RE: active vs. passive voice

["Andrew Warren" <awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com>]

Susan W Gallagher wrote:

> This page
> http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/passive.htm
> offers
> <quote>Only transitive verbs (those that take objects) can be
> transformed into passive constructions. Furthermore, active sentences
> containing certain verbs cannot be transformed into passive
structures.
> *To have* is the most important of these verbs. We can say "He has a
> new car," but we cannot say "A new car is had by him." We can say
> "Josefina lacked finesse," but we cannot say "Finesse was lacked."
> </quote>      
> 
> I've never seen it stated quite so clearly before, but it makes sense
> when you think about it.

Sure... Until you realize that we DO say "A good time was had by all."

-Andrew

=== Andrew Warren  - awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com
=== Synaptics, Inc - Santa Clara, CA
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