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Stephenlearner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
It won't turn on or It can't be turned on?
Hi,
I thought some sentences should be used in passive voice, but when I googled them, I found they are used in active voice. For example:
1) The computer won't turn on. My version of it was 'the computer can't be turned on' .
2) The door won't lock. My version of it was 'the door can't be locked'.
3) The door won't close. My version of it was 'the door can't be closed'.
4) My coat won't zip; the zipper is stuck. My version was 'my coat can't be zipped; the zipper is stuck.'
Are my versions not idiomatic or less common?
Could you give me more examples of such verbs?
Thanks
Stephen
I thought some sentences should be used in passive voice, but when I googled them, I found they are used in active voice. For example:
1) The computer won't turn on. My version of it was 'the computer can't be turned on' .
2) The door won't lock. My version of it was 'the door can't be locked'.
3) The door won't close. My version of it was 'the door can't be closed'.
4) My coat won't zip; the zipper is stuck. My version was 'my coat can't be zipped; the zipper is stuck.'
Are my versions not idiomatic or less common?
Could you give me more examples of such verbs?
Thanks
Stephen
Top answer
I think your versions are perfectly acceptable. Keep up the good work!
- I think your versions are perfectly acceptable.
- Keep up the good work!
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5 Answers
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I think your versions are perfectly acceptable. Keep up the good work!
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While your versions are indeed grammatical, they are not natural!
A native speaker would not say any of these sentences the way you have rewritten them.
In situations like this, it's as though we assign a willful refusal to cooperate to the item that is not working. It's not exactly personification, but you can think of it that way.
My car just wouldn't start!
This d
A native speaker would not say any of these sentences the way you have rewritten them.
In situations like this, it's as though we assign a willful refusal to cooperate to the item that is not working. It's not exactly personification, but you can think of it that way.
My car just wouldn't start!
This d
00
Thank you.
Could somebody give more examples of this kind of verbs?
I find there is no way to tell which verb should be used in active voice or passive.
So maybe the better way for me is to find out these verbs and memorise them.
Regards,
Stephen
Could somebody give more examples of this kind of verbs?
I find there is no way to tell which verb should be used in active voice or passive.
So maybe the better way for me is to find out these verbs and memorise them.
Regards,
Stephen
00
Stephen, in my years on this forum, I have found that English learners seem fascinated by passive sentences, but in my opinion it's a waste of time to spend hours and hours learning about this.
Use the passive voice in a few situations:
1) You do not know who did something: His store was robbed last night. {We don't know who did it.}
2) We know who did something,
Use the passive voice in a few situations:
1) You do not know who did something: His store was robbed last night. {We don't know who did it.}
2) We know who did something,
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