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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
How to rewrite into passive when "to + verb" appears after the object?
Rewrite into passive:
1.Someone has stolen the key to open the door.
2.They took some steps to solve the problem.
Which way should I rewrite?
1a. The key to open the door has been stolen.
1b. The key has been stolen to open the door.
2a. Some steps to solve the problem were taken.
2b. Some steps were taken to solve the problem.
1.Someone has stolen the key to open the door.
2.They took some steps to solve the problem.
Which way should I rewrite?
1a. The key to open the door has been stolen.
1b. The key has been stolen to open the door.
2a. Some steps to solve the problem were taken.
2b. Some steps were taken to solve the problem.
Top answer
There may be a degree of ambiguity here. Otherwise, I should encourage you to first give us your solution. My instinct is that the author of the exercise considers 1b.
- There may be a degree of ambiguity here.
- Otherwise, I should encourage you to first give us your solution.
- My instinct is that the author of the exercise considers 1b.
- to be the correct answer.
- Logically, it's unlikely that someone would go to the trouble of stealing the key if they didn't intend to use it to open the door.
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4 Answers
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There may be a degree of ambiguity here. Otherwise, I should encourage you to first give us your solution.
My instinct is that the author of the exercise considers 1b. to be the correct answer.
Logically, it's unlikely that someone would go to the trouble of stealing the key if they didn't intend to use it to open the door. (But we can't entirely dismiss the possibility that either
My instinct is that the author of the exercise considers 1b. to be the correct answer.
Logically, it's unlikely that someone would go to the trouble of stealing the key if they didn't intend to use it to open the door. (But we can't entirely dismiss the possibility that either
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Avangi is right on both counts, but I just wanted to expand on their answer a little bit.
Every choice seems to be written coherently in passive voice. Answer 1a is incorrect not just because it's illogical, but because it doesn't convey the entire meaning of the original sentence. The original could be written:
"Someone has stolen the keyto [so they can] open the door.",
Every choice seems to be written coherently in passive voice. Answer 1a is incorrect not just because it's illogical, but because it doesn't convey the entire meaning of the original sentence. The original could be written:
"Someone has stolen the key
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AnonymousWhich way should I rewrite?Hello. I would choose 1a and 2a.
I think 1b and 2b would've been correct if the two statements, for example, were:
1. To open the door, someone has stolen the key.
2. To solve the problem, they took some steps.
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Welcome to English Forums, RCB. Thanks for joining us! 
Best wishes,
- A.
Best wishes,
- A.
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