Is 'is Submitted Something' Grammatically Correct Exploring Prepositions And Passive Voice
Is the phrase "is submitted
Grammaticality and the Passive Voice
When we analyze the phrase, our grammaticality assessment begins with recognizing its passive voice construction. The passive voice is formed using a form of the verb "to be" (in this case, "is") followed by the past participle of the main verb (in this case, "submitted"). A sentence in the passive voice shifts the focus from the doer of the action to the receiver of the action. For example, consider the active sentence: "The user submits the prompt." The passive version of this sentence is: "The prompt is submitted by the user." Notice the inclusion of the preposition "by" to indicate the agent performing the action.
However, the original phrase, "An LLM is submitted a prompt," omits this crucial preposition and seems to place the Large Language Model (LLM) in the role of the receiver, which is semantically problematic. In standard English, we do not typically say something is submitted an object without an intervening preposition. The usual construction involves a preposition like "to," resulting in a phrase such as "An LLM is submitted to a prompt." This revised phrasing implies that the LLM is being subjected or exposed to a prompt, which still doesn't align with the intended meaning. To clarify, the passive voice construction requires careful attention to the roles of the subject and object, and the absence of a preposition can lead to grammatical ambiguity. Therefore, understanding the active and passive voice transformations is essential in determining the correct use of prepositions and ensuring grammatical accuracy. Furthermore, consider the role of an LLM in this context. The LLM receives a prompt, it doesn't become submitted. Therefore, the wording is not only grammatically suspect but also semantically inappropriate.
The Role of Prepositions
Prepositions are essential components of English grammar, acting as connectors that establish relationships between words in a sentence. They typically indicate location, direction, time, or manner. In the context of submission, prepositions like "to," "by," and "with" play crucial roles in clarifying the relationship between the entity submitting, the entity being submitted, and the recipient. For instance, consider these examples:
- "The report was submitted to the committee." (Direction/Recipient)
- "The application was submitted by the student." (Agent)
- "The manuscript was submitted with revisions." (Manner/Accompaniment)
In the problematic phrase, "An LLM is submitted a prompt," the absence of a preposition leaves the relationship unclear. It sounds as if the LLM itself is being submitted, rather than being the recipient of a submission. This is why the phrase feels grammatically incomplete and semantically confusing. Native English speakers instinctively seek the missing preposition to establish the correct relationship. For instance, adding "to" might seem like a solution, but "An LLM is submitted to a prompt" still implies the LLM is the subject of the action, which is not the intended meaning. The correct interpretation requires understanding the LLM as the recipient of the prompt, not the one being submitted. This distinction underscores the importance of choosing the right preposition to accurately convey the intended relationship. Thus, the absence of a preposition creates a grammatical gap that affects the clarity and coherence of the sentence, highlighting the indispensable role prepositions play in establishing clear relationships between elements in a sentence.
Passive Voice and Indirect Objects
To further understand the issue, we must consider the concept of indirect objects and how they interact with the passive voice. An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that receives the direct object in a sentence. In active sentences, indirect objects typically precede the direct object. For example, in the sentence "The teacher gave the student the book," "student" is the indirect object and "book" is the direct object. When converting such a sentence to the passive voice, there are two possible constructions:
- "The book was given to the student by the teacher."
- "The student was given the book by the teacher."
The first construction is a typical passive transformation, while the second highlights the indirect object by making it the subject of the passive sentence. However, not all verbs allow this second type of passive construction, especially when the indirect object doesn't clearly benefit from the action. In the original example, "An LLM is submitted a prompt," the sentence attempts to use this second type of passive construction, but it fails because the verb "submit" doesn't naturally lend itself to this structure without a preposition. The LLM doesn't inherently benefit from being "submitted" a prompt; it receives or processes the prompt. This subtle distinction is crucial. The passive voice, when used with indirect objects, often requires the presence of a preposition to clarify the relationship and ensure grammatical accuracy. This is especially true when the verb's meaning doesn't directly imply a beneficial transfer to the indirect object. Hence, the sentence's awkwardness stems from the unnatural passive construction with an implied indirect object, highlighting the complexities of passive voice usage and the importance of choosing verbs that fit the intended grammatical structure.
Dative Alternation and its Limitations
The concept of dative alternation is closely related to indirect objects. Dative alternation refers to the ability of some verbs to appear in two different constructions: one with a prepositional phrase and one with an indirect object before a direct object. For example:
- "She gave a book to her friend." (Prepositional Phrase)
- "She gave her friend a book." (Indirect Object)
However, not all verbs that take indirect objects can undergo dative alternation smoothly. The verb "submit" is one such verb. While we can say, "The user submitted the application to the committee," the construction "The user submitted the committee the application" sounds awkward and is rarely used. This limitation carries over to the passive voice. While "The application was submitted to the committee" is perfectly acceptable, "The committee was submitted the application" is not. Similarly, "An LLM is submitted a prompt" attempts to force a dative alternation where it doesn't naturally fit. The verb "submit" prefers a prepositional phrase to clearly indicate the recipient, and the absence of this phrase leads to the grammatical unease. This highlights the idiosyncratic nature of verb behavior in English. Not all verbs conform to every possible grammatical transformation, and understanding these limitations is crucial for accurate and natural language use. In this case, the failed dative alternation underscores the importance of adhering to conventional verb patterns to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.
Correcting the Sentence
Given the grammatical issues discussed, how can we correct the original sentence, "An LLM is submitted a prompt that asks whether..."? Several options exist, each with slightly different nuances:
- Using the active voice: "Someone submits a prompt to an LLM that asks whether..." This is the most straightforward correction, shifting the focus to the agent performing the submission.
- Using a more appropriate passive construction: "A prompt is submitted to an LLM that asks whether..." This maintains the passive voice but clarifies that the prompt is being submitted to the LLM.
- Using a different verb: "An LLM receives a prompt that asks whether..." This replaces "is submitted" with "receives," which more accurately reflects the LLM's role and avoids the preposition issue.
Each of these options resolves the grammatical awkwardness of the original sentence while preserving the intended meaning. The choice between them depends on the specific context and the desired emphasis. However, they all highlight the importance of careful word choice and grammatical structure in conveying information clearly and accurately. By understanding the principles of passive voice, prepositions, indirect objects, and dative alternation, we can avoid such grammatical pitfalls and ensure our writing is both correct and effective. Therefore, when crafting sentences, especially in technical contexts, it is essential to consider the most accurate and grammatically sound way to express the intended meaning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the phrase "is submitted