Passive form into active form

hirashin

Sempai

Donor

8 Apr 2004

2,721

63

• 1 Jul 2012

• #1

Dear native English speakers,

"Over 90 million lawsuits are filed in the U.S."

Can this sentence be transformed into the sentence below?

They file over 90 million lawsuits in the U.S.

Hirashin

 

Glenn

一切皆苦

8 Jan 2004

7,842

200

• 2 Jul 2012

• #2

Yes. The focus is different, though.

 

hirashin

Sempai

Donor

8 Apr 2004

2,721

63

• 2 Jul 2012

• Thread starter
• #3

Thanks for the help, Glenn.

How about these?
(b) People file over 90 million lawsuits in the U.S.
(c) People in the U.S. file over 90 million lawsuits in the U.S.
(d) The American people file over 90 million lawsuits in the U.S.

Hirashin

 

Glenn

一切皆苦

8 Jan 2004

7,842

200

• 3 Jul 2012

• #4

They're all fine grammatically. I guess they would all be natural given the right circumstances, which would be different for each one.

 

E

eeky

先輩

8 Jun 2010

2,431

22

• 3 Jul 2012

• #5

For me, all these sentences are unclear unless you also specify a time period. Do you mean 90 million per year?

 

ClarkH

先輩

29 Mar 2012

104

6

• 3 Jul 2012

• #6

Oh, please!

That's really not the question. The question is whether one sentence can be transformed into the other and retain the same meaning. If you need clarification, assume all sentences mean that 90 million lawsuits have been filed in the same period (fine, one year). Why assume they are all different?

 

E

eeky

先輩

8 Jun 2010

2,431

22

• 3 Jul 2012

• #7

ClarkH said:

Oh, please!

Click to expand...

I'm sorry you are so upset by what seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable and valid comment.

 

ClarkH

先輩

29 Mar 2012

104

6

• 3 Jul 2012

• #8

No apology is necessary. I'm not upset. Thanks though.

 

hirashin

Sempai

Donor

8 Apr 2004

2,721

63

• 7 Jul 2012

• Thread starter
• #9

eeky said:

For me, all these sentences are unclear unless you also specify a time period. Do you mean 90 million per year?

Click to expand...

Oh, sorry about that.

The original sentence goes like this:
Every year over 90 million lawsuits are filed in the U.S.

So please add "every year" to all my sentences.

Hirashin