steer, supervise, swing, take, treat, use, utilize, wield, work

<Can you guys show me some other words which are used the same way as "handle"?>

Elida wrote:

Milky wrote: Main Entry:   handle Part of Speech:   verb 2 Definition:   manage Synonyms:   administer, advise, apply, behave toward, bestow, command, conduct, control, cope with, deal with, direct, discuss, dispense, dominate, employ, exercise, exploit, govern, guide, hack it*, make out*, maneuver, manipulate, operate, play, ply, run, run things, serve, steer, supervise, swing, take, treat, use, utilize, wield, work <Can you guys show me some other words which are used the same way as "handle"?> i wasn't looking for synonyms but thanx anyway. i was lookin' for words which have the same grammar usage.

Any transitive verb [with a direct object] can be used in the passive voice.

This pan is too hot to handle.
= *This pan is too hot for a person to handle [it/this pan].
= This pan is so hot that a person cannot handle it.

There is nothing unusual about the word handle that allows this grammatical pattern.  Just about any verb that makes sense in that context can be used the same way.  too hot to touch, too hot to hold

Compare:

This suitcase is too heavy to carry.
= *This suitcase is too heavy for a person to carry [it/this suitcase].
= This suitcase is so hot that a person cannot carry it.

My friend Sally is too upset to talk to just now.
= *My friend Sally is too upset for a person to talk to [her/Sally] just now.
= My friend Sally is so upset that a person cannot talk to her just now.

Microbes are too small to see without a microscope.
= *Microbes are too small for a person to see [them / microbes] without a microscope.
= Microbes are so small that a person cannot see them without a microscope.

CJ

Great!

(I, not i, by the way.  )

CJ