Is this possible as reported speech? I think it sure is but why the past perfect passive is possible? I thought a passive sentence is usually used when the identity of an agent is not an issue. What could be the agent in this case? I met him

The "rule" of not mixing active and passive only applies where it is possible to make all the parts active or all passive. Further note that the example on that website is of a sentence of two independent clauses joined by

Hi Kooyeen I really don't have any statistics on which tense would be more frequently used in informal AmE in a passive sentence like yours. But I do think that we're more likely to the present perfect in "Damn! My bike's been stolen!" than to use

Hi Kooyeeen I agreed with you that, in AmE, using the present perfect would be more "natural" in that sort of passive sentence than it would be in the active version of the same sentence. However, I also wanted to emphasize the fact that you added

Yankee wrote: I do see your point, though. I suppose we would tend to be more "willing" to use the present perfect in a sentence such as " My bike's been stolen. " -- especially with "Damn!" preceding it. Still, I wouldn't find " Damn! My bike

Yankee wrote: If you decide to use the present perfect, then it doesn't matter whether the sentence is active or passive. You have decided to use the present perfect. Period. Likewise, if you decide to use the past simple, then it doesn't matter

If you decide to use the present perfect, then it doesn't matter whether the sentence is active or passive. You have decided to use the present perfect. Period. Likewise, if you decide to use the past simple, then it doesn't matter whether the

Hi Active sentence: Somebody stole my bicycle. Passive sentence: My bicycle has been stolen. Is the passive sentence OK, in your opinion? I would write: My bicycle was (simple past) stolen. As far as I know if the active sentence is

I must ask more about this. 3.He died in the 17th century. --> This is present tense. 4.He seems to have died in the 17th century. --> Is this too a present tense? I think this is a passive sentence

Hi Ohn What you seem to have overlooked here is that the main verb in your short little sentence is ask . " I'm being asked " = the present continuous of the verb ask in the passive voice . " I'm being asked " = " Someone is asking me. " " Someone