[Grammar] Passive in "I wanna be loved by you"

[jamesbowers]

A line from a well known song by Marilyn Monroe (Some Like It Hot) has been confusing me.


I wanna be loved by you.


The meaning is clear. Yet I have learned that in a passive construction the agent is not usually expressed. In the above line, however, the agent is indicated by "by you," which strikes me quite unusual. How do native speakers of English look at the construction above? Is this construction with "by you" sound OK?

 

[emsr2d2]

Welcome to the forum. :hi:

I'm not sure where you got the idea that the agent is not usually expressed in the passive voice. It completely depends on the sentence/context.

In that lyric, "by you" is important. Without it, you have only "I wanna be loved" which is less specific. The singer doesn't want to just be loved, doesn't just want to be the subject of someone's affection - she specifically wants to be the subject of your attention. Without "by you", that isn't clear.

We don't generally recommend that learners use song lyrics as examples of good grammatical English though. Lyrics are often written simply to fit the rhyme/rhythm of the song, with little (if any) regard to the rules of grammar. Had you not explained that you were talking about song lyrics and had just asked "Is I wanna be loved by you OK?", we would all have said "In spoken English, yes. In written English (if you're not quoting someone else's words), use want to, not wanna."

 

[jutfrank]

A line from a well known song by Marilyn Monroe (Some Like It Hot) has been confusing me.. In the above line, however, the agent is indicated by "by you," which strikes me quite unusual. How do native speakers of English look at the construction above? Is this construction with "by you" sound OK?

With respect, James, this seems like a very odd question for a native speaker to ask! Have you not heard the song? Can you get what the lyrics are saying?

 

[Raymott]

... is his profile correct?

 

[jutfrank]

James, please amend your profile information to show that you are not a native speaker. This will help us give you better answers. Thanks.

 

[Tdol]

Yet I have learned that in a passive construction the agent is not usually expressed.

That is true, but here the agent is important- she doesn't just want to be loved (by anybody) but by a particular person.

 

[Rover_KE]

Again, James,

Please amend your profile information to show that you are not a native speaker.

Additionally, please give us your current location.

We will not reply further until you have done so.

Giving us correct profile information does not compromise your anonymity if that's worrying you.