Meaning of be forced to do

Question

Hello.Would you tell me whether force the sentences in (1)-(2) and the sentences in (3)-(4) denote the same meaning?(1)In an Aug. 18 letter to Gov. Mary Fallin, a Republican, the leaders of the two tribes said they were forced to act by both the drought, which has resulted in cutbacks in water use even in normally water-rich areas, and by Oklahoma City’s declared intention to pursue the export of water from Sardis, which is nearly 180 miles away.(The New York Times, August 19, 2011)(2) But unlike other inns, which were forced to lay off employees or even close down, Isoda said she was able to retain all of Taikanso's roughly 200 employees, at least for the time being (The Japan Times)(3) Locals said some militants had entered the area two to three days back and had been forced to leave by tribal elders. (The Express Tribune, August 19, 2011)(4) Of course, Biggs has already made her views on the subject clear. During ‘question time’ in the final of the Australian competition in July, she was asked her opinion of child pageants (it makes a change from world peace). The 20-year-old replied that kids shouldn’t be forced to compete by pushy parents. “Children should be children,” she added firmly.(Herald Sun, August 21, 2011)I appreciate your help.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

'Force to' has the same meaning in all 4 sentences, although of course the forcing agent in different in each.

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

Yes, "force" or "forced" is used in the same way in all of those paragraphs.

Forced to act, forced to lay off employees, forced to leave a place, forced to compete in a beauty pageant.

It simply means "compelled" to take an action, because failing to take that action would be worse, or maybe impossible.

In some cases, failing to take that action might result in death - remember the guy who had to break his arm off because he was trapped by his hand and he was going to die? That's a classic example of being "forced to" do something.

In the cases you cite, the effect wouldn't be as drastic as that, but, generally, the alternative would still be worse than taking the action (according to the judgement of the person(s) taking the action).

Anonymous · Answer

I think that acts of forcing are more stronger in (3) and (4) because humans are expressed with by phrases.

Do you agree with me or not?

Thank you.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your comments.

In some cases, force is used feel or seem as in (1).

(1) " I am not dead, " she said over and over again, louder and louder until Alex felt forced to tape her mouth shut once more. (COCA)

Do you think that it is possible to replace be verbs in the following sentences with feel or seem?

(2)

a. In an Aug. 18 letter to Gov. Mary Fallin, a Republican, the leaders of the two tribes said they were forced to act by both the drought, which has resulted in cutbacks in water use even in normally water-rich areas, and by Oklahoma City’s declared intention to pursue the export of water from Sardis, which is nearly 180 miles away.
(The New York Times, August 19, 2011)

b. But unlike other inns, which were forced to lay off employees or even close down, Isoda said she was able to retain all of Taikanso's roughly 200 employees, at least for the time being (The Japan Times)

c. Locals said some militants had entered the area two to three days back and had been forced to leave by tribal elders. (The Express Tribune, August 19, 2011)

d. Of course, Biggs has already made her views on the subject clear. During ‘question time’ in the final of the Australian competition in July, she was asked her opinion of child pageants (it makes a change from world peace). The 20-year-old replied that kids shouldn’t be forced to compete by pushy parents. “Children should be children,” she added firmly.(Herald Sun, August 21, 2011)

I am looking forward to your reply.

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

Re examples (3) and (4) being "stronger" because the force is being applied BY PEOPLE? No, it depends on the circumstances. Being forced to try to swim because of rising floodwaters is "stronger" than being forced to sacrifice a **** in a game of chess; in one case, if you don't take the action, you'll drown, and in the other, you'll lose the game.

Anonymous"I am not d

Anonymous"I am not dead," she said over and over again, louder and louder until Alex FELT FORCED TO tape her mouth shut once more.
Do you think that it is possible to replace be verbs in the following sentences with feel or seem?

"FELT forced to ..." would be used by someone who was trying to justify taking that action in the past. For example, a politician might say that he "felt forced to vote Yes" but he NOW thinks he should have voted "No". In other words, at the time he voted, he felt that he was being forced to vote Yes. The implication is that he may have wanted to vote No, but he felt that he couldn't. It could also describe his state of mind at the time, like in your example with Alex, which is a narrative.

"SEEM forced to ..." is not a phrase I would use, I think.

"... leaders of the two tribes said they FELT forced to act by both the drought [...] and by Oklahoma City’s declared intention to pursue ..." - see the politician explanation earlier.

"But unlike other inns, which FELT forced to lay off employees or even close down, ..." - well, an inn (or any company) doesn't have FEELINGS as such, so I wouldn't ever say this. Of course the people who ran the inn could have felt things; in this case the poilitician example applies.
"Locals said some militants had entered the area two to three days back and had FELT forced to leave by tribal elders" - this sounds odd, since militants aren't usually thought of as sensitive people with deep feelings! They wouldn't have left just because they FELT some emotion.
"... was asked her opinion of child pageants [...] replied that kids shouldn’t FEEL forced to compete by pushy parents" - this sounds like she's blaming the kids, for "feeling" that they were being forced into competing. The point of her statement is that these children ARE forced into competing by pushy parents.

So "FEELING forced to" take an action has some diffierent implications compared to BEING forced to take an action.

Anonymous · Answer

When used "felt forced to do", is it possible to add a by phrase(ex. by someone or something)?

a. “"I am not dead," she said over and over again, louder and louder until Alex FELT FORCED TO tape her mouth shut once more.

b. Locals said some militants had entered the area two to three days back and had been forced to leave by tribal elders. (The Express Tribune, August 19, 2011)

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

Yes, sure. "The manager refunded the customer's money. He said he felt forced to do the right thing by all the negative publicity in the media".

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your reply.

In your example,

"The manager refunded the customer's money. He said he felt forced to do the right thing by all the negative publicity in the media".

by is followed by an inanimate noun, all the negative publicity.

Do you think that it is possible to add a by phrase followed by a animate noun such as by Tom?

Mister Micawber · Answer

We have already had valid examples presented on this thread:

had felt forced to leave by tribal elders

be forced to compete by pushy parents.

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

That would be unusual, I guess. He could have felt forced by the threat of Tom's gun in his face. I think usually the thing that forces him is a forcing "factor", like pressure or a threat, which come from animate nouns like people, but if you say that the people forced him, the important information is missing - IN WHAT WAY did the people force him. Grammatically, saying "forced ... by Tom" isn't wrong, but I can't think of an example that doesn't sound vague.

Edit: Mister Micawber is right, and those are good examples. The WAY in which those people APPLIED their force is implied by the situation.

Meaning of be forced to do

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions