Studying Grammar Like Crazy!

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Part of speech
or grammatical category:
Word, term
or idea:
Other notes on
class or type:
Level of difficulty
1 elementary
5 intermediate
9 advanced
Verbs
Voice, Part 2
.
7 - 8
Explanation and discussion:
As in part 1, we want to look at sentences with verbs in the passive voice. Many grammar teachers say we should never use such constructions. But, this is not necessarily true. Sometimes it is the only way, and sometimes it is just plain better than the alternative.

Some things to consider include:

  • copulatives like
    • I am a teacher = a teacher am I.
    • This cake tastes too sweet = Too sweet is this cake.
    In both cases these sentences have the same meaning, and are neither active nor passive.
  • idiomatic passives and copulative-like structures like The mountain pass drives slowly which of course means you must drive it slowly.


Example(s):
None, see above.
Note(s):
Exercise(s):
Note: Due to a bug in Microsoft Internet Explorer, you must click next question for the first question. This does not happen in Netscape. In any browser, click on the [a], [b] or [c] for the answer and the next question button to see the next question.

     
     
     


Tries:    Right - Wrong Answers:
For this exercise, consider 7 or better "Great", 5 or better "Very Good", 3 or better "Good" and 2 or better "OK". Remember the score is RIGHT minus WRONG. Zero or less, please study some more.