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avid_learner
Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:05 am Post subject: what is the structure of passive sentences? |
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The baby broke the vase. The structure is SVO
The vase was broken. What is the structure of this sentence?
The news surprised him.
He was surprised.
Is surprised here a verb or a participle acting as an adjective?
Please help  |
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Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:03 am Post subject: |
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In passive, the verb is composed of some form of be + past participle.
The vase (S) was broken (V).
He (S) was surprised (V).
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
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Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's |
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avid_learner
Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:42 am Post subject: thanks |
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thank you gertrude for your reply. I was confused because in the sentence, I was drunk, drunk is an adjective. It is also a past participle form but in that sentence, it is not passive.
is it correct to assume that all passive sentences have s-v structure? |
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Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:03 am Post subject: |
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My name is not Gertrude but yes, that is a safe assumption. Of course, in English, no rule seems to be 100%.
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's |
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avid_learner
Joined: 07 Apr 2006
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| sorry. that was a stupid mistake. |
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Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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No problem-- I may change it. 'Gertrude' is rather authoritative.
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's |
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Harmony
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:13 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm . . . Gertie Micawber?  |
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