"...asked if he could be changed to the bed..."is it right?

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roseriver1012

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I came across a sentence when doing exercises ---"Then the man asked if he could be changed to the bed next to the window". The point is the use of "change". According to my limited knowledge about the word "change", I feel something strange in "if he could be CHANGED TO THE BED". Is the sentence right? And could you give me an explanation for the meaning of the "change" here. Better with another similar example sentence. Thanks a lot for your help!
 

Rover_KE

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'. . .moved to the bed next to the window' would make more sense here.

Rover
 

roseriver1012

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'. . .moved to the bed next to the window' would make more sense here.

Rover

So a native English speaker would not use the word "change" in talking about such a situation, would they?
 

5jj

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So a native English speaker would not use the word "change" in talking about such a situation, would they?
We might, though we'd be more likely to use an active construction - "Can I change to the bed next to the window?".
 

roseriver1012

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We might, though we'd be more likely to use an active construction - "Can I change to the bed next to the window?".
So do you mean the above sentence can be changed into this: Then the man asked if he could change to the bed next to the window?

Then, the following sentences are not right or acceptable in English, right?
The patient WAS CHANGED TO the next bed.
The doctor CHANGED the patient to the next bed.
 

bhaisahab

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So do you mean the above sentence can be changed into this: Then the man asked if he could change to the bed next to the window?

Then, the following sentences are not right or acceptable in English, right?
The patient WAS CHANGED TO the next bed.
The doctor CHANGED the patient to the next bed.
Both of those examples are possible and acceptable.
 

roseriver1012

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Both of those examples are possible and acceptable.

Well, I'm puzzled! Why different people give different answers? Is the sentence I gave in my original post right or not, in grammatical or in practical sense?:crazyeye:
 

freezeframe

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Well, I'm puzzled! Why different people give different answers? Is the sentence I gave in my original post right or not, in grammatical or in practical sense?:crazyeye:


Yes it's correct but moved is more likely to be used. At least for AmE.

Unless changed is used in some bureaucratic way; places like hospitals have their own jargon.
 

roseriver1012

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Yes it's correct but moved is more likely to be used. At least for AmE.

Unless changed is used in some bureaucratic way; places like hospitals have their own jargon.

OK! Thanks!:lol:
 

Rover_KE

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Well, I'm puzzled! Why different people give different answers? Is the sentence I gave in my original post right or not? :crazyeye:

Sometimes. Roseriver, there is not a single right answer to a question.

Rover
 
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