Re: Middle Voice

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Richard Wordingham<mailto:richard.wordingham@...>

> The lack of an active/passive contrast is better seen in English

in

> infinitives and gerunds (also in participles), as in a

traditional fox

> hunt needing hounds for hunting (active meaning) and foxes for

hunting

> (passive meaning).
>
> ***
> Patrick:
>
> Sorry, just cannot buy that. Though there may be some overlap,

infinitives and gerunds, etc. _can_ be characterized as active,
passive, or even reflexive.

>
> I think you mean to say that they do not have _tense_ not _voice_.
> ***

No. My point is that a passive meaning is frequently not shown by
the form of the non-finite forms, but has to be inferred from the
context. Passive forms are available, but it seems far from easy to
say when they should or should not be used.

Richard.