to be supplied to the assembly-lines

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ksenia

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
In a few years later, the non-asbestos brake pads began to be supplied to the assembly-lines.

Can one say "to be supplied to the assembly-lines"?
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
This sounds like it's a component they use to make other things.
Do you mean it's a finished product they create?
 

Ksenia

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
One company produces non-asbestos brake pads and then supply them to the assembly-lines.
That is all I know.
 
Last edited:

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
"In a few years later" is incorrect. The rest is OK.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I agree it's grammatical, but it doesn't sound very natural. (That is, with the change pointed out by bhai.)
Have these pads been mentioned before so "the" is appropriate?
The passive "began to be provided to" is awkward. Is it so important that the company providing them not be named?
 

Tarheel

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Perhaps:

The brake pads were supplied to XYC Company, which used them on its assembly line.
 

Ksenia

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
I can provide you with more content:

In 1970 ABC developed the first non-asbestos brake pads and made a sustained contribution towards the environment protection. In a few years later, the non-asbestos brake pads began to be supplied to the assembly lines.

Today, ABC offers braking system for 99% of all European commercial vehicles. Thus, ABC is the ‘number one’ supplier to the vehicle manufacturers.
 
Last edited:

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
I can provide you with more content:

In 1970 ABC developed the first non-asbestos brake pads and made a substantial contribution towards the protection of the environment. Within a few years the non-asbestos brake pads began to be supplied to the assembly lines.

Today, ABC offers braking systems for 99% of all European commercial vehicles.
Bhai.
 

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
In a few years later, the non-asbestos brake pads began to be supplied to the assembly lines.

The passive voice is very awkward here. Who began to supply the pads to the assembly lines? Which lines were they? The sentence doesn't tell us.

Try this:

A few years later, ABC began supplying non-asbestos brake pads to various assembly lines.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
I don't agree. The passive is fine, and it is clear from the context who began supplying the pads.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Now my issues is with "the assembly lines" - does your reader know which ones?

I'm not crazy about the passive in that sentence either.
Within a few years, the non-asbestos brake pads were in standard use in vehicle assembly lines throughout Europe - or wherever.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top