INTRODUCTION
Rationale for the research
Acquiring a foreign language presents numerous challenges for learners, primarily due to the differences between their native language and the target language A significant source of confusion for students is the concept of passive meaning, including its expressions and equivalents in their mother tongue.
Therefore, the research will concentrate on investigating in order to explore their expressions in English and find out their equivalents in Vietnamese
In Vietnam, a developing country, English plays a crucial role in integrating into the global landscape Mastering English opens the door to vast knowledge, diverse entertainment options, and enhanced cultural understanding Additionally, learning English is invaluable and can lead to numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth.
English learners face significant challenges, particularly in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar Among these, mastering English grammar is often the most daunting issue This concern leads to a constant fear of making grammatical errors, prompting learners to be overly cautious with their speech.
For this reason, step by step, I start paying more attention to learning English grammar… I remember and like the comment by Michael Swan about grammar:
While grammar isn't the most crucial aspect of communication, frequent mistakes can hinder understanding and may lead some individuals to underestimate or dismiss you Few people achieve perfection in speaking or writing a foreign language, but striving for clarity is essential.
- 4 - communicate more successfully if you can make your English reasonably correct.”
Michael Swan and Catherine Walter
Vietnamese learners of English face numerous challenges stemming from the significant differences in phonology, morphology, vocabulary, and grammar between the two languages These disparities often hinder their ability to effectively acquire and apply English knowledge in specific contexts.
To gain a deeper understanding of English grammar, I focused on the passive voice, a common challenge for learners This topic is particularly relevant as many, including myself, struggle with converting sentences from active to passive voice For example, the active sentence "People say that he knows some very influential people" illustrates this difficulty.
= He is said to know some very influential people
(passive) b They said that he knew some very influential people
= He was said to know some very influential people
(passive) c They think that he acted very foolishly
= He is thought to have acted very foolishly
In the examples a and b, the form of the infinitive depends on whether or not the time reference of the verb in the noun clause is the same as that
When constructing sentences, use the present infinitive for verbs in the main clause when the time reference is the same If the verb in the noun clause refers to a time prior to that of the main clause, the perfect infinitive should be employed.
The title of my research is "A study of ways to express passive meanings and their Vietnamese equivalents”.
Aims of the research
The main purpose of the study is to find out the relationships between passive meanings and forms of expressing passive meanings in English and Vietnamese.
Objectives of the research
This article aims to synthesize various sources on expressing passive meanings in both English and Vietnamese, highlighting the methods used in Vietnamese It will also identify the similarities and differences in how passive meanings are conveyed in these two languages Furthermore, the article will suggest implications for learners regarding the expression of passive meanings in English and Vietnamese.
Scope of the research
English grammar, a significant area of study, has garnered more attention from linguists and scholars than topics like phonology and vocabulary The passive voice in English is a critical aspect of grammar discussed extensively in literature This article will explore the structures, uses, and meanings of the passive voice, providing comments, analyses, and comparisons between English and our native language.
Up to now, many famous grammarians and linguists have already written books and articles on the English passive voice and many terms
- 6 - have been used, but so far, there have been many been many changes in terminology as well as concepts according to different schools of grammar
This article adheres to the terminology established by Quirk et al in "A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language" (Longman, 1985) and Richards et al in the "Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics" (1985, 2010) These renowned texts are recognized for their thorough and detailed examination of contemporary English.
Moreover, in order to make the research more reliable and actual, the examples of the research are also taken from typical situations in daily life.
Significance of the research
Theoretically, the thesis provides a detailed background of ways to express passive menaing in English and their Vietnamese equivalents
This thesis serves as a valuable resource for both students and learners interested in English-Vietnamese grammar, particularly in expressing passive meanings The study aims to help English learners identify various ways to convey passive meanings in English and their appropriate Vietnamese counterparts, thereby minimizing translation errors.
The research has been reviewed all theory related to ways to express passive meaning in English and Vietnamese Hopefully, this will be a useful document for further researches.
Structural organization of the thesis
The paper is divided into five chapters:
Chapter1 is INTRODUCTION Introduction briefly provides the
Rationale of the Study, Aim and Objectives of the Study, Research
Questions as well as Scopes of the Study, structural organization of the study
Chapter 2, titled "Literature Review," provides a concise overview of previous research on idioms in both English and Vietnamese, while also establishing a theoretical foundation related to idioms and the significance of color in these languages, highlighting the interplay between language and culture Chapter 3, "Methodology," outlines the research approach, detailing the methods used for data collection and analysis to ensure optimal results for the study.
Chapter 4 is called FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS, in which the author summarizes the findings about English and Vietnamese passive and ways to express passive meanings in English and Vietnamese, together with the pedagogical implication of the study
The last chapter, Chapter 5 – CONCLUSION , provides the recapitulations, limitations and suggesstions for further studies
The study ends with REFERENCES
LITERATURE REVIEW
Review of previous studies related to the research area of the thesis
The English passive voice is a well-established topic, extensively covered in reference grammar books Various aspects of passive syntax have been analyzed from multiple perspectives Notably, one of the earliest English grammar texts, “A Comprehensive English Grammar” by C., addresses this subject.
E Eckersley and J.M Eckersley published in 1960 In their book, these co- authors used one of the chapters, chapter 15, to present the English passive voice In accordance with their points of view, the passive voice is not merely a formal variant of the active voice There is a different of emphasis The subject of the sentence is the main point of interest The passive voice is the grammatical device that gives the object of a transitive verbs prominence by making it the subject So when we want to place the emphasis on the performer of the action, we generally use the active voice When we want to place the emphasis on the action or on the receiver of the action, we use the passive voice C E Eckersley and J.M Eckersley [5:219]
In 1960, A.J Thomson and A.V Martinet published "A Practical English Grammar," which is noted for its use of clear modern English and focus on conversational forms rather than strict grammatical rules The authors explain that to form the passive voice from an active tense, one must use the verb "to be" in the same tense as the active verb and add the past participle The subject of the active verb becomes the "agent" in the passive construction, often omitted but, when included, is introduced by "by" and placed at the end of the clause.
A.S Hornby, E.V Gatenby and H Wakefield [10:1120] in their dictionary
“The advanced learner’s dictionary of current English” define that voice means verb form (active or passive) showing the relation of the subject to the action or state
Transitive verbs can be expressed in either the active or passive voice, as noted by Jewell A Friend in his book "Traditional Grammar" (1976) In the active voice, the subject of the verb is the actor or agent, while in the passive voice, the subject represents the recipient of the action Specifically, the subject of a passive-voice verb corresponds to either the direct or indirect object of the verb in its active-voice form Passive-voice constructions typically involve an auxiliary verb (such as "be" or colloquially "get") combined with the participle of the main verb.
In the "Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics," Richards et al (1985) assert that the discussion of English voice pertains to the relationship between the subject and the action or state, specifically whether it is active or passive.
Voice in language reflects the relationship between a verb and its associated noun phrases Two sentences can convey the same basic meaning while differing in voice, leading to variations in emphasis and appropriateness For instance, the choice of voice can influence how a message is perceived.
The wind caused damage to the fence, highlighting the active voice in the sentence In contrast, the phrase "The fence was damaged by the wind" illustrates the passive voice, where the focus shifts to the fence as the subject The first sentence effectively answers the question, "Did the wind damage anything?" while the second addresses, "How did the fence get damaged?" Additionally, the agentless passive construction, as seen in "The fence has been damaged," is employed when the speaker is either unaware of the cause or finds it too evident to mention.
Quirk et al published the influential grammar book "A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language" (Longman, 1985), renowned worldwide for its broad and detailed descriptive approach The book extensively analyzes examples, classifies them, and offers in-depth descriptions Quirk et al highlight the correspondence between active and passive voice, noting that transforming an active sentence into passive requires rearranging two clause elements and adding a preposition Specifically, the active subject becomes the passive agent, the active object turns into the passive subject, and the preposition "by" is introduced before the agent Notably, the agent by-phrase in passive constructions is generally optional This active-passive correspondence can be visually represented for monotransitive verbs.
Table 1: The active-passive correspondence
Quirk et al [18:159] define "voice" as a grammatical category that distinguishes between active verb phrases, such as "ate," and passive ones, like "was eaten." Voice not only pertains to verb phrases but also affects other constituents within a clause This category allows for the action of a sentence to be perceived in two different ways without altering the underlying facts.
The butler murdered the detective [active ]
~ The detective was murdered by the butler [passive]
The active-passive relationship encompasses two grammatical levels: the verb phrase and the clause A passive verb phrase differs from an active verb phrase, which is defined as one that lacks the passive construction In the verb phrase, the distinction between these voice categories lies in the fact that the passive form adds a specific structure.
(by John) of the auxiliary be followed by the past participle (-ed participle) of the main verb
Quirk et al highlight that there are limitations in voice, noting that while it is generally true that transitive verb sentences can be expressed in both active and passive forms, there are exceptions where active and passive sentences do not correspond systematically This topic will be explored in further detail later.
Several studies in Vietnam have explored the passive voice from various perspectives Notable works include Vu Thi Minh Hien's (2000) contrastive analysis of passive voice in English and Vietnamese, and Nguyen Van Den's M.A thesis (2003) examining the negative impact of the Vietnamese words “bị” and “được” on the acquisition of English passives Additionally, Nguyen Thi Hong Tuyen (2004) investigated the English-Vietnamese translation of typical passive expressions in road and bridge engineering texts Nguyen Thi Thuy (2006) conducted a contrastive analysis of passive voice in both languages, while Vu Huyen Linh (2006) focused on translating passive constructions in J.K Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Lastly, Nguyen Tat Thang (2009) provided insights into the passive in English from a cognitive semantics perspective, referencing Vietnamese.
While numerous scientific articles, monographs, and theses on passive voice exist in both English and Vietnamese, this study will only highlight a select few as examples due to its limited scope.
Theoretical background
Voice has been defined in many grammar books and dictionaries Here are some typical definitions of linguistic researchers:
“Voice is a grammatical category which makes it possible to view action of sentence in two ways without change in the fact reported”
Voice is a grammatical category of verbs that is related to what thing or person is acting and what thing or person is being acted upon
In grammar, the voice of a verb indicates the relationship between the action it expresses and its participants, such as the subject and object When the subject performs the action, the verb is in the active voice Conversely, when the subject receives the action, it is in the passive voice.
In English grammar, voice refers to a system that contrasts two formally defined forms: active voice and passive voice The active voice indicates that the subject performs the action of the verb, as seen in the example "The chief manager fired the employee." Conversely, the passive voice highlights the action being performed on the subject, exemplified by "The employee was fired (by the chief manager)."
Languages exhibit significant idiosyncrasies, particularly in their grammatical structures and usage, as noted by Rayevska et al (1976) The category of voice, as a grammatical feature, highlights the relationship between the action of the verb and its subject, distinguishing whether the subject performs the action or receives it In English, there are two primary voices: active and passive Jacobs Roderick A (1995) identifies three key differences between these voices Firstly, the verb form differs; the active voice uses the ordinary past tense, while the passive voice employs a form of the copular verb "be" followed by the past participle Secondly, the agent can often be omitted in passive constructions, especially when expressed in a prepositional phrase Lastly, the order of constituents varies: in passive clauses, the theme noun phrase precedes the verb, whereas in active clauses, it follows the verb The marked passive form is derived from the active voice through a transformation process.
Passive: A letter was written by me
Transformational relations for voice can be expressed as: N1 + Vact + N2 N2 + Vpass + by + N1 The passive construction is often chosen when the agent is unknown or when the speaker prefers not to mention them For passive voice to be applicable, the verb must be transitive and followed by a grammatical object This allows the speaker to omit the actor or agent involved in the action represented by the verb phrase Many passive constructions appear in texts without the prepositional phrase "by." The semantic similarity between passive and active voice suggests that they are paraphrases of each other.
A transitive verb, as defined by Richards et al (1985), is a verb that requires an object, such as in the sentence "They saw the accident." A ditransitive verb, which takes both a direct and an indirect object, can be illustrated by "I gave the money to my mother," or equivalently, "I gave my mother the money." Additionally, a complex transitive verb takes a direct object along with an object complement, exemplified by "We elected Mary chairman." In contrast, an intransitive verb does not take an object, as seen in the sentence "The children danced."
Most transitive verbs can be used in passive voice, the subjects of the active sentences become the agent or recipient in the passive sentences
Quirk at al [17: 166] concentrate on the elements that are normally obligatory, they distinguish seven clause types, in which there are five elements altogether S,V,O,C and A
Mary is in the house
(4) SVOA S V complex trans Od Aplace
I put the plate on the table
(5) SVOC S V complex trans Od Co
We have proved him wrong
We have proved him a fool
She gives me expensive presents
These seven clause types have transformational relations They argue that one way of distinguishing the various clause types is by means of
Transformational relations in grammatical paraphrase involve clauses with a noun phrase as the object, which can be converted into passive clauses In this transformation, the object noun phrase takes on the role of the subject in the passive voice (Vpass), while the original subject may be included in an optional by-phrase, represented as [A].
Many critics disliked the play (SVOd)
The play was disliked (by many critics) (S Vpass [A])
Where the passive draws more attention to the result than to the action or agency, the ‘resulting’ copula get frequently replaces be, though chiefly in rather informal usage:
The window was broken by my younger son
I know how the window got broken
A more gradually achieved result can be sometimes expressed by become:
With the passage of time, the furniture became covered in dust
The following examples illustrate the passive with other clause types:
Queen Victoria considered him a genius S V complex transitive Od Co
He was considered a genius by Queen Victoria (S Vpass C, [A])
An intruder must have placed the ladder there (S V Od A place)
The ladder must have been placed there by an intruder (S Vpass Aplace [A])
My father gave me this watch (S V OiOd)
I was given this watch by my father (S VpassOd [A])
This watch was given me by my father (S Vpass Oi [A])
Type SVOO clauses feature two objects, leading to two possible passive forms In one form, the direct object is transformed into the subject, while in the more common form, the indirect object takes the subject position.
Biber at al [2:475] indicate that corresponding to the basic patterns containing an object , we find a passive counterpart, as illustrated below:
Active: Suddenly, armed soldiers broke the shop windows
Passive: The shop windows were broken (by armed soldiers)
He argues that the passive is much more than an order variation with an
The SVA pattern involves a structural reorganization of clauses, allowing for the selection of a participant other than the agent as the starting point for a message, while maintaining the typical subject-initial word order Passive constructions can be categorized into two main forms: the short passive, which omits an expressed agent phrase, and the long passive, which includes one The short passive is more prevalent and entails both condensation and structural reorganization It's important to note that passive and active constructions are not equivalent; their usage significantly varies based on the text type.
A finite verb phrase consists of a finite verb as its first or only word, with any additional components being nonfinite verbs In contrast, a nonfinite verb phrase contains only nonfinite verb forms This distinction, as outlined by Quirk et al., highlights the structural differences between finite and nonfinite verb phrases.
(a) Finite verb phrases can occur as the verb phrase of independent clauses
(b) Finite verb phrases have tense contrast, ie the distinction between present and past tenses
He worked as a travel agent last summer
(c) There is person concord and number concord between the subject of a clause and the finite verb phrase Concord is particularly clear with the present tense of BE:
We/ You / They are here
She / He / It is here
But with most full verbs overt concord is restricted to a contrast between the 3rd person singular and other persons or plural number:
He/ She /Jim reads the paper every morning
I/We/You/ They read the paper every morning
With modal auxiliaries there is no overt concord at all
I /You / She / We /They can play the cello
Finite verb phrases begin with a finite verb form, which can be an operator or a simple present or past form DO-support is utilized to create negative and interrogative constructions.
(e) Finite verb phrases have mood, which indicates the factual, nonfactual, or counterfactual status of the predication In contrast to the
The indicative mood is considered 'unmarked,' while the 'marked' moods include the imperative, which conveys commands and directives, and the subjunctive, used for expressing wishes and recommendations Both the imperative and the present subjunctive are formed using the base form of the verb.
Please come here and attend to me
The Council requires that every member attend at least one meeting per year
The five criteria create an inconsistency regarding the finite and nonfinite status of subjunctive and imperative verb phrases While criteria (a) and (e) categorize them as finite, criterion (c) classifies them as nonfinite This inconsistency is not problematic; rather, it suggests that the finite/nonfinite distinction is better understood as a scale of 'finiteness,' ranging from the indicative mood, which is the most finite, to the infinitive, which is the least finite In many ways, the imperative and subjunctive share similarities with the infinitive, as they consist of the base form and often convey nonfactual meanings.
When using multiple adverbs, it's important to consider their order For instance, "A new bridge is going to be built here by my uncle and his workers next year." Additionally, in sentences with passive verbs and prepositions, the agent is typically introduced with "by."
-Active Dufy painted this picture
-Passive This picture was painted by Dufy
-Active What makes these holes?
-Passive What are these holes made by?
However, that the passive form of such sentence as:
Smoke filled the room The room was filled with smoke
Paint covered the lock The lock was covered with paint,
We are dealing here with materials used, not with the agents,
When a verb + preposition + object combination is put into the passive, the preposition will remain immediately after the verb:
-Active We must write to him,
-Passive He must be written to
-Active You can play with these cubs quite safely
-Passive These cubs can be played with quite safely
Similarly with verb + preposition/adverb combinations:
-Active They threw away the old newspapers
-Passive The old newspapers were thrown away
-Active He looked after the children well
-Passive The children were well looked after
There are some verbs that active in form but passive in meaning such as
In some cases, there are no active counter-parts, as in:
-He is rumored to be a thief
Non-finite verb phrases include the infinitive (to call), the -ing participle (calling), and the -ed participle (called) These phrases are characterized by having one of these verb forms as the first or only word, excluding the infinitive marker "to." Typically, non-finite verb phrases do not function as the verb phrase in independent clauses.
Table 3: Finite and nonfinite verb phrase
Finite verb phrases Non-finite verb phrases
He smokes To smoke like that must be dangerous
Mary is having a smoke I regret having started to smoke
He must smoke 40 a day The cigars smoked here tend to be expressive
You have been smoking all day
That was the last cigarette to have been smoked by me
The structure of passive verbs can be categorized into two main forms: finite verb passive and nonfinite verb passive, which will be explored in detail in Chapter 3.
Structurally, English passive voice is divided into two main structures: passive finite verb phrase and passive nonfinite verb phrase whereas in Vietnamese, there is no concept nonfinite verb phrase
2.2.4.3.Time, aspect, tense and mood
Summary
This chapter comprehensively explores various theoretical aspects of voice, including time, aspect, tense, mood, transitive and intransitive verbs, verb phrases, and clauses These elements are essential when discussing voice, and the following sections aim to clarify these concepts Additionally, we will provide insights and discussions on how to effectively express passive meanings.
METHODOLOGY
Research-governing orientations
This research aims to explore the relationships between passive meanings and their expressions in English and Vietnamese Key questions include: how is passive voice constructed in English and what methods are used to convey passive meanings? Additionally, the study will investigate the passive structure in Vietnamese and the various ways passive meanings are expressed Furthermore, it will analyze the similarities and differences in expressing passive meanings between the two languages Finally, the research will discuss the implications of these expressions for English language learning.
This study aims to analyze the syntactic, semantic, and stylistic features of passive constructions in English, comparing them with Vietnamese to identify similarities and differences It employs descriptive and comparative methods to provide insights into effective learning strategies for expressing passive meanings.
The initial phase employs a descriptive method to thoroughly illustrate the syntactic, semantic, and stylistic characteristics of passive constructions in English, along with their Vietnamese counterparts This is achieved through examples gathered from various sources, including reference books, stories, novels, dictionaries, and online platforms.
The second stage, the comparative method is used to distinguish the similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese ways to express passive meanings
This research reveals the syntactic, semantic, and stylistic features of expressing passive meanings in English, alongside their Vietnamese equivalents It highlights the similarities and differences in passive constructions between the two languages, providing valuable insights for learners to enhance their understanding and usage of passive voice.
Research methods
This thesis employs traditional and general linguistic methods, including statistical, deductive, and inductive approaches Relevant data is collected and organized, followed by the application of descriptive and analytical methods within a theoretical framework, supported by tables and examples with comprehensive explanations and discussions Additionally, a qualitative method is incorporated into the study.
This article employs a contrastive analysis to examine the structures and uses of the English passive voice, comparing them with those in Vietnamese to highlight similarities and differences between the two languages.
This study aims to analyze the characteristics of the passive voice and its expression in both English and Vietnamese It will explore the similarities and differences in how passive meanings are conveyed in these two languages, with English serving as the source language and Vietnamese as the target language.
In the initial phase of the study, the descriptive method is employed to thoroughly explain and interpret the concept of passivity and related terms, drawing on authoritative grammar texts and the insights of renowned linguists and researchers.
The analytical method is employed to examine the theory essential for understanding passive constructions in both English and Vietnamese This research identifies various ways to convey passive meanings in these two languages.
Contrastive analysis (CA) is crucial in foreign language teaching and learning, as it identifies the similarities and differences in expressing passive meanings between languages The focus of teaching should be on these linguistic differences, as errors in learning a foreign language often stem from interference from the mother tongue To effectively address these challenges and correct mistakes, understanding the distinctions and similarities in expressing passive meanings in English and Vietnamese is essential By comparing and analyzing English with one's native language, learners can achieve significant progress in mastering English as a second language.
Summary
In conclusion, the researcher aimed to clarify the relationship between passive meanings and their expressions in both English and Vietnamese To achieve this, descriptive methods, analytical methods, and contrastive analysis were employed.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
Characteristics
The primary feature of passive voice is the inversion of grammatical roles, where the object of an active sentence becomes the subject in the corresponding passive construction.
In passive constructions, the agent can often be omitted because the focus is primarily on the result of the action rather than the individual performing it.
Another characteristic of passive constructions in English is the compulsory part All passive constructions in English are related to Past Participle and one verbs among be, get, have…
The grammatical subjects of passive constructions have the semantics roles namely goal, recipients…
Moreover, in passive structure, the action and the result of action draw more attention than the do-er
I was invited to Hoa’s birthday party
In the sentence above, the speakers wants to stress on the status “was invited”, not like the sentence below:
Hoa invited me to her birthday party
In English, using passive constructions enables speakers and writers to adhere to the principles of information structure and sentence focus This approach typically places given information at the beginning of a sentence, while new information is introduced later Additionally, passive sentences tend to emphasize the action rather than the doer.
The house has been repaired (by Jimmy)
When discussing actions, we often use the active voice, such as "Jimmy has just repaired the house." However, there are instances where the agent may be unknown or irrelevant.
Usage of passive voice in English
Graver emphasizes the prevalence of the passive voice in English compared to other languages, highlighting the importance of knowing when to use it While converting sentences from active to passive and vice versa can be beneficial for practice, this transformation is fundamentally an artificial exercise The following observations provide a general guideline for understanding these concepts.
1 When the active form would involve the use of an indefinite or vague pronoun or noun as subject, we generally prefer to use the passive (the agent with 'by’ is not expressed): a I’ve been robbed ! (Someone has robbed me!) b The building had to be demolished (They had to demolish the building.) с It is assumed that they'll get married one day (People assume that they'll get married one day.)
Note that in с the construction with the impersonal it as subject is preferable to the active form introduced by the vague pronoun people
2 The passive provides a means of avoiding an awkward change of subject in the middle of a sentence:
The Prime Minister arrived back in London last night, and was immediately besieged by reporters
(The Prime Minister arrived back in London last night, and reporters immediately besieged him.)
3 The passive may be used when we wish to make a statement sound impersonal (perhaps out of modesty, or when we have some unpleasant statement to make) The management of a company might be quite happy to announce:
The new working methods we have introduced will result in higher earnings for all workers
4 They might well prefer, however, to use the passive in giving the following information, in order to avoid drawing attention to the fact that they themselves are responsible:
The new working methods that are to be introduced may result in some redundancies
5 The passive is not, therefore, simply an equivalent alternative to the active While both forms of expressing an idea may be syntactically possible, we tend to choose the passive for one of the reasons described above, or if we are interested in what happened to 'X' rather than in what 'Y' did: a The escaped convict was arrested two days later
(The police arrested the escaped convict two days later.) b Several trees were struck by lightning in last night's storm
(Lightning struck several trees in last night's storm.)
The passive voice is employed to focus on the escaped convict's situation, with the agent omitted not due to vagueness, but because it is clear from the context.
In this context, the passive voice is favored over the active voice, as the focus is on the impact on the trees rather than the actions of the lightning Additionally, using the active voice could suggest intent or volition from the lightning, which is not appropriate in this case.
6 Some ideas, however, may be expressed naturally and effectively in either the active or the passive form: a France beat England in yesterday's rugby international b England was beaten by France in yesterday's rugby international
In such cases, our choice will depend on what we regard as the 'focus of interest' in the sentence
4.1.3 Available verbs in the passive
Not all verbs can function in both active and passive voice; some are limited to active use while others can only appear in passive constructions According to Quirk et al [19:162], the limitations on verbs in the passive voice are more significant than those in the active voice In addition to copular and intransitive verbs, which lack an object and therefore cannot be passive, certain transitive verbs, known as 'middle' verbs, also do not appear in the passive form in specific contexts.
They have a nice house The dress becomes her
He lacks confidence John resembles his father
The auditorium holds 5000 people Will this suit you?
Stative verbs, which express 'being' and 'having', include other types such as those indicating volition or attitude, and these can also be used in the passive voice.
The coat does not fit you ~ *You are not fitted by the coat
The police want him ~ He is wanted by the police
Conversely, with some verbs and verb constructions only the passive is possible:
John was said /reputed to be a good teacher
~ *They said /reputed him to be a good teacher
Other examples are be born (with an irregular past participle), and be drowned (in cases where no agent is implied):
He was born in Tubingen ~ ? His mother bore him in Tubingen
The wanted man fell into the water and was drowned ~ and someone drowned him
According to Biber et al [2:479], passive forms of verbs are predominantly found in academic prose, with notable exceptions such as "be done," "be born," and "be said." In academic writing, certain verbs appear frequently in passive constructions, with over 100 occurrences per million words, including "be achieved," "associated," and "defined." Additionally, over 50 verbs, such as "be applied," "discussed," and "recognized," occur more than 40 times per million words In news articles, passive verbs like "be accused," "announced," and "revealed" are also prevalent, appearing over 40 times per million words.
And in conversation, occurring over 40 times per million words: be bothered, other less common passive verbs (over 20 occurrences per million words): be -allowed, finished, involved, left, married, meant, stuck
In academic writing, numerous verbs frequently appear in the passive voice, with over 90% of their usage comprising terms such as "be aligned (with)," "based (on)," "born," "coupled (with)," "deemed," "effected," "entitled (to)," "flattened," "inclined," "obliged," "positioned," "situated," "stained," and "subjected (to)."
Seventy percent of the time, various actions are performed, including being approved, associated with specific entities, attributed to certain causes, and classified as distinct categories Additionally, these actions involve being composed of multiple elements, confined to particular areas, and designed for specific purposes They can also be diagnosed as certain conditions, distributed across different platforms, documented for records, and estimated based on available data Furthermore, information is extracted, grouped with relevant data, intended for specific audiences, and labelled for clarity These processes are often linked to particular subjects, located at specific sites, plotted for visualization, recruited for participation, stored securely, transferred between systems, and viewed by users.
Biber et al [2:497] agree with Quirk et al that lexical factors significantly affect the choice between active and passive voice While certain verbs typically use the passive form, others seldom do Notably, some verbs, such as "be born" and "be reputed," are used exclusively in the passive voice.
Brandon Lee was born in Oakland, California
Verbs such as "be based on," "be deemed," "be positioned," and "be subjected to" are grammatically correct in both active and passive voice; however, they are predominantly used in the passive voice, accounting for over 90 percent of their usage.
The material was deemed faulty
And anyone found guilty of drinking alcohol may be subjected to 80 lashes of a cane
They were based on his book The Principles of Quantum Mechanics
This part can then be positioned within another space
In academic writing, many of the verbs that most commonly occur in the passive refer to aspects of scientific methodology and analysis:
The same mechanism was analyzed on each
The rate of profit can only be calculated with reference to both variable and constant capital
The air leaving the diffuser passages might be collected in a volute
Their occurrence is measured in a few parts per million
The test object clause will allow any object to be tested
Other passive verbs arc used to report findings or to express logical relations:
The rate constant can be interpreted in terms of entropy
Their presence must be regarded as especially undesirable
In news reporting, passive voice is frequently used with verbs that describe negative events affecting individuals, often without identifying the perpetrators of those actions.
He was accused of using threatening or insulting behavior
He was jailed for three months
In the shooting that followed Special Constable Goodman was killed and
Everybody remembers where they were when JFK was shot
Neither man was injured during the incident
Available objects in the passive
Transitive verbs can be followed either by phrasal or by clausal objects With clauses as objects, however, the passive transformation is to a greater or lesser degree restricted in use:
John loved Mary ~ Mary was loved (by John)
John thought (that) she was attractive
~ ?* That she was attractive was thought (by John),
John hoped to meet her
~*To meet her was hoped (by John)
~ *?Seeing her was enjoyed (by John)
The passive often becomes acceptable, however, particularly when the object is a finite clause, if the clausal object is extra-posed and replaced by the anticipatory pronoun it
It was thought that she was attractive
~ It was hoped to meet her or if the subject of the object clause is made the subject of a passive superordinate clause, as in:
She was thought to be attractive
The construction with anticipatory it never occurs with participle clauses as subject, and is only sometimes acceptable with infinitive clauses
It was desired to have the report delivered here
(Even then, the acceptability of this construction may be criticized on grounds of style.)
Co-reference between a subject and a noun phrase object blocks the passive correspondence This constraint occurs with (a) reflexive pronouns, (b) reciprocal pronouns, and (c) possessive pronouns when co-referential to the subject:
(a) John could see Paul, himself in the mirror
~ Paul, *Himself could be seen in the mirror
(b) We could hardly see each other in the fog
~* Each other could hardly be seen in the fog
( c) The woman shook my hand, her head
~ My hand, ?*Her head was shaken by the woman
Note: [a] The passive of the sentence with a reciprocal pronoun can be made acceptable if the pronoun is split into two parts as follows:
Each could hardly be seen by the other
Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns serve as objective case replacements, which means they are not expected to occupy the subject position in passive sentences or any other type of sentence.
[c] The passive is not possible for many idioms in which the verb and the object form a close unit:
The ship set sail ~*Sail was set
We changed buses ~*Buses were changed
The ship set sail - *Sail was set We changed buses ~ Buses were changed.
Phrase of “by/with+Agent”
In English passive sentences, the agent introduced by the "by" phrase is typically optional, with around 80% of such sentences omitting the agent entirely This omission often happens when the agent is either irrelevant or unknown.
The Prime Minister has often been criticized recently or where the agent is left out as redundant:
Jack fought Michael last night, and Jack was beaten
An agent phrase by Michael would clearly not be necessary or even fully acceptable in this context
The agent in a passive sentence is often omitted, making it difficult to identify who is responsible for the action As a result, establishing a unique active voice equivalent to the passive construction can be challenging.
Order had been restored without bloodshed
~Colonel Laval (?) The administration (?) The army had restored order without bloodshed
Note: In some sentences, the agent is not optional For example:
The music was followed by a short interval
The rebels were actuated by both religious and political motives
The absence of agentless sentences may not stem from grammatical or lexical limitations, but rather from the idea that without an agent, the sentence lacks informative content.
[2] may be contrasted with We're being followed.)
Various ways to express passive meanings in English
The passive in English is grammatically marked by a copular verb followed by a past particle The structure be + past particle can be considered as the norm for English passives
S + V (simple present)… S + am / are / is + PP
Once a week, Mary cleans the house
Once a week, the house is cleaned by Mary
S + am/are/is + V-ing S + am / is /are + being + PP
Right now, Pike is writing the letter
Right now, the letter is being written by Pike
Simple Past S + V (simple past) S + was / were + PP
William repaired the car The car was repaired by William
S + was / were + V-ing S + was / were + being + PP
The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store
The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store
S + have / has + PP… S + have / has + been
Many tourists have visited that castle
That castle has been visited by many tourists
S + have / has + been + being + PP
Recently, John has been doing the work
Recently, the work has been being done by John
Past Perfect S + had + PP S + had + been + PP
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license
Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license
S + had + been + V-ing S + had + been + being + PP
Past Perfect Chef Jones had been The restaurant's
Continuous preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to Paris fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef
Jones for two years before he moved to Paris
Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM
The work will be finished by 5:00 PM
S + am / are / is + going + to-V
S + am / are / is + going + to be + PP
Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight
A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight
S + will + be + V-ing S + will + be + being
At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes
At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John
S + am/are/is + going + to be + V-ing
S + am/are/is + going + to be + being + PP
At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes
At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John
S + will + have + PP S + will + have + been
They will have completed the project before the deadline
The project will have been completed before the deadline
S + be + going to + have done
S + be+ going to + have been done
They are going to have completed the project before the deadline
The project is going to have been completed before the deadline
S + will/shall + have been + Ving
S + will/shall + have been + being done
The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished
The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished
S + be going to have been + Ving
S + be + going to have been + being done
The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished
The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished
S + used to + V S + used to + be + PP
Used to Jerry used to pay the bills The bills used to be paid by Jerry
S + would always + V S + would always + be + PP
My mother would always make the pies
The pies would always be made by my mother
S + would + PP S + would + be + PP
I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM
I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM
S + was / were + going + to be + PP
I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner tonight
I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally tonight
S + get + past participle get started, get stolen, get
- I am surprised that Marry didn’t get offered the married, get divorced, get dressed, get lost, get changed, get, get hurt… job
- There was an accident in the road but nobody got hurt
My mother gave me this shirt
This shirt was given to me by my mother
I was given this shirt by my mother
Besides “be-passive”, “get-passive” is also popular way to express passive meanings in English However, there are some difference between “be-passive” and “get-passive”
The get-passive is used less in formal style in both British and American English (see, among others, Collins 1996, Huddleston and Pullum 2002)
The get-passive construction is exclusively used with dynamic verbs that describe specific actions (Downing 1996, Collins 1996, Taranto 2005) Common predicates in the get-passive include non-stative verbs such as caught, paid, done, dressed, and fired It is considered unnatural to use the get-passive with non-dynamic stative verbs, as illustrated by sentences like "It was/*got believed that the letter was a forgery" and "He is/*got feared by most of the staff."
The subject of the get-passive is affected by the action in question (Taranto
In 2005, it was noted that the subject's status must change as a result of the agent's action For example, consider the sentences: "The letter was written by you and no one else" and "The letter got written by you and no one else."
The letter came into existence after the action of writing was carried out, so it was in a sense not affected
The term "get-passive" signifies the concept of "arriving at a resultant state." This construction implies a causative relationship that leads to this resultant state, as illustrated by the example: "John got hurt on his way home."
The sentence above implies that someone or something caused John to be hurt b John was hurt on his way home
The be-passive construction may lack a clear cause-and-effect relationship, while the get-passive is typically employed in contexts of adversity However, it can also indicate positive outcomes, as seen in examples such as "He got promoted multiple times" and "The story got published and won some recognition" (Collins 1996).
The get-passive construction often indicates the speaker's personal involvement or opinion regarding the perceived consequences of an event (Chappell 1980, Sussex 1982, Collins 1996) Therefore, its usage is generally inappropriate with stative predicates or when the subject lacks control over the process, as seen in examples like "The teacher got liked by every student" and "Tom got understood to have asked for a refund."
Property 6: In the get-passive, the subject-referent has some responsibility for the event in question (Lakoff 1971, Sussex 1982, Downing 1996, Collins
1996) This is also related to the ‘affectedness’ condition or the dynamic property of the construction: a John was shot by Mary on purpose
In the sentence, the be-passive implies that it is Mary who shot John deliberately b John got shot by Mary on purpose
The get-passive construction indicates that John intentionally took the action of being shot, suggesting a sense of responsibility for the subject involved Literature supports this interpretation, highlighting the unique implications of the get-passive in conveying agency.
In contexts where both passive variants are appropriate, the get passive tends to be more informal than the be passive Get passives often convey the speaker's attitude toward the events, reflecting positive or negative consequences, while be passives do not serve this function Examples include phrases like "get divorced" and "get tired," in contrast to "be/get asked" and "be/get invited."
The get passive also has long been considered as a problematic construction and has aroused much interest from researchers
Become +past participle is another way to express passive meanings in
English This way is similar to “get passive” in expressing gradual changes like:
The construction machinery is becoming modernized
This is the special way to express passive meanings in English because there are two forms with each verb:
The hair needs to be cut
Many English verbs exhibit five distinct forms: the base form, the –s form, the past (V-ed1), the –ing participle, and the –ed participle Examples of the –ed participle include "called," "drunk," and "put," which can be utilized in the perfective aspect (e.g., "He has drunk the water") and in the passive voice (e.g., "be + V-ed2").
V-ed2) He is called Jack (c) in –ed participle clauses Called early, he had a quick breakfast
The past participle, one of the two types of participles in English alongside the present participle, is typically formed by adding -ed to a verb base, with exceptions including verbs that take the -en suffix and some irregular verbs It serves multiple functions: it helps create the perfect aspect, acts as an adjective, and is used with the verb "to be" to form the passive voice.
The -ed participle in English is classified as a morpheme, which is the smallest meaningful unit in a language A morpheme retains its meaning and cannot be divided without losing significance Morphemes can be categorized into root morphemes and affixational morphemes The English suffix -ed serves as a derivational suffix, exemplified by the division of the word "refused" into its components: "refuse" and -ed.
The forms in question are unique and qualify as morphemes For instance, the word "refused" consists of two morphemes The suffix "-ed" added to a verb typically indicates the passive voice when paired with the verb "to be." However, "-ed" can also function as passive adjectives (such as "interested" or "amused") or represent participles with distinct grammatical and lexical meanings, which will be discussed in subsequent chapters.
Addressing morphology in contrastive analysis presents challenges, particularly with Vietnamese, which is generally categorized as an isolating language In this language, most words consist of a single morpheme, resulting in the absence of inflectional forms such as the past tense "-ed."
Understanding the equivalent meanings of "be + ed participle" in English and the Vietnamese constructions "bị," "được," and "phải + động từ" is crucial for learners Vietnamese students often encounter challenges when mastering the use of the English -ed participle, highlighting the need for focused attention on these grammatical structures.
Some -ed participles can function as adjectives, exhibiting similar features and roles They can appear attributively before nouns or predicatively after linking verbs, and they often convey a passive meaning.
According to Close (1975), the –ed participle is frequently employed as an adjective in passive constructions, as seen in the phrase "The injured man was taken to hospital." In contrast, active participles are seldom used in this manner.
Passive structures in Vietnamese
4.2.1 Characteristics of passive in Vietnamese
The existence of passive meaning in the Vietnamese language has sparked considerable debate In their 2004 article, “The Passive and Passive Sentences in Vietnamese,” Nguyen Hong Con and Bui Thi Dien highlight that the topic remains controversial among Vietnamese researchers While many scholars recognize that Vietnamese differs from Indo-European languages in both origin and typology, the passive voice and its sentences continue to be a point of contention.
The above authors in their article (Linguistics Journal, No 7, 2004, p.1.) also said: " in the language which focuses on analyzing typical language as
In Vietnamese, passive meanings are conveyed through determiners and word order, highlighting that the passive voice is primarily a syntactic category rather than a morphological one This indicates that passive constructions in Vietnamese do not exist solely as a morphological category; instead, their meanings are understood grammatically, contrasting with the more active, transitive forms Consequently, Vietnamese maintains the use of passive structures and sentences.
In Vietnamese, the object in active sentence becomes the subject in the passive sentence The sentence focus is on new information
In addition, in Vietnamese, these parts include the agent, adjunct, noun modifiers…sometimes turn to be decisive to the naturalness of Vietnamese passive constructions
Cây đã bị (họ) chặt
Cây bị (họ) chặt rồi
Among three sentences above,the sentence “Cây bị (họ) chặt” seems to be unnatural Đã or …rồi plays an important role in making Vietnamese sentences more natural and smoothie
In Vietnamese, passive noun phrases require specific subordinators, which are essential components of these phrases These subordinators serve as distinguishing features of nominalizations in the Vietnamese language.
The passive morpheme and the following agent NP cannot undergo any repositioning as a sequence (12), hence do not pattern like a PP constituent
English passive constructions are characterized by their objectivity and subjectivity, which is influenced by the Vietnamese passive markers "bị" and "được." These expressions reflect the speaker's attitude toward the event being described.
For example: Ông ấy may mắn đượ c phát hi ệ n và cứu chữa kịp thời Ông ta b ị phát hi ệ n khi đang vận chuyển gỗ lậu
In addition, whether the sentences have the passive meaing or not depend on the lexical meaning of the subjects
For example: with the same verb like sinh
Sản phụ đã sinh con vào lúc 10 giờ sáng
The pregnant woman delvered the baby ay 10 a.m
Cháu tôi sinh vào lúc 10 giờ sáng
My niece was born at 10 a.m
Similar to English, in Vietnamese, the agent is the optional part The focus in the Vietnamese constructions is on the action, not on the doer:
Hội làng đượ c m ở từ ngày mồng 7 tháng Giêng âm lịch
4.2.2 Usage of Passive in Vietnamese
February 7 th in lunar year
According to Con and Dien, There have been two different opinions relating to passive sentence in Vietnamese: Denying or admitting the existence of passive sentence in Vietnamese
Researchers G Cardier, M.B Emeneau, and Trần Trọng Kim assert that Vietnamese is an isolating and analytical language, lacking indicative markers for person, time, tense, voice, and mood, which results in the absence of a passive voice as found in languages like English and French In inflecting languages, transforming active sentences into passive ones requires verb morphology inflection, which Vietnamese does not possess, thus failing to meet the strict criteria for passive voice as a grammatical category L.C Thompson (1965) suggests that in analytical languages, the structures "bị" and "được" serve as transitive equivalents to the passive voice found in Indo-European languages, viewing transitivity as a logical passive expression rather than a distinct grammatical category.
In conclusion, passive constructions can be said to exist in Vietnamese, but only in expression of passive meanings, not structure
In contemporary Vietnam, particularly following its accession to the WTO and the influx of exchange technology, the use of passive structures has become increasingly prevalent This trend highlights the growing reliance on passive voice in the Vietnamese language.
In situations where the subject is known but the writer or speaker chooses not to disclose it, one might say, "a mistake was made." This phrase emphasizes that the focus is on the action rather than the individual responsible, indicating that the identity of the person who made the mistake is either irrelevant or unnecessary to mention.
In case that writer/ speaker just wants to focus on the result of the action
In last year's flood, hundreds of people lost their lives, highlighting the devastating impact of the disaster.
In case that writer/ speaker wants to keep the same subject for two or more verbs which have different voice, one active and one passive
Anh ấy đã làm việc rất chăm chỉ trước khi được nhận vào công ty đó
He worked very hard before being accepted by the company)
In Vietnamese, there are many ways to classify verbs However, there are worth theories of famous linguist that the study concentrates to analyze
According to Bien (1998:98), Vietnamese verbs are divided into two types They are dependent (modal verbs) and independent verbs (lexical verbs)
Lexical verbs can stand alone There are two kinds of lexical verbs named transitive and intransitive verbs
Transitive verbs are those having influence on something else such as uống (drink), viết (write), xây (build)
Intransitive verbs refer to action originating from oneself and does not entail an object, such as: ngủ (sleep), tắm (take a bath), cười (laugh), đi bộ (walk)
Within intransitive verbs there are:
• Describe an activity: ngủ (sleep), ăn (eat), chạy (run)
• Describe feelings: ghét (hate), giận (gets angry), lo (worry)
• Show movement and directions: lên (go up), xuống (go down), ra (go out), vào (enter)
• Give instructions: sai bảo (order), yêu cầu (request)
• Describe possession: có (have), còn (have left)
These verbs can be imagined as passive voices in English, when the subject is influenced by someone else's actions For example:
Lan bị ốm (Lan gets sick/ receives the sickness)
Hoa được thưởng (Hoa receives a reward)
Vietnamese have run a campaign to challenge social discriminations of
HIV-infected individuals, previously referred to as "người bị HIV," are now more commonly known as "người có HIV" or people with HIV, following a public awareness campaign.
Modal verbs, also dependent verbs, cannot stand alone but need to be accompanied by other verbs
In English, modal verbs include: can, could, should, may, might, will, would and also seem, plan to, wish to, continue, start
• Imply a necessity or a possibility: nên (should), c ầ n (need), ph ả i (must), có th ể (may, can)
• Express a wish: dám (dare), đị nh (plan to), ướ c (hope)
• Express unwillingness: b ị , đượ c ,ch ị u ,ph ả i
• Imply process: b ắ t đầ u (start), ng ừ ng (stop)
Besides, Loc (2000) suggests two ways of verb classification Thanks to his research, Vietnamese verbs are divided into two categories: action verbs and non-action verbs…
4.2.4 Ways to express passive meanings in Vietnamese
English is characterized as half synthetic and half analytical, while Vietnamese is primarily analytical In English, the passive voice employs the synthetic inflectional morpheme –ed, as seen in the construction "be + amused." In contrast, Vietnamese uses the separate words "bị" or "được" before the verb to form the passive voice, indicating a distinct approach to morpheme and syllable formation between the two languages.
The passive construction currently occurring in Vietnamese language like
In nuclear fusion, energy is generated through the combination of atoms, as noted by Clark (1971) He emphasizes that this process reflects the passive structure shared between French and English languages.
The concept of "passive" does not directly apply to the Vietnamese language; instead, it features submissive or adversative verbs The terms "bị" and "được" in Vietnamese do not function as morphemes of the passive voice and are not equivalent to English passive morphemes This is because "bị" and "được" can be followed by transitive verbs, intransitive verbs, and even nouns, as illustrated in various sentences.
“Nó bị đánh.” (“He was beaten.”: “bị” is followed by a transitive verb
“Nó bị ngã.” (“He fell.”: “bị” is followed by an intransitive verb “ngã”),
In Vietnamese, the verb "được" indicates a positive outcome, as in "He got a good mark," while "bị" conveys a negative implication Unlike Vietnamese, English passive constructions are limited to transitive verbs, and the morphemes in English do not carry specific implications This distinction highlights the differing roles of passive voice in both languages.
Nguyen (2000), Cao (2001), and others argue that "bị" and "được" should not be viewed as passive construction markers, but rather as modality verbs or predicate verbs In contrast, Thompson presents a differing perspective on their function.
In Vietnamese, the verbs "bị" and "được," when followed by a descriptive complement, create a logical passive structure, highlighting the interplay between active and passive forms in the language.
Contrastive Analysis of Ways to Express Passive Meanings between English and
4.3.1 Similarities in ways to express passive meanings in English and Vietnamese
The Passive constructions in both languages share several common features
A key feature of active and passive sentences is the grammatical relationship between the subject and the object; in an active sentence, the object becomes the grammatical subject when transformed into a passive sentence.
In both English and Vietnamese, the passive voice emphasizes the action or its result, highlighting the recipient rather than the performer Consequently, the doer is often omitted, making the agent an optional component in both languages The focus of the sentence shifts to new information, typically positioned at or near the end, which serves as the main point of interest.
Eg: I was surprised by the news
In passive sentence the point of interest can be other information such as time, place, manner or instrument
Eg: The gas should be lit with a match
Both English and Vietnamese passive sentences share a common characteristic where the grammatical subjects in these constructions fulfill similar semantic roles, such as goal, beneficiary, and recipient.
Professor Nguyen Minh Thuyet, a lecturer in the Linguistic Department at Ha Noi University of Social Science and Humanities from 1990 to 2003, asserted that Vietnamese differs significantly from Indo-European languages in both its origin and structure Nonetheless, Vietnamese is capable of conveying passive meanings through the verbs "bị" and "được." Additionally, there are various passive constructions in English that have corresponding meanings in Vietnamese.
“Kỹ thuật dịch Anh-Việt” of Nguyen Quoc Hung, MA)
Structure: auxiliary verb “be” + Vpp
“bị/được/do” + transitive verb (“bị/được/do” play a role as a signal of passive voice, similar to “get/be” in English)
Sentence will have invisible passive voice if there are relative pronoun + be in that sentence
“The standard (which was) based on evaluation of Government, was broadly popularized”
Passive voice has no “bị/được” but it can be added
“Tiêu chuẩn dựa trên sự đánh giá của
Chính Phủ đã được phổ biến rộng rãi trong nước”
“Tiêu chuẩn được dựa trên sự đánh giá của Chính Phủ đã được phổ biến rộng rãi”
4.3.2 Differences in ways to express passive meanings in English and Vietnamese
In English, "form" refers to a grammatical category, with passive voice being a significant aspect where the object of the verb takes the subject's position This allows for the identification of passive voice Conversely, Vietnamese relies on subject and word order as fundamental grammatical modes, with words, including verbs, remaining unchanged in form Therefore, distinguishing between active and passive voice in Vietnamese cannot solely depend on verb form or grammatical structure, as some active voice constructions may not be easily recognizable.
In English, all passive constructions are linked to past participles and specific verbs such as "be," "get," and "have." Conversely, Vietnamese passive constructions require three conditions, including the use of passive functional words and transitive verbs within the predicate or embedded sentence.
A key difference between English and Vietnamese lies in the optional components of passive constructions In English, elements such as the agent phrase, adjuncts, and noun modifiers can be optional, while in Vietnamese, these components often become essential for achieving naturalness in passive sentences According to Thuyet (1998), Vietnamese passive constructions may require the inclusion of the agent, adjuncts that indicate causes or circumstances, and even subject modifiers Thus, what is optional in English becomes necessary in Vietnamese, enhancing the fluidity and acceptability of passive sentences.
In English, the forms of the verb "to be" and other verbs vary according to the subject and tense, whereas in Vietnamese, the forms of "bị" and "được" along with verbs remain unchanged.
The door was closed by him yesterday (“the door” is the third singular subject, past tense, so “be” “was”),
Hôm qua, cái cửa đã được đóng bởi anh ấy (no changes are made)
In Vietnamese, the construction "bị + verb" conveys a negative meaning, while "được + verb" indicates a positive meaning However, in English, both negative and positive constructions do not alter the sentence structure.
Cái chân của anh ấy đã bị gãy” (negative meaning) and
Tôi được tặng một cái váy vào ngày sinh nhật (positive meaning)
Mouse was eaten by cat (no changes in sentence structure) the first difference is in the compulsory parts in two languages.
Implications
4.4.1 Some possible implications for learning the ways to express passive meanings in English
Passive voice plays a crucial role in English, particularly in academic writing, where the focus is on actions rather than the doer In contrast, Vietnamese tends to favor an active voice Consequently, maintaining the original structure during translation from English to Vietnamese can result in unnatural phrasing A common mistake among Vietnamese students is translating word-for-word between the two languages To improve accuracy, it is essential to consider the overall meaning of the sentence and the context in which it appears.
As an aspiring English teacher, it is crucial to recognize the significance of passive voice in English writing Therefore, educators should assist students in mastering the structure and usage of various forms of passive voice, including those with two objects, special passive constructions, and passive sentences featuring ambient dummy subjects.
Some sentences may be passive in meaning but active in grammar, such as "tôi nấu ăn hơi bị ngon đấy," while others can be active in meaning but passive in grammar, like "căn nhà đã xây xong." Consequently, teachers should provide students with diverse examples in different contexts to ensure accurate translations.
Understanding learning theories is essential, but it is equally important for learners to engage in extensive practice with various forms of passive voice This approach not only deepens knowledge but also enhances communication skills, ultimately improving natural translation abilities.
Vietnamese learners of English often struggle with constructing passive sentences While they can successfully convert challenging active sentences into passive forms during exercises, there is a tendency to avoid using passive voice in both classroom settings and written articles This raises the question of why passive constructions are frequently overlooked.
Vietnamese learners often struggle with the English passive voice due to cultural and educational factors As English is not their native language, they primarily learn to convert active sentences into passive ones without sufficient training on using passive constructions independently This lack of practice results in a less natural use of passive sentences compared to native speakers.
Some researchers argue that passive voice can make sentences neater, clearer, and more cohesive, while others believe that the focus should be on making words and sentences easier to understand, regardless of whether they are in active or passive voice.
For Vietnamese learners, we realized that the following sentences are easily confused: For examples:
This is the novel written by Mitchel
This bicycle is thought to have been stolen last week
Tom was the last person to be interviewed for the job yesterday
Getting knowledge of passive in both English and Vietnamese helps learners in expressing passive meanings
4.4.2 Some typical mistake in translating passive meanings from English to Vietnamese and vice-versa and suggestion possible solutions
Vietnamese students frequently engage in word-for-word translation between the source and target languages However, this approach often fails to convey the intended meaning of the sentences Many students focus more on the structure of the sentences rather than their actual meaning.
Hôm qua tôi bị mất một quyển sách tiếng Anh
Some Vietnamese students translated: I was lost an English book yesterday This sentence must be translated: I lost an English book yesterday
Active sentences in English can sometimes convey passive meanings, which often confuses students regarding tense Additionally, the tenses used in Vietnamese sentences may not directly correspond to those in English.
Học kỳ vừa qua anh ta được điểm tốt
Some students rendered: Last term, he has got good marks (wrong)
Last term, he got good marks (right)
Sometimes, mistakes made created funny sentences
However, word by word translation was also applied when students translated in this situation:
Eg: Hôm qua tôi được xem Taylor Swift biểu diễn
Yesterday, I was seen Taylor Swift’s perform
Some students struggle with converting active verbs into past participles Additionally, they face challenges when transforming active questions into passive voice.
Who wrote this story? Wrong -> It was written by who? Right -> By whom was it written?
Students often adhere to the principles of converting active voice to passive voice but struggle with forming passive questions Additionally, they frequently make errors when transforming the tenses of active sentences into their passive counterparts.
People say she was killed with a sharp knife Wrong: -> She is said to be killed with a sharp knife Right: -> She is said to have been killed with a sharp knife
Moreover, many of them get confused when they have to deal with the active sentence with complex object or hidden object For example:
I love Mary who was my teacher Wrong: -> Mary was loved who was my teacher Right: -> Mary, who was my teacher, was loved
In addition, they do not know how to change the active sentences into passive ones when those sentences include sentences with infinitive, gerund, modal auxiliaries For example:
They are often seen to kiss each other However, confusion can arise when rewriting sentences in the reflexive passive voice For instance, the incorrect form "They kiss each others are often seen by us" highlights this challenge.
Don’t let Tom teased you Wrong: -> Don’t let you be teased by Tom
Right: -> Don’t let yourself be teased by Tom
Lastly, they do not change the subject of the passive one if the object of the active are nobody, anything, etc For example:
No one can do anything Wrong: -> Anything can be done by no one
Right: -> Nothing can be done
To master English, particularly the passive voice, students must regularly practice converting active structures into passive ones A variety of exercises, including translation, rearrangement, and identification of passive structures, should be provided, catering to all proficiency levels Teachers play a crucial role in analyzing students' mistakes to identify underlying reasons, as students often struggle to recognize their own errors Therefore, educators should offer effective study methods Additionally, students are encouraged to identify passive structures in their textbooks and media, which will enhance their reading skills while reinforcing their understanding of the passive voice through consistent lesson revision.
Passive voice issues are prevalent not only in exercises for English learners but also in various translation works Despite instruction to minimize the use of passive constructions in Vietnamese translations, errors persist frequently Alarmingly, such mistakes can be found in numerous published Vietnamese translations The following table provides some examples.
No English Original Works Vietnamese translations
He found himself trapped, unable to reopen the doors for a minimum of twenty minutes.
2 The person whom the letter was Người có lá thư bị mất cắp rất stolen from needs the letter badly cần đến nó
3 We stayed there for two days and I was offered more kindness than I was willing to accept
Chúng tôi ở đó hai ngày và đã được ban tặng nhiều lòng tốt hơn là tôi chờ đợi
- English work: The Da Vinci Code (Brown, 2003)