carowyn_is_cool

So, I would love to know how you would go about 'translating' these:

1. I was born in 1985.

2. It was built in 1985.

Now, I read a post by Karen where she wrote "When did your house get built?" and I also read posts by her talking about, I don't know, being professional in her language or whatever. Using the verb "get" in passives is very colloquial, and I do not think you would want to write that in some paper or memo or whatever it is you guys do. So, again, I ask, how do you write these two passives in e-prime?

Thank you in advance.
Carowyn

carowyn_is_cool

One more for you guys:

I had been drinking for twenty years when I finally decided to get sober in 1972.

BUT the trick is, you need to convey the same meaning, i.e. that a habitual action had been taking place in the distant past (drinking) and it was interrupted by another action (getting sober).

Do this without the use of "to be."

Thanks again.

P.S. "I drank for twenty years and got sober in 1972" does NOT convey the same meaning nor is it clearer in meaning nor is it more expressive... So don't use that as your example.

Marcio_Osorio

carowyn_is_cool, based on this website E-primitive: Rewilding the English Language | Urban Scout: Rewilding Cascadia

I was born in 1985

• My mother gave birth to me in 1985
• I entered this world in 1985
• My birth happened in the year 1985

I also remember having seen "I came out of my mother's womb in YYYY."

It was built in 1985

• Jack says they built this house in 1985
• House Builders, Inc. built this house in 1985[1]

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[1] I built my assumptions on this website E Prime - English without the verb to be

Marcio_Osorio

Stumped on your "I had been drinking for twenty years when I finally decided to get sober in 1972." Here goes something anyway.

"Jack's (night bar) had me staggering in and out of it for twenty consecutive years when I finally..."

Please correct me accordingly.