Grammar Help

[rajan]

Dear all,

Does the sentence in bold carry the meaning that If we believe on Akio Toyoda, the next Supra would be teady for testing. Thanks. What is the grammar in this - is to be believed

If Akio Toyoda is to be believed, the next Supra would be ready for testing

Thanks
Rajan

[emsr2d2]

Dear all, does the sentence in bold carry the meaning that If we believe on Akio Toyoda, the next Supra would be teady for testing. Thanks. What is the grammar in this - is to be believed

If Akio Toyoda is to be believed, the next Supra would be ready for testing

Thanks
Rajan

It means "If we believe what Akio Toyoda says" (note : you wrote "if we believe on..." We don't say this. We can say "believe" or "believe in", which have slightly different meanings, but never "believe on")

"to be believed" is the passive infinitive.

[rajan]

Thanks teacher

It means "If we believe what Akio Toyoda says" (note : you wrote "if we believe on..." We don't say this. We can say "believe" or "believe in", which have slightly different meanings, but never "believe on")

"to be believed" is the passive infinitive.

[rajan]

Dear Sir,

Here I am wrong.

But my understanding on this says if we make the passive of what you explained. according to that in passive voice it should come "is believed". how can "to be believed" come".

It means "If we believe what Akio Toyoda says" (note : you wrote "if we believe on..." We don't say this. We can say "believe" or "believe in", which have slightly different meanings, but never "believe on")

"to be believed" is the passive infinitive.

[emsr2d2]

Dear Sir,

Here I am wrong.

But my understanding on this says if we make the passive of what you explained. according to that in passive voice it should come "is believed". how can "to be believed" come".

Hmm, you have made me think now. I guess actually in your sentence, "believed" acts almost as an adjective.

However, I would appreciate other teachers' input into this.

I believe him.
He was believed by me.

I realise that we don't usually use the passive in this way but the OP is right.

What is "to be believed" in "Is he to be believed?"

OK, my brain is now scrambled. Anyone?

Rajan - for now, disregard what I said before!

[5jj]

If we are to believe A T ... active infinitive
If A T is to be believed... passive infinitive.

We are using the verb am/are/is (to)

[emsr2d2]

If we are to believe A T ... active infinitive
If A T is to be believed... passive infinitive.

We are using the verb am/are/is (to)

So I was right the first time! Blimey, my brain is more scrambled than I thought.

[5jj]

So I was right the first time! Blimey, my brain is more scrambled than I thought.

It comes to us all. I sometimes duck out of responding to a question because I have no idea of the answer. Then somebody comes along with the answer, and I realise that the question was simply something like, "Is 'I must to work' correct?"

[rajan]

Dear Sir,

Would you please tell me the difference between

i ) If we believe and
ii) if we are to believe

I think, sentence no. i) shows fact but not sure about second sentence. i think, sentence no. ii) also shows fact but a word is missing(can be placed) between are and to believe.

Thanks

[emsr2d2]

Dear Sir,

Would you please tell me the difference between

i ) If we believe and
ii) if we are to believe

I think, sentence no. i) shows fact but not sure about second sentence. i think, sentence no. ii) also shows fact but something is missing between are and to believe.

Thanks

1) "If we believe" suggests that it's probably something we already believe. "If you believe that, you'll believe anything".

2) "If we are to believe" suggests that there is a possibility that we won't believe whatever it is.

If I believe that I can lose weight, then I can! = Provided that I believe...

If I am to believe what my friend says, she lost 12kg in a week = If I choose to believe what she says, then... (I have to decide whether or not to believe her.)