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el7jake
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 24
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 Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:00 am Post subject: passive voice |
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I am confused about the passive voice.
1) if there are two clauses, how do I know which can change to the passive voice?
Example: When I got home, someone had washed the dishes.
2) I understand that to change passive to active, you should start the passive sentence with the object. But does that work when the object is a noun clause? What about these sentences?
They say that time is money. It is said that time is money.
It sounds strange to say That time is money is said.
Thanks for your help!
EL Jake |
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:02 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
I am confused about the passive voice.
1) if there are two clauses, how do I know which can change to the passive voice?
Example: When I got home, someone had washed the dishes. |
In order to form the passive voice, you basically need a clause that contains a transitive verb with an object. In your example, only the second clause contains a transitive verb with an object. Hence:
When I got home, the dishes had been washed.
In the clause When I got home, home is not the object of the verb got. Got home is a prepositional phrase. If home were the object of got, then the following would make sense:
Q: What did you get?
A: Home. X
However, this makes no sense.
| Quote: |
2) I understand that to change passive to active, you should start the passive sentence with the object. But does that work when the object is a noun clause? What about these sentences?
They say that time is money. It is said that time is money.
It sounds strange to say That time is money is said. |
You're right...it is strange. So don't say that. 
They say time is money. (active)
It is said that time is money. (passive)
This is the correct way to form the passive with a sentence like this. (This is sometimes called the impersonal passive.)
Note that there is nothing grammatically wrong with using a THAT-clause as the subject of a sentence. However, we don't do it very often as it tends to make for an awkward, "top-heavy" sentence, especially if the clause is very long. For example:
Everyone knows that Charlene Jenson is the best choice to take over for Pete Bristoll as VP of the Sales Department. No problem. 
That Charlene Jenson is the best choice to take over for Pete Bristoll as VP of the Sales Department is known by all. OUCH! 
When the sentence complement is a THAT-clause, we normally form the passive in the same way as in the example about time and money. Here are a couple more:
Many of us feel that the company should treat customers fairly. (active)
It is felt that the company should treat customers fairly. (passive)
Some think that the economy will rebound by the end of next year. (active)
It is thought by some that the economy will rebound by the end of next year. (passive)
Everyone knows that Tony stole the money and moved to Mexico. (active)
It is well known that Tony stole the money and moved to Mexico. (passive)
Hope this helps.
Greg |
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