The Active Voice
(1) regular flexion > productive/open class: 4 verbal forms (2) irregular flexion > unproductive/closed class: 4 or 5 verbal forms - irregular means of flexion manifested only in the past participle/passive participle forms - bare form: null suffix - 3rd per. SG present tense form: -(e)s suffix <> homonymous with the regular plural of N, observes the same rules for pronunciation/spelling x no change of the word-final -y - present participle/gerund form: -ing suffix <> the same rules for pronunciation/spelling as the grading of ADJ/ADV - past simple/past participle/passive participle: -ed suffix <> pronounced [id] after [t, d], pronounced [t] after voiceless consonants, pronounced [d] after voiced consonants and vowels. The Passive Voice - active clause structure: subject/agent + predicate + object/patient - passive clause structure: subject/patient + predicate + object/agent (a) the direct object shifts to the position of the subject and adopts the subject case (b) the verb adopts the passive form: the finite form of be + the passive participle (c) the agent may be expressed as a by-phrase - inanimate subjects needn’t become by-adjuncts: she is interested in sculpture; I’m surprised at his attitude; we’re delighted at the prospect; I’m worried about it.
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