Is there a difference between these two sentences?
A very long letter was written to him
He was written a very long letter
Thanks a lot!
English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityIs there a difference between these two sentences?
A very long letter was written to him
He was written a very long letter
Thanks a lot!
The ultimate meanings are approximately the same, even though the two sentences have been organized differently. Grammatically, "letter" is the object, "he/him" is the indirect object.
Both use the passive voice and obscure the identity of the writer. The clearest and most understandable phrasing is the active construction. "Bresson wrote him a very long letter." It's even tempting to say "You should prefer the active voice. Don't use the passive voice this way unless you have a compelling reason to do so". But in fact, understanding and applying the passive voice is necessary in many situation.