Learn English – How to solve two passive voices confusion in one sentence

passive-voice

The thing is that I know what kind of problem I face with the sentences you will read below but I don’t know the definition of problem. It is like: I drink a liquid stuff but later I learn that it is called water. So I thought that the most adequate definition could be ‘how to solve two passive voices confusion in one sentence’. Including the sentences below, if you have any idea how to define grammatical problems in English for those who are not native English speaker, please share.

Sentences:

“What kind of things will happen when metallic elements start to be used smoothly in 3D printers.”

“What kind of things will happen when metallic elements are started to be used smoothly in 3D printers.”

“What kind of things will happen when metallic elements are started to use smoothly in 3D printers.”

I am aware that there is going to be, at least, one passive voice in the aforementioned sentences certainly. My idea is: “…elements are started” is correct but for the rest I am quite confused?

Best Answer

The answer, I'm afraid, is not very edifying.

We cheat.

We cast at least one verb into the active voice.

One way is to provide an indefinite subject such as "people" or "they" or "we":

What will happen when people start to use metallic elements, &c?

Another is to make the passive subject the active subject of the first verb:

What will happen when metallic elements start to be used, &c?

This is permitted with verbs like start,begin,continue,finish,stop which don't really signify an action but act as semi-auxiliaries to tell you the temporal "shape" of the action verb - what grammarians call its aspect.

Actions and tasks and projects can be "started" or "finished", but we speak of an object being "started" or "finished" only if it is being treated as a task or project: "I started my paper today" means "I started writing my paper".

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