Subject:Re: active vs. passive voice From:Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com> To:Andrew Warren <awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com> Date:Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:39:29 -0700
Andrew Warren wrote:
> 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."
Well I'll be hornswoggled, looks like someone has been borrowing from
the neighbors again. Heehee :-) Not against the rules?
I hope a list reader with knowledge of Nederland's grammar will weigh in
on this one. To my unschooled eye it looks like a good English
translation of a good Dutch pseudo-passive construction of a good
intransitive verb. Thanks for your help.
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