Transitive Verbs That Can and Cannot Be Made Passive

Not every transitive verb (a verb that takes an object) can be plugged into the passive voice (be + past participle) socket. There are very strict "data processing rules (specifications)" required by the "grammar OS (syntax)" of English.

In conclusion, the difference lies in whether "a real change or influence" occurs in the state or position of the object (target) due to the subject's action (= the presence or absence of actionality/influence).

I will reveal the wiring behind this while presenting pairs of verbs (code) that have very similar meanings, yet one can be compiled into the passive voice while the other results in an error (cannot be passive).

⚖️ The "Fundamental Specifications" That Determine Passive Possibility

The passive voice is not just a string rearrangement macro that says "flip it and add by".

It is a "function that renders the impact or result of an action from the perspective of the victim (object) that was hit by the arrow (action)."

Therefore, even if there is an object (data) following the verb, if it only indicates a "relationship that is just there" and has not received any impact or change, the system returns an error saying, "There is no victim, so the victim-perspective code (passive voice) cannot be run."

🛠️ Specification Comparison Using Verb Pairs with Similar Meanings

Pair 1: "Clothes suit a person"

• ⭕ Passive possible: suit (to look good on, to be appropriate for)

• ❌ Passive impossible: fit (to be the right size for)

Although both are translated as "to suit/fit (clothes on a person)" in Japanese, the underlying data processing is different.

• Behavior of suit:

  1. It carries the nuance of actionality, meaning "by wearing those clothes, the person's charm or impression is enhanced (= it has a positive influence or change on the person)." Therefore, the passive voice is possible.

     • Green suits you.

     • ➔ You are suited by green.

• Behavior of fit:

  1. It merely indicates a "data match of dimensions (static state)," where "the dimensions of the clothes and the person's body shape match." Since the clothes are not physically deforming the person's body, there is zero influence, and flipping it to the passive voice results in a grammar error.

     • This jacket fits me.

     • ➔ ❌ I am fitted by this jacket.

Pair 2: "To get/to have"

• ⭕ Passive voice possible: obtain / get (to acquire, to gain)

• ❌ Passive voice impossible: have / possess (to hold, to own)

While the state of "having something in one's possession" is the same, the "force of the arrow" leading to that state is different.

• Behavior of obtain / get:

  1. This is a dynamic action of "using energy to pull data into one's memory space from a state of not having it originally (= a dramatic change in state)."pulling data into one's memory space (= a dramatic change in state)"

     • He obtained the license.

     • ➔ The license was obtained by him.

• Behavior of have:

  1. This simply expresses a static status (relationship) of "already having (owning)" something. Since it is not currently performing any action on the object, it does not fit into the passive voice socket.

     • She has a car.

     • ➔ ❌ A car is had by her.

Pair 3: "resemble"

• ⭕ Passive possible: imitate (to mimic, to copy)

• ❌ Passive impossible: resemble (to look like)

Although the context is that they look "exactly alike," this is where the distinction between dynamic and static comes in.

• Behavior of imitate:

  1. This is an "active tracing action where one observes a subject and intentionally tries to approach that form."

     • The student imitated the teacher.

     • ➔ The teacher was imitated by the student.

• Behavior of resemble:

  1. This simply refers to a static correlation (state) where the visual data of A and B match, either genetically or by coincidence. Just because a child resembles their parent does not mean the child is emitting any waves (actions) toward the parent.

     • The boy resembles his father.

     • ➔ ❌ His father is resembled by the boy.

4. Not a poem about animals or concepts, but "verb attributes (flags)"

Here too, there is no need to escape into cognitive poems like "in the minds of native speakers..."

It is purely a matter of architecture, where the language OS of English classifies transitive verbs into the following two classes (attribute flags).

1. Action Verb ➔ Affects or changes the target (Passive voice: compilable)

2. Stative Verb ➔ Indicates a relationship of position, possession, or agreement with the target (Passive voice: compile error)

Even if the meanings are very similar, whether the passive voice macro runs is determined by whether the verb's flag is set to 'action' (dynamic) or 'relation' (static).

In English, which is a culmination of exceptions, this wiring rule of 'presence or absence of action/influence' is one of the few beautiful specifications (basic design documents) that functions relatively cleanly.