Assertion and reason

Exercise and reference answers

Questions

1. Reason

   The passive needs an object to promote into the subject position.

   Verdict

   Both are true; the reason explains the assertion.

   Assertion

   Only transitive verbs can be made passive.

2. Reason

   In the passive the agent may be omitted from the statement.

   Verdict

   Both are true; the reason explains the assertion.

   Assertion

   A passive sentence can be complete without naming the doer.

3. Reason

   The word comes from Latin for enduring or suffering.

   Verdict

   The assertion is false and the reason is true.

   Assertion

   'Passive' means the subject acts.

Explanation