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When trying to convert this sentence into passive voice

It is strange that families adopt dogs but not a child.

I found two confusing answers as follows..

1: It is strange that dogs but not a child are adopted by families.
2: It is strange that dogs are adopted by families but not a child.

Which one is appropriate?

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    It would be more pleasing to the ear if you used parallel plurals: "it is strange that dogs but not children are adopted by families." The second sentence is ambiguous; it could be interpreted as: dogs are adopted by families but dogs are not adopted by a child.
    – fixer1234
    Commented Apr 7, 2017 at 6:01
  • The question is no doubt pleasing to ear. U tried. Thanks
    – Skar
    Commented Apr 7, 2017 at 6:11

1 Answer 1

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"It is strange that families adopt dogs but not a child." the OP's sentence.

The passive:

  • It is strange that dogs but not a child are adopted by families.

Still "a child" vaguely referring to general plural meaning of "children" sounds odd here. I would recommend the following:

  • It is strange that dogs but not children are adopted by families.

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