0
Youngbuts Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

passive voice

Hello, everyone.

I have a question about passive voice.

She gave me the book.
I was given the book (by her).

I think the two above sentences are right and the corresponding pair between passive and active. However I have heard #2 of the below sentences is wrong.

1. She wrote me the letter.
2. I was written the letter. (X)
3. The letter was written to me (by her). (O)

I'm wondering what else verbs have the same pattern as the verb write, so I have chosen some verbs by myself.

play, slip, throw, type, wire, pass, ship, cable, bring

Would you teach me which verbs can belong to kind of 'wirte' and which can not?

Many thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

youngbuts I was written the letter. (X) There is nothing intrinsically wrong with that sentence, except that passive is seldom used there. I don't see any particular pattern in the verbs you have listed, either.

— Mister Micawber

  • youngbuts I was written the letter.
  • (X) There is nothing intrinsically wrong with that sentence, except that passive is seldom used there.
  • I don't see any particular pattern in the verbs you have listed, either.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
youngbuts I was written the letter. (X)
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with that sentence, except that passive is seldom used there. I don't see any particular pattern in the verbs you have listed, either.
0
0
youngbutsplay, slip, throw, type, wire, pass, ship, cable, bring
I was played the ...
and
I was typed the ...
are not used, that I know of, but the other verbs in your list can be used in that pattern.

CJ
0

Related Questions