[Grammar] Active-to-Passive

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optickimis

New member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Good evening.

I'm having some minor difficulties pertaining to constraints in active to passive transformation. The following set of sentences was found in one of the handouts on Cognitive linguistics. Could you help me define constraints if transformation is not possible? And correct these sentences as well. Some aren't done, unfortunately.

I often meet Mary in the office.

My mother met me at the airport.
I was met at the airport by my mother.

We owe this discovery to Einstein.
This discovery has been attributed to Einstein. (I'm not sure if this is possible. Can I change verbs?)

Ann resembles her mother.
Not possible. Verb constraint.

This new hat becomes you.
Not possible. Verb constraint.

The younger boys in the school looked up to him with reverence.
Not possible. Idiom constraint.

Peter turned another page.
Not possible. Meaning constraint. ??

Peter turned the corner.
Not possible. Meaning constraint.

Peter hasn't turned that corner yet.

A complete stranger approached me yesterday night in front of the local pub.
I was approached by a complete stranger....

A car approached me silently.
Not possible. Meaning constraint.

Which tables have you laid tablecloths on?


Which tables have you laid books on?


Which shelves have you put tablecloths on?


Which shelves have you put book on?
 

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
***Neither a teacher nor a native speaker.***

Good evening.

I'm having some minor difficulties pertaining to constraints in active to passive transformation. The following set of sentences was found in one of the handouts on Cognitive linguistics. Could you help me define constraints if transformation is not possible? And correct these sentences as well. Some aren't done, unfortunately.

I often meet Mary in the office.
Mary often gets met in the office by me.

My mother met me at the airport.
I was met at the airport by my mother.

We owe this discovery to Einstein.
This discovery has been attributed to Einstein. (I'm not sure if this is possible. Can I change verbs?) :?::?:

Ann resembles her mother.
Not possible. Verb constraint.

This new hat becomes you. (You get this new hat.)
Not possible. Verb constraint.

I'm not sure about the rest...

Cheers!
 
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