Grammar help please?

Question

Hi,Could you please check for me If I have made any mistake in these sentences?I [ mistook / was mistaken ] your meaning entirely. (Both are correct)I  [ mistook / was mistaken ] A for B.  (Both are correct)I  [ mistook / was mistaken ] A with B.  (Both are correct)Cheers

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Oh, good! You don't have a thousand examples this time.

John AkiI [ mistook / was mistaken ] your meaning entirely.

Nope.

mistook (something) BUT was mistaken about (something). And note the position of entirely:

I mistook your meaning entirely.
I was entirely mistaken about your meaning.

This pattern is not used as much as those below.

John Aki
I [ mistook ~~/ was mistaken~~ ] A for B. (Both are correct)
~~I [ mistook / was mistaken ] A with B. (Both are correct)~~

No, not 'with'. Use 'for'.

(somebody) mistook X for Y
or
X was mistaken for Y

These occur in active-passive pairs as follows:

The Germans mistook the Lusitania for a troopship. (active)
The Lusitania was mistaken for a troopship. (passive)

The doctor mistook Jesse's panic attack for a cardiac arrest. (a)
Jesse's panic attack was mistaken for a cardiac arrest. (p)

She resembled Doris Day, so sometimes people mistook her for the famous actress. (a)
She resembled Doris Day, so she was sometimes mistaken for the famous actress. (p)

CJ

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