Quote:
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Originally Posted by hongkee tong Can you please explain why it is incorrect to say "fresh chickens may be disappeared from Hong Kong" and
it is NOT incorrect to say "fresh chickens may be sold in Hong Kong"? as both are passive voice and present participles.
Thank you |
1. Fresh chicken may
be sold in Hong Kong.
2. Fresh chicken may
be disappeared in Hong Kong.
Ungrammatical
The word 'sold' is an adjective, so it takes a linking verb "be". But the word 'disappeared' is a verb, so it doesn't need another verb, like "be". Adjectives, not verbs, need a linking verb.
That is,
1. may (modal)
be (linking verb)
sold (adjective)
2. may (modal)
disappear (main verb, potential in meaning)
In short, "may be disappeared" is ungrammatical because there are two main verbs, 'be' and 'disappeared'. Either delete 'be' and
-ed (3) or change 'disappeared' to an adjective by replacing
-ed with
-ing (4)
3. Fresh chickens may
disappear in Hong Kong.
4. Fresh chickens may be
disappearing in Hong Kong.
Cas :)