His art collection appreciated greatly over a period of thirty years.
I am wondering the reason why the verb appreciate has not been used as following:
It would be appreciated...
Thanks in advance
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1 Answer
Appreciate has both transitive and intransitive uses.
As a transitive verb (which is required if you cast the sentence in the passive voice, be appreciated, as in your rewrite) it has a range of meanings: 'value, recognize or assess the value of, be grateful for'.
As in intransitive verb (which is how it is used in your first example) it means 'increase in value'.
His art collection appreciated greatly means the value of his collection increased.
answered Jan 5, 2015 at 12:18
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Sir, since it uses 'over the period of years', shouldn't be there 'has been/had been'?– Maulik VJan 5, 2015 at 12:25
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@MaulikV Only if you are adopting a standpoint (a Reference Time) at the end of the period from which you look back at the period. The sentence might appear in a narrative with a 'running' RT: "In the 1940s he bought the works of then unknown artists like Pollock and de Kooning. Over the next thirty years his collection appreciated; by the 70s it was worth several million dollars." Jan 5, 2015 at 12:42