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Thread: can we use "to be seen" here

  1. #1
    tianhang is offline Member
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    Default can we use "to be seen" here

    Hi, my teachers. The more I learn, the more questions I have. I came across the following sentence:
    The government wants to see the project carried out next year.
    In my understanding, see sth done means sth has been or was done. In this sentence, the project is to be carried out next year. So, why don't we say the government wants to see the project to be carried out next year? Can we use to be seen here?
    Thanks a lot!
    Last edited by tianhang; 15-Oct-2011 at 16:33. Reason: a word left out
    sumon. likes this.

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    Rover_KE is online now VIP Member
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    Default Re: can we use "to be seen" here

    No.

    It wants to see the project finished in the following year.

    Finished is an adjective here and carried out is an adjectival phrase.

    Rover

  3. #3
    tianhang is offline Member
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    Default Re: can we use "to be seen" here

    Quote Originally Posted by Rover_KE View Post
    No.

    It wants to see the project finished in the following year.

    Finished is an adjective here and carried out is an adjectival phrase.

    Rover
    Thank you so much for giving me a timely answer. But can we say see sth to be done?
    If so, in which case?

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    Default Re: can we use "to be seen" here

    Quote Originally Posted by tianhang View Post
    Thank you so much for giving me a timely answer. But can we say see sth to be done?
    If so, in which case?
    No, we can "see something is done", we can "see that something is done", we can see that something has been done etcetera.

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    tianhang is offline Member
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    Default Re: can we use "to be seen" here

    Quote Originally Posted by bhaisahab View Post
    No, we can "see something is done", we can "see that something is done", we can see that something has been done etcetera.
    Thanks a lot!

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