I introduced essay structure to him
Which passive sentence is correct and why?
He was introduced to essay structure.
He was introduced essay structure.
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1 Answer
I introduced essay structure to him.
I see two options for the passive voice. The simpler option promotes the direct object to the subject position:
Essay structure was introduced [to him] [by me].
Both "to him" and "by me" are optional prepositional phrases. The clause "essay structure was introduced" on its own is grammatically complete. The passive voice statement does not have a direct object.
The other option is one of your suggestions:
He was introduced [to essay structure] [by me].
Again, the passive voice statement does not have a direct object. The prepositional phrases are not required by the grammar of the statement.
The error in your other option is that it's trying to use a direct object that the verb phrase does not allow:
* He was introduced essay structure.
Some passive-voice verb structures do allow a direct object. These are ditransitive verbs. In the active voice, these verbs can take two objects, one indirect and one direct. Either one can be promoted to the subject of a passive-voice clause. When the subject of the passive voice clause is the same as the indirect object of the active, the passive verb structure still allows a direct object.
I gave him a gift. -- active
A gift was given to him. -- passive; promotion of the direct object, the indirect object becomes an optional prepositional phrase
He was given a gift. -- passive; promotion of the indirect object, the direct object is not changed
Indirect objects represent semantic recipients or beneficiaries. In my example above, the preposition "him" is the recipient of the gift. Even though the verb to introduce does not allow an indirect object, its semantics allow a recipient. More than allowed, it is often expected. Furthermore, the direct object and the recipient are generally reciprocal:
I introduced essay structure to him.
I introduced him to essay structure.
This is the reason that we seem to be able to promote a mere prepositional phrase to the subject position of a passive-voice clause. These two clauses mean nearly the same thing, despite the obvious grammatical difference between them. The same applies to the two passive-voice transformations:
I introduced essay structure to him. / Essay structure was introduced to him.
I introduced him to essay structure. / He was introduced to essay structure.
Both passive-voice versions work. Neither passive voice version allows a direct object.
