tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post4290391695997407680..comments2023-10-30T12:26:15.822+01:00Comments on Research as a Second Language: Return to UsageThomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04858865501469168339noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-24481527780862792072008-02-05T00:18:00.000+01:002008-02-05T00:18:00.000+01:00It's a common confusion--between the passive voice...It's a common confusion--between the passive voice per se and circumlocutions that make writing less direct, less active. Also, since the passive voice uses the verb "to be," other constructions that use this verb are often called "passive." But, if you really think about it, the verb "to be" used copulatively can never be passive, since it isn't transitive in the first place.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371893596402673898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-87599905561624005002008-02-04T21:45:00.000+01:002008-02-04T21:45:00.000+01:00Okay, I've looked it up. And I see what you mean.I...Okay, I've looked it up. And I see what you mean.<BR/><BR/>I think these next few weeks of actually looking things up will do me good.<BR/><BR/>Another post on this tomorrow morning.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858865501469168339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-24333817848572765222008-02-04T21:36:00.000+01:002008-02-04T21:36:00.000+01:00I'll have a look at it. But for now:(1) "Effective...I'll have a look at it. But for now:<BR/><BR/>(1) "Effectiveness is determined by the number of writing sessions."<BR/><BR/>Clearly passive.<BR/><BR/>(2) "The number of writing sessions determines effectiveness."<BR/><BR/>That's clearly active. Now consider:<BR/><BR/>(3) "It is the number of writing sessions that determines effectiveness."<BR/><BR/>Since (3) <I>says</I> the same thing as (2) we need some way to capture the difference in style. I could've sworn the difference is normally cashed out in terms of active vs. passive voice.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858865501469168339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10721624.post-13855938228664457872008-02-04T21:25:00.000+01:002008-02-04T21:25:00.000+01:00There was no "passive voice" in your original sent...There was no "passive voice" in your original sentence! There was the verb "to be" " It is ... blank... that... blanks..." but that is not a passive voice. The passive voice would have produced a sentence like this: "Effectiveness is determined by the number of writing sessions, not the number of hours."Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371893596402673898noreply@blogger.com