Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lina 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