Grammar Q&A (1 Viewer)

[Denny Oubidoux]

1. The tree is cut down
2. The tree has been cut down

Are both of these sentences ok or is 1 a grammatically incorrect way of saying 2?

Sanks. I look forward to learning from having all my other grammar errors pointed out to me.

 

[pavlos]

1. The tree is cut down
2. The tree has been cut down

Are both of these sentences ok or is 1 a grammatically incorrect way of saying 2?

Sanks. I look forward to learning from having all my other grammar errors pointed out to me.

The second one sounds right to me. The first one doesn't. Any use?!

 

[nooleen]

the first one sounds like werner herzog narrating the cutting down of a tree

and now ze bear begins to eat ze girl

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Could the tree be in a state of cut-downedness that would most easily be stated as "the tree is cut down"?

My head is melted

 

[pavlos]

I think the tree is felled would be a better way to say it...

In fact if you put 'The tree is cut down' into Google translate, it translates it into German as 'Der Baum wird gefällt'. If you re-translate that back into English, it translates it back as 'the tree is felled.'

 

[nooleen]

Could the tree be in a state of cut-downedness that would most easily be stated as "the tree is cut down"?

My head is melted

that sounds more like a description of an action than the description of the state of the tree

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

I am trying to figure out how to construct the passive voice and say what the subject of the sentence undergoes rather than what it does. I think the subject in this case is the tree.

"The tree fell" would be active, I think, and straightforward.
"the tree is falling"
"the tree falls"
"The tree has fallen"
"the tree is fallen"

I don't know how I'm going to get this if I don't even know what makes sense in English

 

[nooleen]

has been cut down sounds like your only man then

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Are you sure?

 

[hydromancer]

There both valid I think but I would guess it depends on how they are being used if the sentence was addressing someone in particular then I think the second one would be more correct. The second one is more past tense but it would possible to use the first like "the tree is cut down now and I don't think the garden can ever be the same" but on its own it is a bit short or to matter of fact they are both a bit short really also "that tree is cut down" is maybe another way. Felling would be the more technical term for tree cutting which sounds maybe a bit old fashioned.

 

[nooleen]

Are you sure?

i...think so?

if you say 'the tree is cut down' with the meaning you want then you're describing the tree rather than what's been done to it

i think

 

[pete]

don't know why but i am reminded of this scene

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and that's a good thing

 

[hydromancer]

another way would be "the tree was cut down"

 

[St. Fechin]

Both are valid, both are in the passive voice.
The first is present simple passive, the second is present perfect passive.

To my reading, the first sounds like something you would say directly after the tree is cut down - i.e. like Nooly, I could imagine hearing something like that in a nature documentary as the tree falls on screen. The second form is more open ended: "at some time in the recent past".

Compare with "dinner is served" and "dinner has been served".

Edit: grammar - the difference in meaning between present simple passive and present perfect passive - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

From reading that link, if you want to "say what the subject of the sentence undergoes" I think you need to go with 'the tree has been cut down'.

 

[St. Fechin]

another way would be "the tree was cut down"

Grammatically valid, but that would probably place the action a bit further back in the past compared with the other two. It depends on what you want to say really.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Nightmare

 

[magicbastarder]

the tree has been cut down, therefore the tree is down.

 

[pete]

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

I think I have it!

In 1 'cut down' functions as a description (an adjective maybe?), in 2 it's a verb. This is probably what nooly was explaining. Maybe you can use the same same sentences in in either context but I think it's probably the verb thing I'm trying to get to grips with for now.

Thanks to all, and congratulations.

 

[Unknown Convict]

expected more of the irish times than this (unless it's some 'king & i' pun - don't know, i've read my free 10 lately) Martin McGuinness and I: two lives, two different paths