two objects

[Anonymous]

Dear teacher

I'd like to ask about passive sentences.
In the exercise we change some active sentences to passive sentences.
If a sentence have two objects, two sentences can be made. However, are both sentences natural to native speakers? Or is one of them too awkward?

For example: I changed 1) to 2) and 3)
1) My uncle gave me a nice watch.
2) I was given a nice watch by my uncle.
3) A nice watch was given me by my uncle.

Do 2) and 3) sound natural?

Thank you.

[Casiopea]

Dear teacher

I'd like to ask about passive sentences.
In the exercise we change some active sentences to passive sentences.
If a sentence have two objects, two sentences can be made. However, are both sentences natural to native speakers? Or is one of them too awkward?

For example: I changed 1) to 2) and 3)
1) My uncle gave me a nice watch.
2) I was given a nice watch by my uncle.
3) A nice watch was given me by my uncle.

Do 2) and 3) sound natural?

Thank you.

The 'by' phrase sounds odd because it emphasizes the agent, the doer of the action. With the passive, the object, not the subject is emphasized:

Active: My uncle gave me a watch. (Indirect Object)
Passive: I was given a watch. (OK)

Active: My uncle gave a watch to me. (Indirect Object)
Passive: A watch was given to me. (OK)

All the best, :D