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Tkacka15 Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

It was rumoured...

It was rumoured that he had been in prison for a while.

From: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rumoured


Does the sentence above have its active counterpart?

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I think it doesn't.

I've tried to replace dummy It with the raised subject He in He was rumoured to be in prison for a while, but even such a construction doesn't seem to have an active counterpart.

  

Top answer

tkacka15 Does the sentence above have its active counterpart? " if it existed. The use of "rumour" as a verb in active voice is so extremely rare, however, that for all practical purposes I think we should say that this active form does not exist.

— CalifJim

  • tkacka15 Does the sentence above have its active counterpart?
  • " if it existed.
  • The use of "rumour" as a verb in active voice is so extremely rare, however, that for all practical purposes I think we should say that this active form does not exist.
  • Only an oblique active counterpart is possible.
  • People were spreading the rumour that he had been ...
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2 Answers
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tkacka15Does the sentence above have its active counterpart?

It would be something like "People rumoured that he had been ..." if it existed. The use of "rumour" as a verb in active voice is so extremely rare, however, that for all practical purposes I think we should say that this active form does not exist. Only an oblique active counterpart is possible

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I would classify rumored as a pseudo-passive noun modifier as it is frequently used to modify a noun, can have a modifier and follows a linking verb. Here are some examples:

The long-rumored next generation iPhone was announced today.
Duvalier himself is rumored to be ill and appears too frail to return to power.
If Apple releases a tablet in the rumored $700

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