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Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome"



 
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Expression 'nothing so unlucky as to compliment children to their faces' | "Reference" or "With reference"
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Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome" #1 (permalink) Fri Feb 16, 2007 13:06 pm   Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome"
 

According to Newton's 1st Law, starting something new is difficult because inertia must be overcome.

Can somebody please explain to me why we don't use overcame? Is it because overcome is an adjective here?

Thanks
NinaZara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 04 Jan 2007
Posts: 1165
Location: Malaysia (Cat city)

Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome" #2 (permalink) Fri Feb 16, 2007 13:53 pm   Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome"
 

Hi NinaZara

'Overcame' is used for the simple past tense.

In your sentence, 'overcome' is not used as an adjective. 'Must be overcome' is the passive form of 'must overcome'. In your sentence 'overcome' is a past participle. To build the passive, you need to use a form of 'be' along with the past participle of the verb.

Here is an example of an active sentence and its passive version:

You must write a letter of apology.
A letter of apology must be written.


Amy
Yankee
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

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Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome" #3 (permalink) Fri Feb 16, 2007 16:13 pm   Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome"
 

Thanks Yankee.

Sometimes I wonder whether I think too much or too deep (or I'm just lazy and not think at all Embarassed ).You make it sounds so easy, why didn't I think of it before?Sigh...
NinaZara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 04 Jan 2007
Posts: 1165
Location: Malaysia (Cat city)

Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome" #4 (permalink) Fri Feb 16, 2007 22:47 pm   Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome"
 

Hi NinaZara

I have a feeling you were just thinking too much.

As for "easy"... well, I am a native speaker and started teaching ESL courses quite a long time ago. I've been asked similar questions many times in the past. Wink

By the way, I think your niece is adorable. What a nice picture of the two of you. Very Happy

Amy
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome" #5 (permalink) Sat Feb 17, 2007 14:19 pm   Newton's First Law: expression "inertia must be overcome"
 

On behalf of Aisya and myself, thanks again, Amy.
NinaZara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 04 Jan 2007
Posts: 1165
Location: Malaysia (Cat city)

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