Results 1 to 10 of 10
Like Tree1Likes
  • 1 Post By Rover_KE

Thread: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

  1. #1
    roseriver1012's Avatar
    roseriver1012 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • China
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    131

    Question "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    I came across a sentence when doing exercises ---"Then the man asked if he could be changed to the bed next to the window". The point is the use of "change". According to my limited knowledge about the word "change", I feel something strange in "if he could be CHANGED TO THE BED". Is the sentence right? And could you give me an explanation for the meaning of the "change" here. Better with another similar example sentence. Thanks a lot for your help!

  2. #2
    Rover_KE is offline VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    6,025
    Teacher

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    '. . .moved to the bed next to the window' would make more sense here.

    Rover

  3. #3
    roseriver1012's Avatar
    roseriver1012 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • China
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    131
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rover_KE View Post
    '. . .moved to the bed next to the window' would make more sense here.

    Rover
    So a native English speaker would not use the word "change" in talking about such a situation, would they?

  4. #4
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    16,952
    Teacher

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    Quote Originally Posted by roseriver1012 View Post
    So a native English speaker would not use the word "change" in talking about such a situation, would they?
    We might, though we'd be more likely to use an active construction - "Can I change to the bed next to the window?".

  5. #5
    roseriver1012's Avatar
    roseriver1012 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • China
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    131
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    Quote Originally Posted by fivejedjon View Post
    We might, though we'd be more likely to use an active construction - "Can I change to the bed next to the window?".
    So do you mean the above sentence can be changed into this: Then the man asked if he could change to the bed next to the window?

    Then, the following sentences are not right or acceptable in English, right?
    The patient WAS CHANGED TO the next bed.
    The doctor CHANGED the patient to the next bed.

  6. #6
    bhaisahab's Avatar
    bhaisahab is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    16,152
    Teacher

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    Quote Originally Posted by roseriver1012 View Post
    So do you mean the above sentence can be changed into this: Then the man asked if he could change to the bed next to the window?

    Then, the following sentences are not right or acceptable in English, right?
    The patient WAS CHANGED TO the next bed.
    The doctor CHANGED the patient to the next bed.
    Both of those examples are possible and acceptable.

  7. #7
    roseriver1012's Avatar
    roseriver1012 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • China
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    131
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    Quote Originally Posted by bhaisahab View Post
    Both of those examples are possible and acceptable.
    Well, I'm puzzled! Why different people give different answers? Is the sentence I gave in my original post right or not, in grammatical or in practical sense?

  8. #8
    freezeframe is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Canada
      • Current Location:
      • Canada
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    2,116
    Teacher

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    Quote Originally Posted by roseriver1012 View Post
    Well, I'm puzzled! Why different people give different answers? Is the sentence I gave in my original post right or not, in grammatical or in practical sense?

    Yes it's correct but moved is more likely to be used. At least for AmE.

    Unless changed is used in some bureaucratic way; places like hospitals have their own jargon.

  9. #9
    roseriver1012's Avatar
    roseriver1012 is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • China
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    131
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    Quote Originally Posted by freezeframe View Post
    Yes it's correct but moved is more likely to be used. At least for AmE.

    Unless changed is used in some bureaucratic way; places like hospitals have their own jargon.
    OK! Thanks!

  10. #10
    Rover_KE is offline VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    6,025
    Teacher

    Default Re: "...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

    Quote Originally Posted by roseriver1012 View Post
    Well, I'm puzzled! Why different people give different answers? Is the sentence I gave in my original post right or not?
    Sometimes. Roseriver, there is not a single right answer to a question.

    Rover
    5jj likes this.

Similar Threads

  1. The K sound of "Asked him", "Basically".....
    By EngFan in forum Pronunciation and Phonetics
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 20-Jan-2011, 21:04
  2. Why is "change" but not "changed" used?
    By Steven Zhu in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 15-Sep-2010, 16:34
  3. Replies: 7
    Last Post: 28-Feb-2009, 13:38

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0