[General] Is there any rule

[suniljain]

Is there any rule that with "could" we use only base form of verb? I understand we can use both base form and 2nd/3rd form of verb also depending upon the sentence?


Could you please make sure that this letter is sent to Ram?

Is this correct?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Your sentence is correct.

 

[suniljain]

We can't.

We could go.
We could have gone.

Does first sentence say about future and 2nd sentence say about about the past.

 

[suniljain]

Your sentence is correct.

Why did we use "sent" in this sentence? Is it Passive ?

 

[Matthew Wai]

'Is sent' is passive. The letter could not send itself, so the passive voice was used.

 

[emsr2d2]

I see no need for "Could you" and the question mark. Simply saying "Please make sure this letter is sent to Ram" is sufficient and polite.

 

[Matthew Wai]

We could go.
We could have gone.

Does first sentence say about future and 2nd sentence say about about the past.

I think the first and the second refer to a future possibility and a past possibility respectively.

 

[suniljain]

I see no need for "Could you" and the question mark. Simply saying "Please make sure this letter is sent to Ram" is sufficient and polite.

Can we write as below-
Please make sure that you send this letter to Ram.
Does this sentence convey the same meaning as above?

 

[emsr2d2]

Can we write [STRIKE]as below-[/STRIKE] "Please make sure that you send this letter to Ram"?
Does this sentence convey the same meaning as [STRIKE]above[/STRIKE] my original?

See above.

No, they don't necessarily mean the same thing. The original simply asks the listener to ensure the letter reaches Ram. It doesn't matter who actually sends it. Your revised version specifically asks the listener to send it himself/herself.

 

[suniljain]

See above.

No, they don't necessarily mean the same thing.

Can we write " Please make sure that the letter is send to Ram"?

I understand that this sentence is wrong, as we cannot use "send" after "is". If so, does it mean that we can't construct the sentence in active voice to convey the same meaning? Please clarify

 

[emsr2d2]

Can we write " Please make sure that the letter is send to Ram"?
I understand that this sentence is wrong, as we cannot use "send" after "is". If so, does it mean that we can't construct the sentence in active voice to convey the same meaning? Please clarify

No, you can't use "... the letter is send to ...". That's completely ungrammatical.

We don't tend to make passive versions of imperatives or requests.

John sent Ram the letter. (Active)
The letter was sent to Ram by John. (Passive)

John, please send this letter to Ram. (Request)
No passive form.

 

[suniljain]

No, you can't use "... the letter is send to ...". That's completely ungrammatical.

We don't tend to make passive versions of imperatives or requests.

John sent Ram the letter. (Active)
The letter was sent to Ram by John. (Passive)

Many thanks. Could you please help me to understand the following-
1)Why "send" is not correct after "is"? I understand that after "is", it should be always verb+ing or past participle (if it's verb).Am I correct?

2)Please make sure that the letter is sent to Ram. Does it mean that we don't tend to make active version of requests?

 

[Matthew Wai]

1)Why "send" is not correct after "is"? I understand that after "is", it should be always verb+ing or past participle (if it's verb).

'Send' is not correct because it is neither an -ing form nor a past participle.

 

[suniljain]

Please make sure that the letter is sent to Ram. Does it mean that we don't tend to make active version of requests?

emsr2d2 has already given you one active version - John, please send this letter to Ram.

Here's another - Please make sure you send this letter to Ram (, John).

But in the original post we didn't specify who will send the letter, but in active form we specify it.

 

[Matthew Wai]

If you don't specify who, use the passive voice.