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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
passive
Hi,
are these questions in the passive voice? if so who or what is the agent (by) I was taught that the passive always has an agent using 'by' that could be included or left out. Is this true?
1) I can't be bothered to finish this email
2) The CEO's strategy is based on her second book.
3) The result of the leadership contest was based on the boardroom vote.
I had a look on line but can't find any concise answer to my passive problem. I'm thinking that there must be acceptions to the 'by an agent' rule . ...
i appreciate any detailed answer to these questions.
Thanks
are these questions in the passive voice? if so who or what is the agent (by) I was taught that the passive always has an agent using 'by' that could be included or left out. Is this true?
1) I can't be bothered to finish this email
2) The CEO's strategy is based on her second book.
3) The result of the leadership contest was based on the boardroom vote.
I had a look on line but can't find any concise answer to my passive problem. I'm thinking that there must be acceptions to the 'by an agent' rule . ...
i appreciate any detailed answer to these questions.
Thanks
Top answer
1) "bothered" is probably adjectival here, but "can't be bothered" (and variants) is an idiomatic expression that is perceived by speakers as a whole, rather than as the literal sum of its individual parts. 2) "based on" is a common phrase which is not normally perceived as a passive form. While the implied agent is presumably logically the CEO, it would be odd and unnatural to make that explicit in the sentence ("is based by the CEO on her second book").
- 1) "bothered" is probably adjectival here, but "can't be bothered" (and variants) is an idiomatic expression that is perceived by speakers as a whole, rather than as the literal sum of its individual parts.
- 2) "based on" is a common phrase which is not normally perceived as a passive form.
- While the implied agent is presumably logically the CEO, it would be odd and unnatural to make that explicit in the sentence ("is based by the CEO on her second book").
- 3) Essentially the same as (2).
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10 Answers
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1) "bothered" is probably adjectival here, but "can't be bothered" (and variants) is an idiomatic expression that is perceived by speakers as a whole, rather than as the literal sum of its individual parts.
2) "based on" is a common phrase which is not normally perceived as a passive form. While the implied agent is presumably logically the CEO, it would be odd and unnatural to make that
2) "based on" is a common phrase which is not normally perceived as a passive form. While the implied agent is presumably logically the CEO, it would be odd and unnatural to make that
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so 'based on' is not used in a passive sentance? thanks for your answer
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Anonymous'based on' is not used in a passive sentance?based on is already passive.
Active: The CEO bases her strategy on her second book.
Passive: The CEO's strategy is based on her second book.
What is unusual is that you have to juggle CEO and her so that CEO comes before her in each sen
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So 'based on ' is a passive but does not have a 'by so-so' agent ? Because it belongs to a special group? How about this sentence - 1) The result of the leadership contest was based on the boardroom vote (by the board)
Is it possible to use the 'by the board ' ?
This is a very confusing verb 'based on' . It can have a 'by so-so' agent and also without ? I am confused as I was tol
Is it possible to use the 'by the board ' ?
This is a very confusing verb 'based on' . It can have a 'by so-so' agent and also without ? I am confused as I was tol
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AnonymousHow about this sentence - 1) The result of the leadership contest was based on the boardroom vote (by the board) Is it possible to use the 'by the board '?Yes, but no one is going to do that. It's not very idiomatic.
AnonymousI was told and I have read that all passive sentences can always
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AnonymousSo 'based on ' is a passive but does not have a 'by so-so' agent ?"based on" is technically analysable as a passive form, but as I said, it is not normally perceived as such by native speakers, at least not in typical uses. A "by" agent is unusual, though not completely impossible.
AnonymousBecause it belongs to a special grou
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AnonymousSo 'based on' is equal to 'by' ?No. 'X is based on Y' means that Y is the foundation on which X is built (when talking about ideas, not physical objects).
Mozart wrote a set of variations based on the tune "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is based on an Italian story that Shakespeare read.
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AnonymousSo 'based on' is equal to 'by' ?No, if X is "based on" Y, it means that Y forms the foundation of X (usually in an abstract rather than physical sense).
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