Passive voice for think

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david11

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Hello teachers,

Can the word think be used in passive voice?


What does this sentence mean?

I am thought to may be keep your company.

Thanks in advance.
 

Barb_D

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You can, but not in your sentence.

People think she is one of the most beautiful women in the world.
She is thought to be one of the most beautiful women in the world.

People thought I was the front-runner in the race for mayor. I lost anyway.
I was thought to be the front-runner in the race for mayor. I lost anway.
 

david11

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You can, but not in your sentence.

People think she is one of the most beautiful women in the world.
She is thought to be one of the most beautiful women in the world.

People thought I was the front-runner in the race for mayor. I lost anyway.
I was thought to be the front-runner in the race for mayor. I lost anway.

Thank you for your reply barb.


Actually this a dialogue from a film(sherlock holmes 25:11).


The context is that the holmes is talking to the death convict.


The preceding sentence is: Shortly my friend will pronounce you dead and I am thought to may be keep your company.



I would have given the context earlier itself but I thought that It is common expression and the context is not necessary.

Thank you
 

birdeen's call

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Thank you for your reply barb.


Actually this a dialogue from a film(sherlock holmes 25:11).


The context is that the holmes is talking to the death convict.


The preceding sentence is: Shortly my friend will pronounce you dead and I am thought to may be keep your company.



I would have given the context earlier itself but I thought that It is common expression and the context is not necessary.

Thank you

David, as Barb_D said, your sentence is incorrect. Are you sure it's not

...and I thought I might keep him company.

? This is what I see here.
 

david11

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David, as Barb_D said, your sentence is incorrect. Are you sure it's not

[/FONT]...and I thought I might keep him company.

? This is what I see here.

You are right birdeen's call.

That is what given in the link and Latter I listened carefully to the audio it is same as you said.

But where the problem lied is in my subtitle.

It is given as I said in my subtitle.
 

5jj

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What do you mean by your 'subtitle'?
 

5jj

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Then there is a mistake in the subtitles.
 

david11

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Then there is a mistake in the subtitles.

Yes sir, you are right.

Is it right if we delete the word 'be' in the sentence?


I am thought to may be keep your company.


They think I may keep your company.


I am thought to may keep your company.


What does he actually mean in that context?


Shortly my friend will pronounce you dead and I thought I might keep him company.


Does he mean" they think I might also pronounce you dead"?
 

5jj

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If the words spoken were ...and I thought I might keep him company, then that is what the subtitles should read.
 

david11

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If the words spoken were ...and I thought I might keep him company, then that is what the subtitles should read.

Yes sir, it should read as you said.

My question is whether we can put it in the way as I said.
 

5jj

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My question is whether we can put it in the way as I said.
No. Only the speaker is thinking, nobody else. if 'I think' something, we cannot change this to 'they think' something; nor can we change it to 'I am thought ...'.
 

david11

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No. Only the speaker is thinking, nobody else. if 'I think' something, we cannot change this to 'they think' something; nor can we change it to 'I am thought ...'.

So,It can't be used here.

But we can use it in some other appropriate context.

And
What does he actually mean in that context?


Shortly my friend will pronounce you dead and I thought I might keep him company.


Does he mean" I think I might also pronounce you dead"?
 

Barb_D

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Well, that's a thought. Not a very likely one, but it *is* possible.

The problem is with the "him" and "you."

I had thought to maybe keep you company -- this is similiar in sound to what you originally wrote. I thought that you might enjoy some companionship before my friend pronounces you dead.

But it's possible that when he says that he will keep "him" company, he means his friend, and the speaker joins his friend in wishing him dead.
 

david11

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Well, that's a thought. Not a very likely one, but it *is* possible.

The problem is with the "him" and "you."

I had thought to maybe keep you company -- this is similiar in sound to what you originally wrote. I thought that you might enjoy some companionship before my friend pronounces you dead.

But it's possible that when he says that he will keep "him" company, he means his friend, and the speaker joins his friend in wishing him dead.

Thank you.
 
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