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Thread: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

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    faryan's Avatar
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    Question passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Hi
    Is it possible to use passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses?
    Is it okay to say unreal past instead of past unreal ? Does it change the meaning or sound peculiar?

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    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Quote Originally Posted by faryan View Post
    Hi
    Is it possible to use passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses?
    Is it okay to say unreal past instead of past unreal ? Does it change the meaning or sound peculiar?
    Please give an example sentence about which you are unsure. Thanks.

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    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    Please give an example sentence about which you are unsure. Thanks.
    No example exists, just need to know if it's possible or not?

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    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Quote Originally Posted by faryan View Post
    No example exists, just need to know if it's possible or not?
    Why don't you write something, then we'll tell you if it's possible or not.

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    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Quote Originally Posted by faryan View Post
    Hi
    Is it possible to use passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses?
    Is it okay to say unreal past instead of past unreal ? Does it change the meaning or sound peculiar?
    "Why do you think the passive voice wouldn't be used in the conditional, or couldn't have been used in the past unreal?"
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    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    If an example had been provided, suggestions and comments would have followed. If, even now, examples were to be provided, suggestions and comments would, I am sure, be made.
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    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Quote Originally Posted by fivejedjon View Post
    If an example had been provided, suggestions and comments would have followed. If, even now, examples were to be provided, suggestions and comments would, I am sure, be made.
    Ace, thanks.

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    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Quote Originally Posted by faryan View Post
    Ace, thanks.
    I've given you an example in my post #5.
    "We can use the passive voice with the conditional." Active
    "The passive voice can be used with the conditional." Passive
    "Would the passive voice be used in the conditional?" Passive voice used in the conditional.
    "Why do you think the passive voice wouldn't be used in the conditional?" Passive voice used in the conditional.

    Is this what you meant?
    Last edited by Raymott; 06-Aug-2011 at 09:33.
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Quote Originally Posted by Raymott View Post
    I've given you an example in my post #5.
    "We can use the passive voice with the conditional." Active
    "The passive voice can be used with the conditional." Passive
    "Would the passive voice be used in the conditional?" Passive voice used in the conditional.
    "Why do you think the passive voice wouldn't be used in the conditional?" Passive voice used in the conditional.

    Is this what you meant?
    Yeah, that's exactly what I meant, but would you please tell me how they would be conditionals? conditionals without "if" or " unless" ? interrogative conditionals? I mean examples #3 & 4

    and I was wondering if you could tell me about the substitution of words?
    is it odd to say past unreal instead of unreal past or conditional passive instead of passive conditional and such examples? do they convey the emphasis?
    Last edited by faryan; 06-Aug-2011 at 09:59. Reason: ask a Q

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    Default Re: passive voice in conditional or past unreal clauses

    Quote Originally Posted by faryan View Post
    Yeah, that's exactly what I meant, but would you please tell me how they would be conditionals? conditionals without "if" or " unless" ? interrogative conditionals? I mean examples #3 & 4
    If they use 'would', how wouldn't they be conditionals? It's still the conditional mood even if no actual condition is given.
    But this is the whole point about providing your own examples. You don't have to rely on the ones we provide to be acceptable to your purposes.
    "If you want an example of how the passive voice can be used in the conditional, you can provide one for yourself that satisfies all your criteria."

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