eslHQ

eslHQ (http://www.eslhq.com/forums/)
-   English Questions (http://www.eslhq.com/forums/esl-forums/english-questions/)
-   -   Passive in the sentence ''I would like you to be doing something'' (http://www.eslhq.com/forums/esl-forums/english-questions/passive-sentence-i-would-like-you-doing-something-15923/)

Sasuke Apr 9th, 2010 02:07 pm

Passive in the sentence ''I would like you to be doing something''
 
Hello everyone,

I joined the community to clarify a doubt which I have.
If the active voice was, for example, ''I would like you to be helping someone'' and I wanted to make it passive it would become ''I would like someone to being helped by you'' or ''I would like someone to be being helped by you''?

I am a bit unsure because in the Future Continuos it's ''I will be being done'' while in other situations it's ''despite being done''.
So, I don't know if I have to or not to add ''be'' in the sentence.

What is the correct one between the two sentences?

bread_baker Apr 9th, 2010 04:39 pm

Re: Passive in the sentence ''I would like you to be doing something''
 
Here's some information, using American English grammar.
First of all, sorry to say, none of your examples are correct in American English.
Correct examples:
That car was made in Michigan. - passive voice, we don't know who made the car.
Chrysler made that car in Michigan. - active voice
I would like you to help someone. - active voice
You were helped. - passive voice, we don't know who helped you.
You were helped by Bill. - active voice
Bob will be helping me tomorrow. - future continuous, active voice
Anne will be done with her homework tomorrow. - active voice
I hope these help.

mesmark Apr 9th, 2010 06:15 pm

Re: Passive in the sentence ''I would like you to be doing something''
 
Maybe in a situation with a assistant manager and a lazy staff member
A:What would you prefer I was doing?
B:I would like you to be helping someone.

Another stab at it ...

A: Why are you so cross?
B: I would like to see someone helped by you (for a change)
or
A: Why are you so cross? Betty is doing a great job.
B: I would like to see someone being helped by you (for a change)

Best:
I would like for you to help someone.

No matter what you are forcing it. In English we prefer to use active voice unless the agent is unknown or not important to the message.

The light bulb was invented in ...
My car was scratched in the mall lot.
Seven people were injured in the catastrophe.
He was told not to do it, but he did it anyway.

If you want to add "by .." we'd be more likely to change it to the active voice

Edison invented the light bulb.
Jim scratched my car in the mall parking lot.
The blast injured seven people.
His mother told him not to do it, but he did it anyway.

susan53 Apr 10th, 2010 05:26 am

Re: Passive in the sentence ''I would like you to be doing something''
 
I'd disagree with bread_baker. For me, ''I would like someone to be being helped by you'' is grammatically correct - the form is perfectly logical. You have the base proposition Someone is being helped ... preceded by I would like - which needs the following verb to be in the infinitive with to. So is in the base idea converts to be, giving I would like someone to be being helped ...

But as bread_baker and the others have pointed out, we'd probably never say it. It sounds clumsy - too contorted. Not everything which is grammatically possible in a language is actually said. So the problem is one not of form but of use.

Then, to clarify your confusion with despite. The gerund is used there because despite is a preposition - and verbs following prepositions are always in the ing form - think for example of Thank you for helping , or I look forward to seeing you. So if the base idea was It was done, then if you insert despite, it becomes Despite being done, with was converting to being. This is therefore quite different from the sentence that you queried.

Sasuke Apr 10th, 2010 07:37 am

Re: Passive in the sentence ''I would like you to be doing something''
 
Perfect, all is clear now.
Thanks to all for the explanations and expecially to Susan who has been particularly precise.

Indeed, the passive form ''I would like to be being helped by you'' or a similar one would be decidedly complex and rare.

But I wanted to know what between the two was grammatically correct so thank you! :)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:21 pm.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2