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Rommel Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

'To be solved' or 'to solve'?

Which infinitive phrase should I use in the given sentence?

He thought that everything was a mystery (to be solved, to solve).
  

Top answer

He thought that everything was a mystery to be solved.

— Mister Micawber

  • He thought that everything was a mystery to be solved.
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8 Answers
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He thought that everything was a mystery to be solved.
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Mister Micawber, I notice that many writers write the prepositional phrase to him/her when they mean he/she believes that or in his belief/opinion. Would it be OK, then, if I write To him, everything was a mystery to be solved?
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If I would give a title to my list of books that I want people to read, should I give "Books to read" or "Books to be read" as a title? Are both are correct. I see both usage on web.
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I think that both are correct as we can see both usage on web. Thank you.
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AnonymousIf I would give a title to my list of books that I want people to read, should I give "Books to read" or "Books to be read" as a title?
Both are possible. The first is more natural.
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Rommel Would it be OK, then, if I write To him, everything was a mystery to be solved?
That's OK.
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Mister Micawber, I hear some people say Everything is a mystery to solve, instead of Everything is a mystery to be solved. Whose rule of grammar do I have to follow? Those who say that the first statement sounds natural, or those who insist that the other one is more grammatically correct?

In my analysis, the second one is more grammatically correct than
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Both are grammatically fine. I think the passive is more common and unremarkable, that is all.
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