TEFL Grammar question

Question

"The school was founded in 2002"For the above sentence I need to identify the following things:(i) Identify the verb phrase.(ii) Name the structure.(iii) Label the parts of the structure.(iv) Describe the functional meaning conveyed by the verb in the sentence.I am on my last attempt on the tefl grammar assignment and am struggling with this question. I have identified the verb phrase as "was founded" and the functional meaning as "newspaper headline or reported event" but am struggling with the structure (possibly past perfect??) and the labeling of the structure. Can anyone help??? Many thanks in advance

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

Hi,
The structure is "passive"

Lucy Gentry"The school was founded in 2002"

School is an inanimate object. It can't create itself. Humans bounded the school, which is active voice. To convert this context to passive, it requires the past form of "be" + a past participle verb, for example: The biggest airliner, the Airbus 380, was assembled in France, but many major parts and components were manufactured / made in several countries in Europe.

One of the purpose for people to use the passive voice is, when they don't want to name the person or the subject, or the focal point is on the object. i.e. The company safe's combination is only known to you and Paul. You came in one morning, only to find the valuables inside were stolen. When the police asked you : who else knows the combination of the safe? If you want to implicate yourself and Paul, then you say Paul and I are the only two people who know the combo.
But you can use passive voice, as written above, to say: The company safe's combination is only known to you and Paul.

Hope these examples help.

Lucy Gentry · Answer

I am slightly confused....is passive voice a whole new structure? i was under the impression that the structure would be either " past simple, past perfect or past perfect continuous...i already know it's not past simple or past perfect continuous, as i used those in my first two attempts.....so if i list the structure as passive, what will that make the labeling of the structure (in reference to the sentence i quoted)??

many thanks

Dimsumexpress · Answer

If my interpretation is correct, the structure and labeling is the same question: Passive

Lucy Gentryi was under the impression that the structure would be either " past simple, past perfect or past perfect continuous..

How did you come up with that?

Lucy Gentry · Answer

I think i assumed that the structure had to be tense, but past simple passive does work in the sentence, which makes the labeling of the structure: subject + auxiliary "be" (past simple) + main verb (past participle)....thank you for your help! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Lucy I identified the structure as (iii)auxilary verb 'be'(past simple)+ main verb (past particle) and was marked correct if thats any help to you.

however in part (iv) i answered the function as a reported event or newspaper headline and was marked incorrect!
I am also on my last attempt so if anyone could please help me I would appreciate as this is the only part I am stuck on.

I cant understand how some people can be marked correct with the same answer and others cant so I am worried to attempt a different answer if I am not 100% sure.

this was the tutors feedback;

(iv) It is not necessarily a newspaper headline or reported event. This doesn't tell me the function of the sentence. You haven't commented on the 'passive voice' and the function this brings. Please rethink this answer. >>>>>Please resubmit part (iv) of this answer.<<<<< >>>>>Please be aware that this will be your 3rd and final resubmission so please do take extra care and extra time over this final resubmission

if anyone could help would really appreciate, was also thinking could be a completed action at specified time in the past but again I am worried to attempt as its my last allowed attempt. thanks all :-)

Anonymous · Answer

Hello,

I also recieve the same comment about (iv) not being a newspaper headline or reported event, im on my last attempt - can you please help me?

Anonymous · Answer

Hi,

the answer for part iv) is not "completed action at a specified time in the past". I submitted that answer but it was marked incorrect.It COULD be a "past state".

I am almost positive that tense is past simple tense-passive voice. Hope this helps.

Anonymous · Answer

(iv) to describe what happened to the school at a specified time in the past (in 2002), perhaps?

Anonymous · Answer

Hi
I also received the comment it ont a newspaper headline or reported speect or a general truth, I am on my last attempt and I also think it might be a past state, Can anyone help as it's my last attempt.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi
So past simple was correct and then in iv) just state that it is passive and that the focus is on the action and not on the person doing the action

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