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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
It was necessary x Passive
Hello. I would like to know if we can consider "it was necessary" a nice alternative for an excessive use of conventional passive voice in academic writing.
Consider the following sets of sentences:
1. Books were classified into five groups according to their content. In thoses cases in which the title was vague, the main text was skimmed. (passive voice + passive voice)
2. Books were classified into five groups according to their content. In thoses cases in which the title was vague, it was necessary to skim the main text. (passive voice + it was necessary to)
For me, there is litle difference in meaning between both sets. The second sounds better, though, because the conventional passive voice (subject + verb to be + participle) is not repeated. Of course, if the text has more than one author, we could use "we skimmed the main text" in place of "the main text was skimmed".
What do you think?
Thank you very much.
Consider the following sets of sentences:
1. Books were classified into five groups according to their content. In thoses cases in which the title was vague, the main text was skimmed. (passive voice + passive voice)
2. Books were classified into five groups according to their content. In thoses cases in which the title was vague, it was necessary to skim the main text. (passive voice + it was necessary to)
For me, there is litle difference in meaning between both sets. The second sounds better, though, because the conventional passive voice (subject + verb to be + participle) is not repeated. Of course, if the text has more than one author, we could use "we skimmed the main text" in place of "the main text was skimmed".
What do you think?
Thank you very much.
Top answer
Hi I think it's certain that you can use 'It was necessary' to overcome passive statements: - The bills hadn't been paid, my children weren't talking to me. It was necessary to do something Maybe, in academic circles, they say that too Dave
- Hi I think it's certain that you can use 'It was necessary' to overcome passive statements: - The bills hadn't been paid, my children weren't talking to me.
- It was necessary to do something Maybe, in academic circles, they say that too Dave
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2 Answers
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Hi
I think it's certain that you can use 'It was necessary' to overcome passive statements:
- The bills hadn't been paid, my children weren't talking to me. It was necessary to do something
Maybe, in academic circles, they say that too
Dave
I think it's certain that you can use 'It was necessary' to overcome passive statements:
- The bills hadn't been paid, my children weren't talking to me. It was necessary to do something
Maybe, in academic circles, they say that too
Dave
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AnonymousFor me, there is litle difference in meaning between both sets.I don't agree. The second adds the idea of necessity; this is not present in the first. The first is fine as it is.
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