|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > PASSIVE - I need your help!
PASSIVE - I need your help!
|
claudia4444
|
PASSIVE - I need your help!
|
|
Dear teachers, I �ve got some problems with the PASSIVE
The thieves stole some paintings yesterday evening.
-> Some paintings were stolen by thieves yesterday evening. OR
->Some paintings were stolen yesterday evening by thieves.
Peter cut some wood for the fire yesterday at ten o �clock.
-> Wood was cut by Adam for the fire yesterday at ten o �clock. OR
-> Wood was cut for the fire yesterday at ten o �clock by Adam.
My sister studied English for her exam last week.
-> English was studied by my sister for her exam last week. OR
-> English was studied for her exam by my sister last week.
I never know for sure where to put the subject who becomes an object in the passive. Always behind the passive construction? At the end? Thanks a lot in advance for your help!!!!! |
8 Mar 2010
|
|
|
|
yanogator
|
|
All of them are correct, but it usually sounds best to put the agent immediately after the verb.
Also, the third example doesn �t sound good in the passive.
Bruce |
8 Mar 2010
|
|
|
mpr_girl
|
hey,
Generally in passive sentences the DO takes the place of the Subject, thus becoming "by-phrase" Agent. So, it �s not necessary to place the agent at the end of the sentence, but leave it where the active subject was.
Therefore:
The thieves stole some paintings yesterday
evening. ---> Some paintings were stolen by thieves
yesterday evening.
Nevertheless, the agent can occupy another position if you want to emphasize the time when the paintings were stolen. Then, the passive sentence would be:
Yesterday evening some paintings were stolen by thieves.
|
8 Mar 2010
|
|
|
Ayaniw
|
Yes, indeed, it is a problem.
The first thing I would like to say is that the passive is not the alternative to the active, whatsoever.
Sentence n�1 is Ok but the doer here "i.e. by thieves" is not necessary. In this sentence, we use the passive because the doer or the agent is unknown; that �s why it is not necessary to mention it.
Sentences 2 & 3 The active is very much appropriate. Sentence 3 can �t be changed into the passive as yanogator says.
Cheers, Al.
|
8 Mar 2010
|
|
|
