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Youngbuts Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
the good position of adverbs in the passive
Hello, everyone!
I am looking for the appropraite position of adverbs in passive sentences. Could you take a look at the sentences below?
1.He was much loved by everyone. (O)
2.He was loved much by everyone. (X)
3.They don't seem to be greatly bothered by the delay.(O)
4. They don't seem to be bothered greatly by the delay.(X)
I have heard #1 and #3 are good, but #2 and #4 are bad. But I wonder what will happen if I drop the phrase that follows 'by' .
5.He was much loved (O)
6.He was loved much (?)
7.They don't seem to be greatly bothered O)
8. They don't seem to be bothered greatly (?)
Are #6 and #8 acceptable even though #5 and #7 sound more natural?
Many thanks in advnace!
I am looking for the appropraite position of adverbs in passive sentences. Could you take a look at the sentences below?
1.He was much loved by everyone. (O)
2.He was loved much by everyone. (X)
3.They don't seem to be greatly bothered by the delay.(O)
4. They don't seem to be bothered greatly by the delay.(X)
I have heard #1 and #3 are good, but #2 and #4 are bad. But I wonder what will happen if I drop the phrase that follows 'by' .
5.He was much loved (O)
6.He was loved much (?)
7.They don't seem to be greatly bothered O)
8. They don't seem to be bothered greatly (?)
Are #6 and #8 acceptable even though #5 and #7 sound more natural?
Many thanks in advnace!
Top answer
All I can say that there is nothing grammatically wrong with any of your sentences. The simple fact is that speakers of English just often tend to avoid some collocations of words for unfathomable reasons. Besides, I have learnt over the years that what sounds perfectly good and natural to some may sound incorrect to others.
- All I can say that there is nothing grammatically wrong with any of your sentences.
- The simple fact is that speakers of English just often tend to avoid some collocations of words for unfathomable reasons.
- Besides, I have learnt over the years that what sounds perfectly good and natural to some may sound incorrect to others.
- I suppose the only good guideline is to try to figure out what the mainstream usage is and to follow that.
- The nearly uninflected nature of English unavoidably results in a very rigid word order but sometimes that doesn't seem to be enough: people impose greater restrictions on acceptable usage than is inherently required.
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2 Answers
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All I can say that there is nothing grammatically wrong with any of your sentences. The simple fact is that speakers of English just often tend to avoid some collocations of words for unfathomable reasons. Besides, I have learnt over the years that what sounds perfectly good and natural to some may sound incorrect to others.
I suppose the only good guideline is to try to figure o
I suppose the only good guideline is to try to figure o
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Thank you for your detailed expalanation.
As you told me, I will try to figure out what the mainstream usage is and to follow that.
As you told me, I will try to figure out what the mainstream usage is and to follow that.
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