[Grammar] Passive Sheep

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R.A.S.O.F

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Which one is correct?Why?
1. Often sheep was looked after by the children.
2. Often sheep were looked after by the children.



Change this sentence into passive and why?

Jack always plays football with his brother.



thank you:up:
 

bhaisahab

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Which one is correct?Why?
1. Often sheep was looked after by the children.
2. Often sheep were looked after by the children.



Change this sentence into passive and why?

Jack always plays football with his brother.



thank you:up:

1. Often sheep was looked after by the children.
2. Often sheep were looked after by the children.
If you are talking about more that one sheep then 2 is correct, if you are talking about one sheep, 1 would be correct with the addition of "a" before "sheep". If, on the other hand, you are talking about an animal or a person named "sheep" 1 would be correct with a comma after "often".

Why do you want to change that sentence to passive? It doesn't serve any purpose, some sentences just would not naturally be in passive voice.
 

R.A.S.O.F

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"Why do you want to change that sentence to passive? It doesn't serve any purpose, some sentences just would not naturally be in passive voice."

because I find the passive form difficult:cry:
so, can you change it into passive, please?

"and"

If I considered the sheep as group
,do we use was or were?


thanks a lot:up:
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
"Why do you want to change that sentence to passive? It doesn't serve any purpose, some sentences just would not naturally be in passive voice."

because I find the passive form difficult:cry:
so, can you change it into passive, please?

"and"

If I considered the sheep as group
,do we use was or were?


thanks a lot:up:

If there are several sheep, use "were".

The point I am making about passive voice, is that not all sentences can be put into passive voice and still be natural. If I were to put your sentence into passive voice, it would be something like "Football is always played by Jack with his brother" but no native speaker would ever say or write that.
 
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