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Subject:Re: argument!! From:Laurie Rubin <lmr -at- SYL -dot- NJ -dot- NEC -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 8 Dec 1994 10:25:31 -0500
As a respondent who mentioned active voice, I stand corrected. In context,
you are correct that the sentence is fine as is. All too often I read
something where I am not so sure exactly which "it" the readier is referring
to. I guess I am a little sensitive about using "it."
Laurie
> timothy -at- ESKIMO -dot- COM sez: >>The sentence -> Millions of people from every
> continent are connected to it.
> >>the word "it" is the subject and an echo word<<
> I'm only a grammar maven 2nd class, but I believe that "it" is *not* the
> subject. It is the object of the preposition "to" which modifies the verb
> "connected." The subject is understood, apparently from a preceding sentence
> ("The Internet is a humongous network of networks. Millions of people ...").
> And as a previous respondent mentioned, simply flipping this into active
> voice ("It is connected") changes the meaning.
> As we've been saying, there is nothing wrong with passive voice, when it is
> appropriate.
