He was made to do the dishes.

[Alice Chu]

I, an unqualified English teacher, think Sentence 1 is correct, but the others are wrong.

1) He was made to do the dishes.
2) He was let to play video games after finishing his homework.
3) He was got to paint the house.
4) He was had to fix the car.

 

[emsr2d2]

I [STRIKE], an unqualified English teacher,[/STRIKE] think sentence 1 is correct, but the others are wrong.

1) He was made to do the dishes. :tick:
2) He was let to play video games after finishing his homework. :cross:
3) He was got to paint the house. :cross:
4) He was had to fix the car. :cross:

You're right. However, why don't you tell us what you think the correct version of sentences 2, 3 and 4 would be?

Also, can I suggest that you add a signature line reading something like "I am currently an unqualified English teacher". I'll be honest - it's getting really dull having to read that at the start of all your threads!

 

[GoesStation]

Also, can I suggest that you add a signature line reading something like "I am currently an unqualified English teacher". I'll be honest - it's getting really dull having to read that at the start of all your threads!

It's also a rather odd thing to say. It means "I teach English even though I'm not competent to do so." I wonder if you mean you're an uncertified teacher — that is, you don't hold a document certifying that you've completed a certain level of training in teaching English.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I, an unqualified English teacher, think sentence 1 is correct, but the others are wrong.

1) He had to do the dishes.
2) He was allowed to play video games after finishing his homework.
3) He had to paint the house.
4) He [STRIKE][STRIKE]was[/STRIKE][/STRIKE] had to fix the car.

"He was made to" is ambiguous. It might means he was forced to, but it might mean that he was born to — that is, it's his nature.

In general, there's nothing wrong with the passive voice. But when it's used too much, it becomes tiresome. So I changed 1, 3, and 4 to the active voice.

I don't think you mean unqualified. You might mean new, inexperienced, or uncertified.

 

[emsr2d2]

However, why don't you tell us what you think the correct version of sentences 2, 3 and 4 would be?

So I changed 1, 3, and 4 to the active voice.

Well, you've struck lucky there, Alice. Charlie corrected the sentences before you had the chance to tell us what you thought they should be.

 

[PeterCW]

It's also a rather odd thing to say. It means "I teach English even though I'm not competent to do so." I wonder if you mean you're an uncertified teacher — that is, you don't hold a document certifying that you've completed a certain level of training in teaching English.

In BrE I would regard "unqualified" and "uncertified" as synonyms in this context.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Well, you've struck lucky there, Alice. Charlie corrected the sentences before you had the chance to tell us what you thought they should be.

Oops. Sorry. I missed that part.

 

[tedmc]

It's also a rather odd thing to say. It means "I teach English even though I'm not competent to do so." I wonder if you mean you're an uncertified teacher — that is, you don't hold a document certifying that you've completed a certain level of training in teaching English.

I think "unqualified" does not mean one is not competent.

 

[Tdol]

3) He was got to paint the house.

I got him to paint the house works, though.