grammar questions

Leo   Mon May 22, 2006 9:16 am GMT
Hello,

The passive voice
Example : As the evidence began to accumulate, the pros felt obliged to investigate.
Is the following sentence being revised right?
As the evidence began to be accumulated, the pros felt obliged to investiage.

Thanks,

Leo
Ant_222   Mon May 22, 2006 3:41 pm GMT
I think, the first sentence is wrong. Evidence can «be accumulated», but it can't accumute...
Tommie   Mon May 22, 2006 4:35 pm GMT
<I think, the first sentence is wrong. Evidence can «be accumulated», but it can't accumute... >

Yes it can.
Gabriel   Mon May 22, 2006 4:35 pm GMT
According to Merriam Webster online, an intransitive sense for 'accumulate' is "to increase gradually in quantity or number". It can be said, then, that evidence accumulates.
Ant_222   Mon May 22, 2006 4:36 pm GMT
Well, I might have been incorrect about the first sentence: it may be also correct...

The second is certainly fine.
Ant_222   Mon May 22, 2006 4:50 pm GMT
I was writing my previous post simultaneously with Gabriel and Tommi, and didn's see your posts...
Leo   Tue May 23, 2006 12:50 am GMT
The original sentence as that follows is from New Concept English book 3

However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate.

I also found another example: His debts accumulated.

The original one is definitely right,but I have no idea if the second one is correct.

Thank you for reply.
Ant_222   Tue May 23, 2006 12:13 pm GMT
«The original one is definitely right,but I have no idea if the second one is correct.»

If you mean «the evedence began to be accumutated», it's ok.