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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > grammar help
grammar help
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szamoca
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grammar help
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Dear Colleagues,
Is this sentence correct?
Children need to be fed, helped with their homework and played with if they want.
I think I gave too much thinking to this and I just can �t decide. It sounds a bit odd to me.
Thanks for your help!
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3 Oct 2014
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siubhan
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It does sound a bit odd - maybe it would be better if you put the last bit in brackets:
Children need to be fed, helped with their homework and played with (if they want). |
3 Oct 2014
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florimago
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Well , I think it�s ok except for the last sentence ( and played with if they want ) As far as I know, we can transform active into passive when there�s a direct or indirect object . In my opinion , "with them " is a kind of prepositional complement but not a direct/indirect object . Note the difference
People play football around the world - Football is played around the world ( In this case , passive is possible cause "football" is a direct object)
Hope it helps |
3 Oct 2014
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Zora
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It sounds very odd actually... and the last part sounds like you are talking about a pet! lol
Try this: Children need to be fed, they need help with their homework and time to play.
Unless you need to use passives, then...
Children need to be fed, helped with their homework and allowed time to play. |
3 Oct 2014
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yanogator
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Grammatically the sentence is OK, but, as the others are pointing out, it definitely doesn �t sound natural.
Bruce
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3 Oct 2014
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Peter Hardy
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"Children need to be fed, helped with their homework and played with if they want." Sounds like Dr Spock (I now, I �m that old)or any other of those so-called parental guidance books. Unnatural and rather silly. It makes them like pets alright, Zora. I agree with your passive example, with brackets added: Children need to be fed, helped with their homework and allowed (time) to play. Cheers, Peter |
4 Oct 2014
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cunliffe
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It makes sense. The last bit �and played with � means you should play with them (if that �s what they want). That �s not the same as giving them time to play. It needs a comma before �if they want�.
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4 Oct 2014
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szamoca
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Thanks a lot for all of you. You were really helpful. :-)
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4 Oct 2014
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