A question about natural expression.

Which one is correct and natural expression and why?

1. Total energies are not very easy to calculate. This is the correct form.

2. Total energies are not very easy to be calculated. This is incorrect because it is not something that occured in the past.

They are both incorrect viewing it from this angle.

First, energy is a collective noun in normal context.

To put it in a usable context: " the total energy consumed by the energy-inefficient factory is hard to measure/ calculate without a detailed analysis". I see no reason to use passive voice.

However a passive is needed if the context is this:

The energy

I am the one who posted this question. It is very kind of you to answer my question. I am grateful to you for help.

I think I need to explain that why I am confused between those two expressions. It is not relevant here whether the energy is a collective noun or not.

I think that the energy cannot calculate something but something to be calculated. For this reason, I have thou

Again, my second example is exactly what your question is. But you can not say "energies to be calculated" without a qualifying noun which in this case is "cost".



We can say actively: "You need to precisely calculate the amont / cost/ consumption of the energy used in this building for the last six months..."



Or passively "The cost of the energy

Hi,

it's often easier to consider a simplified example.

eg An egg is easy to cook.

Do you have the same feeling that this is wrong?

Best wishes, Clive

"total energies" implies several kinds of energies e.g. thermal, nuclear, electrical, etc.

Example. When we calculate the total energies (thermal, nuclear, electrical, etc.) we add together the total energy of each type.

or

Total energies are not easily calculated.

CliveAn egg is easy to cook.

Great example.

Anonymous"total energies" implies several kinds of energies e.g. thermal, nuclear, electrical, etc.

Example. When we calculate the total energies (thermal, nuclear, electrical, etc.) we add together the total energy of each type.

or


Anon,

One can not make up grammatical rules just because "he believes". Unless a specific context