http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aPassiveSearch results for 'tag:Passive' matching tag 'Passive'en-USXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoice/ljchm/post.htm#963685Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:35:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:963685yankeeYour sentence is grammatically correct, but it is not particularly natural. People generally would not use such a passive sentence. Using the active voice would be far better: "Tom has been solving the problems for 15 minutes."http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentActivePassiveSameFrame/lhrcq/post.htm#953345Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:57:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:953345dimsumexpressHi A few comments to your question... Traditionally, ESL students have been taught passive tense by adding "by" to an agent in the sentence. This rule can be misleading, or at least proved confusing to some learners. Not all verbs and sentence are passive compatible, at least idiomaically. For instance: John tripped over his pants and fell down the stairs. In your passive sentence, "home work was done by Joe" is grammatically correct but you wouldn't catch a native saying it that way. Passive voice is used when an agent is not essential to the sentence, or in situations where agent is intentionally omitted, in other words, not all passive sentences would include an agent. i.e....http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoice/lgrvm/post.htm#948569Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:58:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:948569califjimPrevious climbers had cut steps in the ice. R: The ice the climbers got had cut steps . Steps ... ... ... by previous climbers. We use this room only on special occasions. R: On special occasions we used this room. This room ... ... ... They Are carrying heavy suitcases . R: Heav y suitcases are being car ri ed by them. (You did this one almost perfectly.) Someone will serve refreshments . R: refreshments had been served. (Keep will : Refreshments will be served .) You've got the right idea in the last two. You put the direct object (underlined) of the active sentence as the subject (at the beginning) of the passive sentence. But note that your placement of words is not correct in the first two. You didn't find the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Grammar/lvqkc/post.htm#943520Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:40:12 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:943520anonymous(1) In the United States, you may say "I have three hats" or "I have got three hats." They both mean the same. In the United States, "I have gotTEN three hats = I have just acquired or obtained them. (2) "I will have you arrested" = I will cause you (to be) arrested. You do not say the words "to be," but they are in your mind. This is a kind of passive sentence with "to be." So it is followed by the past participle ("arrested"). Grammar books call "have" and "get" causative verbs when they are used this way. In "I will have you arrested," you cause something to happen to someone = have + noun/pronoun + past participle. Sometimes you cause...http://www.englishforums.com/English/InvokeVsEvoke/lbzhc/post.htm#927633Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:55:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:927633mister micawberBy 'the agent', I mean the subject of an active sentence, or the object of 'by' in a passive sentence.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ActiveAndPassiveSentences/kxlqr/post.htm#907654Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:47:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:907654califjim2. My father painted the house. The house was painted by my father. 3. The storm will destroy the harvest. The harvest was will be destroyed by the storm. 4. He has knocked the fence over. The fence was has been knocked over by him. 5. The man in the black hat found the child. The child was found by the man in the black hat. You get them wrong if the example is not in the past tense! You need to keep the same tense even though you change voice. _________ 2. The supermarket will be opened by the mayor. The major will open the supermarket. 3. The charge was made by the police. The police made the charge. 4. The drawings were done by a famous artist. The famous artist made did the se drawings. Don't change...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ActiveAndPassiveSentences/kxlqr/post.htmFri, 18 Sep 2009 15:21:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:907443jeroden2504Hi there, I am just wondering if I have re-worded these sentences correctly. The first group of sentences have to be changed from active to passive, and the sencond group from passive to active. My answer will be in Italic and bolded. I believe that the majority of them are correct. Thank you for your help. Exercise This has the effect of focusing attention on the subject or the result of the action rather than the ‘doer’ of the action. The passive voice can be used in all tenses. Rewrite the following in the PASSIVE voice: 2. My father painted the house. The house was painted by my father. 3. The storm will destroy the harvest. The harvest was destroyed by the storm. 4. He has knocked the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionsMainlyEnglishArticles/kxdkl/post.htm#905350Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:30:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:905350anonymousThank you. You wrote/corrected (with your comment): 2. This seminar could prove beneficial to those who haven't attended a school in the past. -- In the right context you could say this but as a standalone sentence the article doesn't fit. This seminar could prove beneficial to those who haven't attended school in the past. -- Okay Further questions: 1. Do you think the use of the article in this instance is correct? Let me try to make up a context which may or may not be appropriate. OK, guys. I want to let you know that I have been attending these seminars for some time now. I have studied people coming into our seminars and have figured that some of them have post-secondary...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IAmDoneOrIHaveDone/4/jcgjk/Post.htm#893910Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:22:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:893910grammar geekI vote for " I have done" Be + Pass Participle ("am done") sound like a passive sentence e.g. The painting was done by Picasso. The painting was done with oils on canvas. No, sorry. "I have done" is the one version of the three that doesn't work. Did you read the rest of the thread?http://www.englishforums.com/English/IAmDoneOrIHaveDone/4/jcgjk/Post.htm#893496Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:24:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:893496anonymousI vote for " I have done" Be + Pass Participle ("am done") sound like a passive sentence e.g. The painting was done by Picasso. The painting was done with oils on canvas.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ConvertActiveVicePassive-Voice/2/vdppv/Post.htm#864466Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:51:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:864466cliveHi, W hat does M r B ibhusan teach? You need capital letters. The passive sentence starts with "What is taught . . . " Can you complete it? Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Hi/kzklj/post.htm#863350Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:57:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:863350dokterjokkebrokNo. But this specific syntactic form does require the past participle. Let me explain. You wrote 'It can be done' this is called a passive sentence. We use this form to denote that the subject undergoes an action. What the subject is here, is not specified, but that doesn't matter. e.g. John kicks the ball. active sentence revolves around John kicking the ball. (John actively does something: kicking the ball) e.g. The ball is kicked by John passive sentence revolves around the ball being kicked (the ball undergoes something: kicking. The ball itself doesn't do anything). Now if we revisit your sentences, you may or may not see that all of them have more...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ProvedOrWasProven/jgqcj/post.htm#786818Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:20:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:786818califjimBy the way, are some intransitive verbs rarely found in Passive? Yes. Intransitive verbs are very, very, very, very rarely found in the passive -- in fact, so rarely that it never occurs. Sentences with intransitive verbs cannot be put in the passive at all. Consider that you form a passive by making the object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence. Intransitive means, more or less, not having an object, so there is no object that can be made the subject of a passive. Intransitive verbs are those which cannot take direct object or take it only with preposition, aren't those they ? Exactly! CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TestPassiveVoice/jzwhp/post.htmSat, 13 Jun 2009 18:23:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:778700tanitChoose the verb which best completes each sentence. Enjoy. ___________________________________ 1 She was anxious "to be selected|to select|to have selected|to be selecting" for the post of the Personal Assistant to the Director in the recently affiliated Jacob Sussard Company. 2 - ‘Why are the Newtons asking for loan repayment modifications?' - ‘Because their house "was damaged|damaged|had damaged|was being damaged" in the flood.' 3 - ‘How's the new town planning going?' - ‘Oh, there's still a lot "to be done|having done|has been done|have done".' 4 - ‘How did his speech go?' - ‘With all the noise outside, he couldn't "make|be making|be made|have made"...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheUseOfPrecede/jdjlg/post.htm#769582Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:26:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:769582avangiOkay, we're making progress. Thanks, Clive. Clive does not object to the idea of a person as the subject of the verb "to precede." That is, "She preceded A with B. So you're clear on your original examples, aside from giving up your poetic "The day preceded etc." I think the passive sentences are most natural, but of course that's up to you. It's interesting that while #3 & #4 use the same words, their structures are theoretically different, assuming a person as actor in #4, and an event as actor in #3. Okay, guys, much ado about nothing. I just renewed my MW Unabridged so I could settle this, and found the answer was under my nose. It lists #5, to cause to be preceded. So I went back...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheUseOfPrecede/jdjlg/post.htm#769529Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:22:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:769529avangiOkay, we're making progress. Thanks, Clive. Clive does not object to the idea of a person as the subject of the verb "to precede." That is, "She preceded A with B. So you're clear on your original examples, aside from giving up your poetic "The day preceded etc." I think the passive sentences are most natural, but of course that's up to you. It's interesting that while #3 & #4 use the same words, their structures are theoretically different, assuming a person as actor in #4, and an event as actor in #3.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoice/wxnrj/post.htmThu, 21 May 2009 04:36:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:740716anonymousWhat is the passive sentence of the following sentences: 1. I ask John to open the door. * which one is correct=" I ask the door opened by John" or " I ask the door to be opened by John"? 2. I tell John to open the door 3. I order John to open the door thank you Vivihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfTheWordThwart/whxdp/post.htm#706713Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:36:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:706713yankeeHi Anon Yes, you can say that. You have used "was thwarted" and that is a passive structure. As you may know, in order to build a passive sentence, you need a verb that is transitive (i.e. takes an object). The object of an active sentence becomes the subject in the passive version of the sentence. Thus, in the active version of your sentence, "he" (him) would be the object of the verb "thwart": PASSIVE SENTENCE: - He was thwarted (by two soldiers) when two soldiers passed by. ACTIVE SENTENCE: - Two soldiers thwarted him when they passed by.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Hatched/wggzv/post.htm#699804Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:47:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:699804mr wordyActually, there's another aspect to this. This might be over-complicating things, so if it just confuses you then ignore it. In the passive sentence "The vase was broken by John", it's important that the vase was broken by someone and we're told who that is. However, in the sentence "The vase was broken" the person or thing that broke the vase may be unimportant, to the point of almost "vanishing". We may care only about the vase's state -- that it was broken. In this case the word "broken" functions more-or-less like an adjective. The extent to which past participles such as "broken" can behave as adjectives depends partly on which verb is used....http://www.englishforums.com/English/Hatched/wggzv/post.htm#699725Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:00:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:699725mr wordyThe duckling hatched from the egg. The duckling has hatched from the egg. The duckling had hatched from the egg. These are all correct English, and written in the active voice. They differ in tense. The duckling was hatched from the egg. The duckling has been hatched from the egg. The duckling had been hatched from the egg. These are all correct English, in the same tenses, but written in the passive voice. They indicate that someone or something else performed or facilitated the hatching, rather than the duckling simply hatching by itself. If this is what you want then the passive sentences are OK. Otherwise (and probably in the majority of cases), use the active sentences.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Hatched/wggzv/post.htm#699599Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:12:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:699599mr wordyThe duckling hatched out the egg / out of the egg. The duckling hatched out of the egg. The duckling hatched from the egg. P/s: We can use "active " and "passive" sentence for the word "hatched"? You can use "hatched" in a passive sentence, but when there's no obvious other thing doing the hatching it seems kind of redundant to me. For example, if by "The duckling was hatched from the egg" you simply mean "The duckling hatched from the egg" then why not say that? When there's something else doing the hatching, the passive makes more sense: The park rangers hatched the duckling. The duckling was hatched by the park...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IAmScrewed/3/wgvww/Post.htm#699556Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:36:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:699556goodmanI'm no grammarian, but my thinking on this is that that the term "transitive" does not disappear when a verb is used in the passive. In fact, as I'm sure you know, we're often reminded that intransitive verbs may not be used in the passive. "I am slept." He hurts me. I am hurt He embarrasses me. I am embarrassed My error embarrasses me. I am embarrassed If I understand what you're saying, I think its just a question of terminology. I've often thought that the term "transitive" seems out of place in a passive sentence. Perhaps this is because we think: active vs. passive . (Therefore there's no action in a passive sentence???) But the term...http://www.englishforums.com/English/IAmScrewed/3/wgvww/Post.htm#699548Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:16:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:699548avangiI'm no grammarian, but my thinking on this is that that the term "transitive" does not disappear when a verb is used in the passive. In fact, as I'm sure you know, we're often reminded that intransitive verbs may not be used in the passive. "I am slept." He hurts me. I am hurt He embarrasses me. I am embarrassed My error embarrasses me. I am embarrassed If I understand what you're saying, I think its just a question of terminology. I've often thought that the term "transitive" seems out of place in a passive sentence. Perhaps this is because we think: active vs. passive . (Therefore there's no action in a passive sentence???) But the term "transitive" is really...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AdjectiveOrVerb/wzvlm/post.htm#694110Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:04:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:694110avangiOne thing can not change. They are passive sentences. Hi Goodman. Don't you agree that replacing an adjective derived from a transitive verb with one which is not, makes a sentence clearly in active voice? (That is, since intransitive verbs can't be used passively?) As a result of the collision, two of her fingers were completely severed . (passive, possibly active) As a result of the collision, two of her fingers were completely gone . (only active) Best wishes, - A.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AdjectiveOrVerb/wzvlm/post.htm#694098Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:54:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:694098goodmanHi, There are two way to approach this kind of questions; There is no boubt these are passive sentences. But some people considered "injured" a past particple used as adjective to mean " they are seriously hurt..(in the accident) " Accident -can be viewed as the agent. 1) Two people were seriously injured in the accident. The same is true here/ If you went to a meeting and the contents and presentation were so messy, then you can say: 2) "The meeting was very badly organised". This can be viewed as " the meeting was a mess". If you take this apporach, like some do, "organized" then is a past particple used as an adjective. One thing can not change. They are passive sentences.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoice/4/wdrxc/Post.htm#693803Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:50:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:693803yankeeHi Kooyeen "The girls were seen swimming in the pool a few hours before they were found killed in the attic" This thread deals with transformations. You did not provide us with an active version of that sentence. Why not? You've now added additional context to the sentence and also killed off Bill, so we are no longer even talking about the same sentence. (I thought only M. did things like that.) I do hope you agree that saying " The girls were seen swimming in the pool by Bill " is clumsy and awkward. That dooms a healthy active sentence to a painful death by mechanical manipulation. (OK, I was laying it on a little thick there...) There is simply no need to change that active sentence to a passive one. There...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoice/4/wdrxc/Post.htm#693737Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:53:22 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:693737kooyeenThe sentence "Bill saw the girls swimming in the pool" is a perfect example of a sentence that simply should NOT be transformed to a passive sentence at all. Yo Amy, does "The girls were seen swimming in the pool a few hours before they were found killed in the attic" sound bad? I thought sentences like that were fine. Did you mean it is bad in that particular context? Hmm, yeah, "The girls were seen swimming in the pool by Bill" doesn't sound like something you are likely to hear often, I think, but... I don't know. Let me know what you meant, thanks. Just because a book calls itself a "grammar book", that does not automatically mean that it is a good, or even an accurate book. And...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoice/3/wdrxc/Post.htm#693636Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:52:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:693636yankeeHi A What I wanted to know about transformations was how the exercise writers felt / feel about the learner's choices between a good sentence and a good transformation. In my opinion, exercises for transforming active sentences into passive ones are frequently created by people who do not actually know what they are doing. Bad writers may know the mechanics of the transformation, but seem to neglect just about everything else. Just because a book calls itself a "grammar book", that does not automatically mean that it is a good, or even an accurate book. There are lots of grammar books on the market that I would NEVER recommend to a student. That said, I am aware that many teachers are required to use specific course books....http://www.englishforums.com/English/MakingASentence/2/bjjjc/Post.htm#691774Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:42:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:691774anonymousHi How do I improve my way of writing a sentence? I seem to be moving the arrangement of the subject and verb in all my sentences untill I am confused where I should them correct. If I keep using 'the', 'this' and the subject then it sounds like I'm a robot talking to my reader. What is the concept of sentence variety? How come sometimes I cannot use the preposition in the beginning of the sentence or I am not clear which is one I should be saying; subject or verb. How come I have to use active sentences in all essays or dissertation and why not passive sentences? Thanks for your assistance, Alinahttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ThePassivVoice/wdhqh/post.htm#685229Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:685229alpheccastarsYou are right! The passive voice of a verb uses the verb "be" as the auxilliary (helping) verb, and the past participle of the main verb. The object of the verb becomes the subject in a passive sentence. The subject (if stated) is used in a prepositional phrase with "by" Examples: Main verb: cook (past participle - cooked ). Subject: Mary , Object ( dinner ) Mary cooks dinner. (active; present) Dinner is cooked by Mary (passive; present) Mary cooked dinner. (active; past) Dinner was cooked by Mary. (passive; past) Mary will cook dinner. (active; future) Dinner will be cooked by Mary. (passive; future)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoice/wdrxc/post.htm#683397Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:50:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:683397yankeeA more likely sort of passive sentence using the infinitive would be this: - The girls were known to swim in the pool after hours.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoiceWrittingExercise/3/wcrzq/Post.htm#680226Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:00:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:680226yankeeHi Anon Someone asked me that and I believe it is a valid candidate for an active to passive conversion I hope I can change your mind. Two of the most important reasons to use the passive are these: - the agent is unknown - the agent is unimportant Neither of those apply to the sentence "I want to write a letter". In passive sentences, focus is placed on the action and the recipient of the action. In the sentence "I want to write a letter", what action is taking place? And what is receiving the action? The usual way to turn an active sentence into a passive one is to use the direct object (the receiver of the action) in the active sentence as the subject of the passive sentence. What is the object in "I want to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoiceWrittingExercise/2/wcrzq/Post.htm#680180Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:04:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:680180anonymousWell, we don't choose the questions do we? Someone asked me that and I believe it is a valid candidate for an active to passive conversion :) As for forming a passive sentence with the verb "want", I don't think we can form a logically correct sentence in this case unless the letter "wanted to be written" by me lol. You got any better answers than the ones I suggested? Please let me know :)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoiceWrittingExercise/2/wcrzq/Post.htm#680147Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:19:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:680147yankee"I want to write a letter." Out of curiosity, Anon, why would you want to make that sentence passive? And why didn't you try to form a passive sentence with the verb "want"? I bet you had a good reason.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NeedPassiveModalsSimilar-Expressions/wccrl/post.htm#678784Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:31:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:678784yankeeHi xHealthY We've already talked a little about this in another thread here. The information in this link will probably be helpful for you: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/activepassive.html They may construct some new airports on islands. Here are the parts of speech in your active sentence: Subject = they Modal + main verb = may construct Object = (some new) airports Start your passive sentence with the object from the active sentence: - Some new airports may be constructed on islands. (You do not need to add "by them" in this passive sentence.) In the passive sentence, "some new airports" is now the subject of the sentence.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoiceWrittingExercise/2/wcrzq/Post.htm#678716Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:55:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:678716yankeeUsing modals in passive sentences is actually quite easy, and you've already done a number of your sentences correctly. Look at this: ACTIVE: Someone will send the information. The active verb form is will send . That is modal + infinitive To make the passive, you use this format: modal + be + past participle : PASSIVE: The information will be sent . In the passive sentences you didn't do, I've given you the words you should use as the subject of the passive sentence, and in the active sentence I have highlighted the main verb . The rest should now be a piece of cake for you to do. [quote user="http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoiceWrittingExercise/2/wcrzq/Post.htm#678657Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:23:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:678657yankeeI'd say sentence 11 is by far the most difficult of these. Nevertheless, the only thing you need to do is find the subject, verb and object in the active sentence, and then use the object as the subject in the passive sentence. Who made these pictures and why? Did the ancient people make them to use as offerings for the gods? Did the ancient people create them as "direction signs" for visitors from other planets? No one knows but we know one thing : We don't know the reasons for and the methods of construction but the pictures have been preserved for at least 2000- and maybe even 3000- years! 8. Did the gods were being offered? Were they made (by the ancient people) to use as offerings for the gods? ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PassiveVoiceWrittingExercise/wcrzq/post.htm#678616Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:36:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:678616yankeeHi xHealthY Part of the problem in your first post is that 3 out of the 4 active sentences have errors in them. I have made the necessary corrections in your passive sentences: 1. In the 1930's, The Nazca Lines were discovered by pilots flying over Peru's Atacama Desert. Use "were" because the word "Lines" is plural. 2. These huge pictures in the desert were drawn by someone. Use "were" because the word "pictures" is plural. You need to use "these" for the same reason. 3. B irds, spiders and abstract geometrical designs were despite depicted . The word "despite" is not a verb, and it is clearly wrong in both your active sentence and your passive sentence. I...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpMeLearnActivePassive/wbzvb/post.htm#674598Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:03:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:674598califjimTake a transitive verb. Make a sentence with it that has a direct object. Mary threw the ball. John is eating the pizza. The committee has written the rules. Those are all active. ________ Now make the corresponding passive sentences. Take the object of the active sentence ( ball, pizza, rules ) and make it the subject. The active subject is placed in a by phrase in the passive sentence. The verb will be changed by using a form of be followed by the past participle of the active verb: The ball was thrown by Mary. The pizza is being eaten by John. The rules have been written by the committee. Google English grammar passive and you should be able to find hundreds of sites. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CasesInvolvingIntransitivity-TransivitySentences/hnrlr/post.htm#648844Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:20:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:648844yankeeHi Anon Yes, the verb "remain" is intransitive, and I wouldn't ever expect to see it used in the passive voice. Sentence 1 is OK, and sentence 2 is not. The verb "need" (meaning "must have") is transitive, and you have used it transitively in your sentence (past continuous tense). Your sentence is definitely not passive. However, the verb "need" is also one of those verbs that tends not to be used in continuous tenses. Your sentence would be much better if it were written in the simple past tense: - He needed an aspirin. He was needing an aspirin. Personally, I think it could be both (since both verb forms can accommodate a continuous verb form). If you mean to say that you think "He...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HiddenSubjectPassiveMode/hlkmp/post.htm#646610Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:40:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:646610grammar geekHow would you tell the subject of a to-infinitive in a passive sentence like that? I think you mean the agent, not the subject. The grammatical subject is the results. But anyway, the point of using the passive is when "who did it" is either unimportant, not known, or deliberately omitted. If you think that it's important to say who did it, then don't use the passive. WE checked his results so we could hire him.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HiddenSubjectPassiveMode/hlkmp/post.htm#646594Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:18:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:646594hssAll his results were checked to decide whether we will hire him or not. Grammatically, doesn't the author have to supply the sentence with the hidden subject "we" in the form of "for us" because the subjects are different? No. That 'rule' does not apply generally to all cases, but only to certain verbs. I believe you are referring to something like this: I waited to enter. I waited for him to enter. CJ No, I was referring more to the constructs of sentences. You would say something like: The monkey stood there to take a picture. The monkey stood there for us to take a picuture. We moved aside to squeeze through. We moved aside for him to squeeze through. When you don't have "for...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HiddenSubjectPassiveMode/hlkmp/post.htmWed, 14 Jan 2009 01:47:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:641799hssI unwittingly wrote a new post over my first through the edit function. I've just deleted the new message, and re-written my question as close to what I wrote initially as possible. All his results were checked to decide whether we will hire him or not. Grammatically, doesn't the author have to supply the sentence with the hidden subject "we" in the form of "for us" because the subjects are different? Hiro/ Sendai, Japanhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ConfusionFunctionsPastParticiple/hjxwp/post.htm#633178Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:53:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:633178yankeeHi Anon 1) Today's work is done. -- Here, the participle (is it a participle, anyway?) seems to be an adjective. I don't think this is a passive tense (with no agent). 2) Today's work is done by Sue. -- Here, it seems to be clear it is passive in structure. I'd agree that "done" functions as an adjective in sentence 1. Sentence 2 strikes me as an unrealistic sentence. I would not expect the simple present passive. However, any of these would be possible, for example: - Today's work was done by Sue. - Today's work will be done by Sue. - Today's work is going to be done by Sue. - Today's work must be done by Sue. I suppose "is done" could be used if you expanded the sentence. For...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheBoyWasBittenByTheDog/hwnxn/post.htm#628794Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:52:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:628794grammar geekBut I'd like your opinion. I was tired out by the hike. Do you think it's a passive sentence or do you think "tired out" is an adjective?http://www.englishforums.com/English/AdverbNounAdverbSentence/hhndh/post.htm#623809Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:25:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:623809califjimhow could we make sure whether we are looking at a passive sentence or a sentence with a "be" verb followed by an adjective in cases like this I think you have already solved your own problem. The other words in the sentence, like by Joe , help you to make the distinction. They were married at the church. (passive) They were married for many years. (adjective) Some sentences are just inherently ambiguous. The door was closed. (passive or adjective) Nothing can be done about that. ____ Strike already off your list. The adverbs very, rather, more and less are better tests whether you're dealing with an adjective. already with the present tense is often a sign of a 'statal passive', however. I would call the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AdverbNounAdverbSentence/hhndh/post.htm#623440Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:57:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:623440anonymousThank you both of you. If the placement of the word 'already' doesn't make it clear whether it is modifying the word that purposes to modify adjectivally, then how could we make sure whether we are looking at a passive sentence or a sentence with a "be" verb followed by an adjective in cases like this (if I made my question clear). I wrote this in my original post in this thread I started: think it was CalifJim, either borrowing the words of Palmer or not, said (although I am not sure) something like that one can see whether a participle is adjectival or part of a participal verb by its ability to accommodate such adverbs like "already." It was already finished . You see, I think the adverb modifies...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatTenseUsedSentence/hhkcj/post.htmFri, 26 Dec 2008 04:46:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:621971anonymousWhen you're gone How can I even try to go on? This is the lyric from Abba - S.O.S. I saw "be + PP". I was considering that was a Passive sentence. On the other hand, I think it may be Present Perfect... or something else.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NeedHelpAktivePassive/hlqrh/post.htm#643835Sat, 24 Feb 2007 19:13:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:643835I want to change the follow aktive sentence into passiv: ordinary, or soft, solder melts at temperatures below 430=B0, but ... are melted ordinary, or soft, solder, temperatu=re above that is melted brazing alloys, sometimes called hard solder. is it right? First, for an active sentence to be transformed into a passive sentence, there must be a direct object. The object of a preposition is not a direct object. Second, as used in this sentence, the verb "melt" falls into a special category sometimes known as "ergative" verbs. Other examples: The ball rolled slowly down the hill. The glass broke when it fell on the tile floor. Most ships sink if they have a hole in the hull. Karenhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CanRemainImplementPassiveVoice/3/lkwpl/Post.htm#971066Wed, 04 Aug 2004 21:44:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971066adrian peppermike lyle (Email Removed) (Mike Lyle) wrote, Well, no, it is a passive, I don't think anybody ... whether 'I *remain* amused by flying monkeys' is a passive. Aren't we getting twisted knicker-wise here? "I remain amused by AUE" (I think that's who the OP meant) isn't a passive sentence because it doesn't have a main verb in the passive. If we consider the main verb to mean in this case, "continue to be", then is the sentence using the passive voice? Does or does not the following sentence use the passive voice? I continue to be amused by AUE. Adrian.