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Doohoo Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Passive tense of present perfect progressive

Is passive tense of present perfect progressive possible?
like..
you could say

He's been drunk for 2 hours.
But what about
he's been being drunk for 2 hours. it's no English. And then should I conclude that it's not simply
possible to say a passive tense of present perfect progressive?
  

Top answer

Hello, doohoo—and welcome to English Forums. 'Passive' is not a tense; it is a voice . doohoo he's been being drunk for 2 hours This form is possible, and it is in rare use, but as you can see, it is so awkward that it is usually avoided by all means.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hello, doohoo—and welcome to English Forums.
  • 'Passive' is not a tense; it is a voice .
  • doohoo he's been being drunk for 2 hours This form is possible, and it is in rare use, but as you can see, it is so awkward that it is usually avoided by all means.
  • This might be said of a method actor, for instance: someone pretending to be drunk.
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3 Answers
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Hello, doohoo—and welcome to English Forums.

'Passive' is not a tense; it is a voice.
doohoohe's been being drunk for 2 hours
This form is possible, and it is in rare use, but as you can see, it is so awkward that it is usually avoided by all means. This might be said of a method actor, for instance: someone pretending to be drunk.
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'He's been being drunk for two hours' is neither possible nor passive.

Passive present perfect constructions are possible, though rare - He's been being interviewed since seven o'clock yesterday evening. We'd be far more like to use the active voice in such constructions.
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fivejedjon'He's been being drunk for two hours' is neither possible nor passive.
Yes, of course: 'drunk' is an adjective. It would work only if 'he' were a bottle of whiskey.
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