ABSTRACT
A passive cons t ruc t ion is one in wh ich a transitive verb is made to function so that its under ly ing (logical) object appears as its surface subject, its underly ing subject being either absent - in the short passive: L a proposta fou rebutjada 'The proposa l was rejected' - o r expressed as the agent o f the act ion - in the long passive: L a proposta fou rebutjada per les autoritats The proposal was rejected by the authorit ies ' . C o m p a r e the active form: Les autoritats rebutjaren la proposta 'The authorities rejected the proposal ' .
