Re: Passive voice

On 21/05/06, Alain Lemaire <alargule@...> wrote:
> English has a distinct way of using the passive voice. Normally, it is used
> to stress the patient of the action:
>
> He hits the ball - the ball was hit (by him).
>
> But it can also be used with objects that go with a preposition:
>
> He walks over the bridge - the bridge is walked over.
>
> He looked at me - I was being looked at.
>
> etc.
>
> Are there other languages which have this use of the passive voice? How do
> they form them - and what are the restrictions?
More interestingly from an English perspective, how do languages that
*can't* use the passive like this say "The bridge is walked over"?

--
Tristan.

Reply