1

I have done some English test and met the following sentence:

The discovery of magnetic effects of coals made possible to measure an electric current.

The answer book says that something wrong with "made possible". But it seems OK for me.

Could anybody explain what is incorrect there?

Improve this question
4
  • 1
    'made it possible' could be the answer but I am not 100% sure.
    – eu2015
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 12:49
  • Yes, I second you @eu2015 You make something possible.
    – Maulik V
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 12:51
  • Is this multiple choice or a written answer?
    – Nihilist_Frost
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 12:59
  • @Nihilist_Frost It is multiple choice question (you have to chose which part of a sentence is incorrect). I've tried to google this expression and, indeed, It seems, that the expression isn't used without object (it or something like this).
    – arsast
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 13:09

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

"to make (something) possible" is transitive. It must have an object.

In

The discovery of magnetic effects of coals made possible to measure an electric current.

the sentence is ungrammatical due to the object of "made (something) possible", in this case being an "it", being missing.

The correct sentence is:

The discovery of magnetic effects of coals made it possible to measure an electric current.

Improve this answer
0

The discovery of magnetic effects of coals made it possible to measure an electric current.

It was possible to measure an electric current.
The discovery of magnetic effects of coals made possible the measurement of electric current.

made possible to measure has two verbs competing with each other, they need to be separated somehow.

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    The verb cluster isn't the problem.
    – Nihilist_Frost
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 13:20
  • 2
    e.g. "It was impossible to complete." is valid.
    – Nihilist_Frost
    Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 13:32

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .