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Imantaghavi Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Passive

Hi,
Here are couple of sentences in an exercise which have been asked to be made passive, if possible.But these two are not possible to be made passive. Why?

1- "Someone will be along shortly to answer all your questions."
2- "People have been asking if there is any chance of your giving a talk about life in Roman Britain."

The following option has been given as one of the advanced uses of passive sentences in the book:
"We use passive when the active form would require the use of an indefinite or vague pronoun e.g. someone,they,people."

I know the two sentences can't be passive, but don't know why?!
Is that because of the use of "people" and "someone"?

Regards,

Iman
  

Top answer

" There is no finite transitive verb in the sentence. Therefore, a passive version is impossible. Only the infinitive to answer has an object, but to answer is not a finite verb form.

— Cool Breeze

  • " There is no finite transitive verb in the sentence.
  • Therefore, a passive version is impossible.
  • Only the infinitive to answer has an object, but to answer is not a finite verb form.
  • " The transitive verb is in the continuous present perfect tense (have been asking).
  • In theory, it can be used in the passive voice but in actual usage this virtually never happens.
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4 Answers
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imantaghavi1- "Someone will be along shortly to answer all your questions."
There is no finite transitive verb in the sentence. Therefore, a passive version is impossible. Only the infinitive to answer has an object, but to answer is not a finite verb form.
imantaghavi2- "People h
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Thank you CB for your great help.
Cool BreezeWhen I attended school, my English grammar books said the passive was impossible in such cases
What cases? Would you please provide me with some other instances? Because my students keep wondering why it is not possible while grammatically correct?

Regards,

Iman
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imantaghaviWhat cases? Would you please provide me with some other instances?
The grammar book said that of the continuous tenses, only the present and the past tense were normally used in the passive voice. Examples:

The house was being painted when I saw it.
The bridge is being painted at this very mo
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That's very kind of you to answer this promptly. That was a very helpful explanation.
Thank you very much dear CB.

Iman
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