This is a question about English grammar: Is “It filled to capacity.” a complete thought with subject & verb?
Here is the instruction for this grammar quiz:
Identify what part of the sentence is missing and needs to be added to make the fragment into a sentence.
http://webquiz.ilrn.com/ilrn/bca/user/quiz-public/run?session=8D57A4825DBB92BBCDBFE3D202D1FAD8#question1
Self Test # 3:
#4: “filled to capacity.”
I responded that only a subject had to be added in order to make this fragment a complete sentence. For example: It filled to capacity. Or: The theater filled to capacity.
My professor’s response:
Not just a subject is needed, a linking verb is needed as well, e.g,, It is (was) filled to capacity.
According to my professor’s response, it is assumed that the word “filled” is a “past passive participle.” However, the word “filled” can also just be the simple past tense of the verb “to fill.”
What do you think?
Thanks, Henrietta
Favorite Answer
I suppose it is more usual for an agent to fill something, rather than for an object to fill by itself. Therefore a sentence like ‘The kettle was filled to capacity (by the person)’ is much more common than ‘it filled to capacity’. However, your example of theatre is quite valid. I was thinking of ‘The water butt filled to capacity (during the storm).’
I’m afraid it is easy for teachers to overlook correct answers sometimes if they haven’t given proper consideration to the task and its pitfalls. However, I would expect the teacher to be gracious and admit that he was wrong.
Keep up the good work!
is filled;
was filled
has been filled
to be ‘simple past tense’ a ‘linking verb’ is still required
A gold star for making me think anyway.
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