Is this correct then

[zaffar]

Dear teacher,
The answer to the last post made me very anxious because it is contrary to what i have learned in a book "A high school english grammar and composition" by "Pc Wren and Martin." This book is widely acclaimed book on english grammar and is being published since 1930. This book says that " The participles have also passive forms, for example
1) The participle of "loving" is "being loved." (this is simple form)
2) The participle of having loved is " having been loved." ( this is passive of the perfect participle)

But, while replying to my post the teacher said that it is wrong to say
"The true nature of the english language having been understood(by me), I don't have this problem anymore. The above phrase is aboslute. I am worried because i have been using the same structure during essay answers in my tests and exams. please reply
thanks in advance,
Zaffar.

zaffar

tdol
Editor, UsingEnglish.com Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London
Posts: 10,761

Re: Would you please explain

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can't put all sentences into the passive naturally. when talking about yourself, the focus is generally on yourself, so which sounds better?:
I did it.
It was done by me.

IMO, the passive has to be used for a reason, and that sentence doesn't work. A form may exist, but that doesn't mean it can be used. The problem here is the 'by me', not the concept of 'having been understood'.

Dear teacher,
If the problem is "by me" but not "having been understood", should we restructure this sentence in this way,
1) The true nature of english language having been understood, I don't have this problem anymore,
or when talking about some one else other than me, should i write this sentence,
2) The true nature of english languge having been understood by her, I don't still have this problem.
please reply

[Tdol]

I wouldn't bother trying to put this into the passive. I'd say 'Understanding/having understood...' I see no need for the phrase you are trying to use in this sentence- it's clumsy. What I meant by the problem being 'by me' was that the form is not incorrect grammatically, but the phrasing is convoluted and unnecessary, rather than grammtically wrong.