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Kosmo Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

PASSIVE VOICE?

I think the following sentences are written in passive voice and are in fact agentless passives because there is no agent who responsible for 'kidnapping, 'betting' and 'hacking'. Is this correct?

Women who were kidnapped were held as slaves.
The billion dollar bet on rate cuts has paid off.
Hacking is a threat to our vital buildings.
  

Top answer

Only the first is in passive voice. The second is in active voice. 'Bet' is a noun.

  • Only the first is in passive voice.
  • The second is in active voice.
  • 'Bet' is a noun.
  • The third has a linking verb, which cannot be expressed passively.
  • 'Hacking' is a verbal noun.
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4 Answers
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Only the first is in passive voice.
The second is in active voice. 'Bet' is a noun.
The third has a linking verb, which cannot be expressed passively. 'Hacking' is a verbal noun.
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Oh thank you. Are you able to explain the rule for the two Active Voice examples?
By 'linking verb' I assume you mean 'is' and given your comment that it cannot be expressed passively does that mean we can only form a passive construction with objects and not complements?
I am confused as to why 'The billion dollar bet on rate cuts has paid off' is active. Where is the object?
Many tha
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KosmoBy 'linking verb' I assume you mean 'is' and given your comment that it cannot be expressed passively does that mean we can only form a passive construction with objects and not complements?
That's correct.
KosmoI am confused as to why 'The billion dollar bet on rate cuts has paid off' is active. Where is the object?
S
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KosmoI am confused as to why 'The billion dollar bet on rate cuts has paid off' is active. Where is the object?
Intransitive verbs are always active. They take no object, so the passive form is grammatically impossible.

I slept well.
The bet paid off.
I go to school.

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