ENG 595G Linguistic Principles of English Grammar Week 3 Lecture 1

1. ENG 595G Linguistic Principles of English Grammar Week 3 Lecture 1

2. Active vs. Passive ACTIVE: Ran Kyung made the kimchi subject = agent object = patient PASSIVE: The kimchi was made by Ran Kyung subject = patient object = agent

3. Reasons for omitting the agent in passive constructions (80-85%) The agent is obvious and/or recoverable from the context E.g. Vincent was sentenced to five years in prison The identity of the agent is unknown E.g. Last night my car was stolen

4. Reasons for omitting the agent in passive constructions (80-85%) The speaker has a generic or non-specific agent in mind E.g. A new park is being created in my part of town To avoid responsibility E.g. I’m afraid your celadon vase has been broken

5. Reasons for mentioning the agent in a passive construction (15-20%) There are two related conditions: The agent represents new or particularly significant information E.g. Kyung Hoon’s purse was snatched by a man dressed like the Green Goblin The agent is unexpected or unusual in some way E.g. Kyung Hoon’s purse was snatched by a large parrot which swooped down from the trees

6. Which types of clause can be passivized? Transitive: The ostrich chased Huyn Joo ? Huyn Joo was chased by the ostrich Extended transitive: The school presented Jay with a new laptop ? A new laptop was presented to Jay by the school ? Jay was presented with a new laptop by the school Complex-transitive: The class elected Hye Eun president ? Hye Eun was elected president by the class

7. So why don’t the following transitive clauses form good passives? Jin Young loves kimchi ? *Kimchi is loved by Jin Young Dr. Macdonald left the office at 6.00 ? *The office was left by Dr. Macdonald at 6.00

8. What about this one? Few students enjoy phonology ? Phonology is enjoyed by few students

9. Which types of clause cannot be passivized? Intransitive: The leaves fell ? No passive Copula: He is a boring professor ? No passive

10. Which types of clause cannot be passivized? Clauses containing “reciprocal” verbs Sun Koo resembles his father ? *His father is resembled by Sun Koo Clauses containing “state” verbs This carton contains pineapple juice ? *Pineapple juice is contained by this carton

11. Meaning and use of the passive (Focusing attention) Active: The explosion demolished several houses Passive: Several houses were demolished by the explosion Active: John’s mother saw him in the bar Passive: John was seen in the bar by his mother (from Dixon, 2005)

12. Meaning and use of the passive(Shifting perspective) Active (both clauses): The enemy opened fire and killed five of our men instantly Passive (second clause): The enemy opened fire and five of our men were killed instantly (from Huddleston, 1983)

13. Meaning and use of the passive(Avoiding reference to an agent) ACTIVE: The professor gave Hyun Jin some bad advice regarding her term paper PASSIVE: Hyun Jin was given some bad advice regarding her term paper

14. Meaning and use of the passive(Creating an impersonal or objective tone) ACTIVE: We regret the delay in dealing with this matter PASSIVE: The delay in dealing with this matter is regretted