0
Prajwalkr Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Voice

Hi
Here is a sentence:
The librarian read the book to the students.

Now while changing the voice, my teacher tells me that there are two ways to start it, and she has given me a task to figure out those:

1. The book was read to the students by the librarian.
2. The students were....................................................

Though I did the first, I am unable to complete the second sentence. Here is my attempt at it:

The students were read the book by the librarian.

I am now getting a lot confused regarding the correctness of the second, help me out, please.

Thanks.

Prajwal
  

Top answer

Hi Prajwal; I think that the problem here is that read is not a true ditransitive verb. Only with true ditransitive verbs can you make the passive with both the direct and indirect objects. Even so, the indirect object as subject sounds quite awkward and should be avoided.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Hi Prajwal; I think that the problem here is that read is not a true ditransitive verb.
  • Only with true ditransitive verbs can you make the passive with both the direct and indirect objects.
  • Even so, the indirect object as subject sounds quite awkward and should be avoided.
  • The passive voice is usually where the direct object is the grammatical subject.
  • He sent his mother a letter.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
Hi Prajwal;

I think that the problem here is that read is not a true ditransitive verb.
Only with true ditransitive verbs can you make the passive with both the direct and indirect objects.
Even so, the indirect object as subject sounds quite awkward and should be avoided.
The passive voice is usually where the direct object is the grammatical subject.

He sen
0
0
Thank you very much, AEmotion: starS. I am very much clear now.

Warm regards
Prajwal
0
0
See my last edit - the example sentence can be passive voice, but without the direct object.
0
0
AlpheccaStarsSee my last edit - the example sentence can be passive voice, but without the direct object.
Lovely!

Thank you very much.

Prajwal
0
0

AlpheccaStars: The passive voice is usually where the direct object is the grammatical subject.
Hi AlpeccaStars
I want to clear my doubt with reference to your comment above.

She bought me a shirt.
You mean to say A shirt was bought for me by her is more preferable than I was bought a shirt by her.
0
0
I was bought.... (I was a slave and sold at the slave market).

You mean to say A shirt was bought for me by her is more preferable than I was bought a shirt by her.
Yes, but here's a note of caution - the passive can be really treacherous. If you know the subject, use the active voice.
Use the passive only when the subject is unknown, or you are writing in an acad
0

Related Questions