Language Structures — Part 3: Building Blocks / 5g


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3.5d — Active and Passive Constructions

We know that passive construction is only feasible with transitive verbs.

Whilst some verbs are usually transitive and others intransitive, a large number of verbs can be transitive or intransitive depending on context.

For example, "to blow" is intransitive in the clause:

  • The wind blows

    •     No object expected
but is transitive in:
  • I just blew the only chance I had!
        (object: chance).
Common sense and usage must be kept in sight. Alexander (p. 242) quotes a grammatically flawless passive construction which nobody would ever utter:
  • Beans on toasts are loved by me.

    •   Its active counterpart is the only way to go about it:
  • I love beans on toasts.
See Alexander, from p. 246 onward, for what he calls causative construction, a peculiar pattern with an underlying passive construction:
  • I'll have your car repaired before noon.
Re-wording it: "Your car will be repaired before noon, I take responsibility for that".

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