1. He wrote me a letter.
2. I was written a letter by him.
3. A letter was written me by him.
4. A letter was written for me by him.
(#1 is an active voice sentence. The others are passive voice sentences. Is #1 wrong or right as a passive voice sentence of #1? What about #3 and #4? Do we have to use 'for' before 'me' as in #4? Would you like to let me know the websites containing the information like that. Thank you.)
Only #4 is correct as the passive for #1.
First of all, read about indirect objects. That's what these forms are that you're asking about, regarding the use of "to" and "for."
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/objects.htm
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/languages/classical/latin/tchmat/grammar/g-indob.html
In #1 with its ACTIVE verb, "me" is an indirect object. But when you put the same ideas into a PASSIVE sentence, the indirect object construction won't work anymore. Therefore you need to use "to" or "for" with the former indirect object.
. A letter__________by him.
are being written
is being written
were being written
Rewrite the following sentences to correct the non-parallel series.
We never learn the Doctor's name, but we know about his ship, his home planet, and regenerating.
Daleks are known for shouting, "We obey!’’ and what they also shriek is "Exterminate!"
Of all the villains on Doctor Who, the Daleks are the deadliest, have the most cruelty, and the most popular.
Since 1963, the Doctor Who, has had many adventures in space, has travelled to save the past and the future, and wears a bow tie.
Generally, Daleks have three attachments: one for firing death rays; one to see, and one that lets them manipulate objects.
Well, let's take a closer look at each sentence:
1. "He wrote me a letter."
This is an active voice sentence and is grammatically correct. "He" is the subject, "wrote" is the verb, and "me" is the indirect object.
2. "I was written a letter by him."
This is a passive voice sentence and is also grammatically correct. However, it is less commonly used and may sound a bit formal or old-fashioned. In passive voice sentences, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject, and the subject of the active sentence (in this case, "he") becomes the optional agent (i.e., "by him" can be included or omitted).
3. "A letter was written me by him."
This is a passive voice sentence, but it is not grammatically correct. In English, we typically place indirect objects after the verb "to be" in passive voice sentences. So it should be: "A letter was written to me by him."
4. "A letter was written for me by him."
This is another passive voice sentence, and it is correct. The addition of "for" before "me" indicates that the letter was written on my behalf or for my benefit.
If you're looking for more information on active and passive voice, I suggest visiting websites like Grammarly, Purdue OWL, or EnglishClub. They provide detailed explanations and examples on various grammar topics. And remember, learning grammar can be fun, so don't clown around too much!
In the given sentences:
1. "He wrote me a letter." - This is an active voice sentence where "he" is the subject, and "me" is the indirect object.
When converting this sentence into passive voice, the direct object ("a letter") becomes the subject, and the subject ("he") becomes the object of the preposition. So, the passive voice form would be:
2. "I was written a letter by him." - This is a correct passive voice sentence. Here, "I" is the subject, "was written" is the passive verb construction, and "a letter" is the direct object.
On the other hand, sentences 3 and 4 have incorrect word order and preposition usage.
3. "A letter was written me by him." - This sentence is not grammatically correct. In passive voice constructions, if the indirect object is included, it should be introduced with a preposition, usually "to." So, the correct form would be "A letter was written to me by him."
4. "A letter was written for me by him." - This sentence is grammatically correct. The addition of the preposition "for" is appropriate when indicating that the letter was written on behalf of or for the benefit of the recipient.
If you're looking for more information on the rules and usage of passive voice, you can refer to websites like:
- Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/active_and_passive_voice/index.html
- Grammarly Blog: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/passive-voice/
These resources can provide detailed explanations and examples to further clarify the topic.