Things ‘to order vs. to be ordered’
Hello, everyone,
“Mending and restoring objects often require even more creativity than original production. The pre-industrial blacksmith made things to order for people in his immediate community; customizing the product, modifying or transforming it according to the user, was routine.”
I parse the part underlined above into “ ... made things (for the customer) to order for people ... “ and it can be converted into ” ... made things to be ordered (by the customer) for people ... “ without its meaning change using the passive infinitive.
My question is if the part underlined can be converted into “ ... made things ordered for people ... “ after leaving out ‘to be’ in the passive infinitive without its meaning change.
Your valuable comment would be really much appreciated.
Top answer
Your guess was logical, but that's not what you're seeing. Things can be "made to order", which means that the things are made in conformation with provided specifications. This is a special use of the word "to".
- Your guess was logical, but that's not what you're seeing.
- Things can be "made to order", which means that the things are made in conformation with provided specifications.
- This is a special use of the word "to".
- Parse it "The pre-industrial blacksmith made things to order for people in his immediate community …".
- The people ordered things, and the blacksmith accordingly made them the way they specified.
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Your guess was logical, but that's not what you're seeing. Things can be "made to order", which means that the things are made in conformation with provided specifications. This is a special use of the word "to". Parse it "The pre-industrial blacksmith made things to order for people in his immediate community …". The people ordered things, and the blacksmith accordingly made them the w
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