Theiling Online    Sitemap    Conlang Mailing List HQ   

Passive voice

From:Alain Lemaire <alargule@...>
Date:Sunday, May 21, 2006, 10:08
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?

Replies

Tristan Alexander McLeay <conlang@...>
Dana Nutter <sasxsek@...>
Raik Lorenz <raik.lorenz@...>