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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

S+vt+O

A dog bit me.
I was bitten by a dog.

Hi,
We know that the first in the above falls into the sentence pattern--Subject + transitive verb + object.
But what about the second sentence? Does it also fall into the same pattern as the first? Or does it belong to "Subject + intransitive + subject compliment?" Thanks.


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Top answer

I was bitten by a dog. = Subject + verb + adverbial (prepositional phrase acting as an adverb modifying the verb).

— Mister Micawber

  • I was bitten by a dog.
  • = Subject + verb + adverbial (prepositional phrase acting as an adverb modifying the verb).
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3 Answers
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I was bitten by a dog.= Subject + verb + adverbial (prepositional phrase acting as an adverb modifying the verb).
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Mister Micawber.
I was bitten by a dog.= Subject + verb + adverbial (prepositional phrase acting as an adverb modifying the verb).

Thanks, Mister.
To make sure, is the pattern of the second sentence "S+Vi" or "S+Vt?"
If it's Vt, then where is the object? If it's Vi, then how come the Vt in the first sentence be
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Yes, it is intransitive. It needs no object:

I was bitten.
When were you bitten?
I was bitten yesterday.

I'd never thought about it, but I suppose that the change from v.t. to v.i. happens whenever we form that sort of passive from active.

I was seen (by no one).
He has been eaten (by polar bearers).
They were investigated (by the vice
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