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same; the same also is the place of action, i.e. the space in front of the Palace. The presentation planes, though,
are quite different with the respective constructions, they are in fact mutually reverse. Namely, the first
sentence, by its functional destination, features the act of the guards, whereas the second sentence, in accord
with its meaningful purpose, features the experience of the crowd.
This property of the category of voice shows its immediate connection with syntax, which finds expression
in direct transformational relations between the active and passive constructions.
The said fundamental meaningful difference between the two forms of the verb and the corresponding
constructions that are built around them goes with all the concrete connotations specifically expressed by the
active and passive presentation of the same event in various situational contexts. In particular, we find the
object-experi-ence-featuring achieved by the passive in its typical uses in cases when the subject is unknown or
is not to be mentioned for certain reasons, or when the attention of the speaker is centred on the action as such.
Cf. respectively:
Another act of terrorism has been committed in Argentina. Dinner was announced, and our conversation
stopped. The defeat of the champion was very much regretted.
All the functional distinctions of the passive, both categorial and contextual-connotative, are sustained in its
use with verbids.
For instance, in the following passive infinitive phrase the categorial object-experience-featuring is
accompanied by the logical accent of the process characterizing the quality of its situational object (expressed
by the subject of the passive construction):
This is an event never to be forgotten.
Cf. the corresponding sentence-transform: This event will never be forgotten.
The gerundial phrase that is given below, conveying the principal categorial meaning of the passive,
suppresses the exposition of the indefinite subject of the process:
After being wrongly delivered, the letter found its addressee at last.
Cf. the time-clause transformational equivalent of the gerundial phrase: After the letter had been wrongly
delivered, it found its addressee at last.
The following passive participial construction in an absolutive position accentuates the resultative process:
The enemy batteries having been put out of action, our troops continued to push on the offensive.
Cf. the clausal equivalent of the construction: When the enemy batteries had been put out of action, our
troops continued to push on the offensive.
The past participle of the objective verb is passive in meaning, and phrases built up by it display all the cited
characteristics. E.g.:
Seen from the valley, the castle on the cliff presented a phantastic sight.
Cf. the clausal equivalent of the past participial phrase: When it was seen from the valley, the castle on the
cliff presented a phantastic sight.
§ 3. The big problem in connection with the voice identification in English is the problem of "medial"
voices, i.e. the functioning of the voice forms in other than the passive or active meanings. All the medial voice
uses are effected within the functional range of the unmarked member of the voice opposition. Let us consider
the following examples:
I will shave and wash, and be ready for breakfast in half an hour. I'm afraid Mary hasn't dressed up yet. Now
I see your son is thoroughly preparing for the entrance examinations.
The indicated verbs in the given sentences are objective, transitive, used absolutively, in the form of the
active voice. But the real voice meaning rendered by the verb-entries is not active, since the actions expressed
are not passed from the subject to any outer object; on the contrary, these actions are confined to no other
participant of the situation than the subject, the latter constituting its own object of the action performance. This
kind of verbal meaning of the action performed by the subject upon itself is classed as "reflexive". The same
meaning can be rendered explicit by combining the verb with the reflexive "self"-pronoun:
I will shave myself, wash myself; Mary hasn't dressed herself up yet; your son is thoroughly preparing
himself.
Let us take examples of another kind:
The friends will be meeting tomorrow. Unfortunately, Nellie and Christopher divorced two years after their
magnificent marriage. Are Phil and Glen quarrelling again over their toy cruiser?