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John liao Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

passive voice is used? new concept English 2.53

This morning, however, a fireman accidentally discovered the cause. He noticed the remains of a snake which was wound round the electric wires of a 16,000-volt power line.

Why passive voice is used here -- "was wound around", would be "wound round" active voice?
  

Top answer

It is interpreted as describing the state of the snake, not as a passive verb. Contrast "had wound (itself) round" (active, the snake did it) and "had been wound round" (passive, someone did it to the snake, slightly odd-sounding). "wound round" is also active, but the tense does not seem to fit well (it sounds as if the snake was doing it at that time, which is impossible as it was dead).

— GPY

  • It is interpreted as describing the state of the snake, not as a passive verb.
  • Contrast "had wound (itself) round" (active, the snake did it) and "had been wound round" (passive, someone did it to the snake, slightly odd-sounding).
  • "wound round" is also active, but the tense does not seem to fit well (it sounds as if the snake was doing it at that time, which is impossible as it was dead).
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2 Answers
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It is interpreted as describing the state of the snake, not as a passive verb. Contrast "had wound (itself) round" (active, the snake did it) and "had been wound round" (passive, someone did it to the snake, slightly odd-sounding). "wound round" is also active, but the tense does not seem to fit well (it sounds as if the snake was doing it at that time, which is impossible as it was dead).
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john liaoWhy passive voice is used here -- "was wound around", would be "wound round" active voice?
Hi John. To me, in Europe, "around" is better but in the USA "round" is equally acceptable. Both are passive because it "was found", active would be "because it wound itself around".

There will be some US residents who disagree with me but "round" rea
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