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Vincent Ding Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

Active VS passive

0 There is a confusing but interesting thing with some of the English verbs: 02br
02br
00A is conerned with B./A concerns with B. 02br
00A is related with B./A relates to B. 02br
02br
00and there are some more... 02br
02br
00as far as i see it, the use of active and passive form of the verb in the above examples does not make much difference in meaning!! I opine that's something unusual. 02br
02br
00would some native speakers give some comments on this issue which often confuses English learners? 02br
02br
00tks 0-
  

Top answer

0We need to fix your examples first, Vincent: 02br 02br 001--A is concerned with B. 02br 002--A concerns B. 02br 02br 003--A is related to B.

— Mister Micawber

  • 0We need to fix your examples first, Vincent: 02br 02br 001--A is concerned with B.
  • 02br 002--A concerns B.
  • 02br 02br 003--A is related to B.
  • 02br 004--A relates to B.
  • 02br 02br 02br 00Now: 1 and 3 are not passive; the -ed forms are adjectives, and 'with B' and 'to B' are prepositional phrases as adjective complements.
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3 Answers
0
0We need to fix your examples first, Vincent: 02br
02br
001--A is concerned with B. 02br
002--A concerns B. 02br
02br
003--A is related to B. 02br
004--A relates to B. 02br
02br
02br
00Now: 1 and 3 are not passive; the -ed forms are adjectives, and 'with B' and 'to B' are prepositional phrases as adject
0
0
0 And since the A-element in these is non-agentive, you can't put these in the passive. Passivizing would yield the following incorrect structures (on the relevant readings): 02br
02br
00B is concerned by A. 02br
00B is related to by A. 02br
02br
00CJ 0-
0
0
0 good points! that's what a Chinese is usually inclined to confuse. 02br
02br
00tks a lot 0-
0

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