passive voice

[Offroad]

Dear teachers

Do these sentences read well?

Sun Corp was bought by Microsoft.
You will be picked up at the airport.
Twelve suspected terrorists were arrested by the Federal Police.
The school was built by people 10 years ago.
The report had been sent to you by someone a week ago.
The film was directed by John Woo.
A new book has just been written by Phillip Roth.
A new book was just written by Phillip Roth.

Thanks

 

[allenman]

Yes, all are good.

Not a teacher -- AmE native

 

[SanMar]

Dear teachers

Do these sentences read well?

Sun Corp was bought by Microsoft.
You will be picked up at the airport.
Twelve suspected terrorists were arrested by the Federal Police.
The school was built by people 10 years ago. Unless you are going to be specific as to who built the school it is safe to assume that it was built by people. IMO it would sound better to just omit by people.
The report had been sent to you by someone a week ago. Same issue here as above. If you want to emphasize that it was sent by an actual person, rather than email for example, I'd say in person[/B].
The film was directed by John Woo.
A new book has just been written by Phillip Roth.
A new book was just written by Phillip Roth.

Thanks

This is just my opinion of course. I'd wait on a teacher to comment as well.

Not a teacher.

 

[Barb_D]

I completely agree with SanMar's comments. Unless you want to say something like "the people of this village" we can assume it wasn't a gift from species from another planet and you should omit "by people."

 

[nukichan]

Marry was pushed by Jane,and she was drop into the water.

 

[Barb_D]

Marry was pushed by Jane,and she was drop into the water.

... and she fell into the water?
... and she was forced into the water?

I'm not quite sure what you meant, but "she was drop" is not right.

 

[BobK]

... and she fell into the water?
... and she was forced into the water?

I'm not quite sure what you meant, but "she was drop" is not right.

Not only is the verb wrong, the form is too: 'she was dropped* off at the supermarket'. But this is getting even further off topic...

b

PS *Some speakers may find the /pt/ sound difficult, and insert a vowels sound into it. Don't. Try to think of it as /drɒp tɒf/