Both the active and passive forms of the infinitive have the same meaning

Question

It is my knowledge that there are instances where the meaning of the active and passive infinitives is identical. There are many rooms to be painted/to paint.

Are there any other verbs that fit this pattern that you could think of? Does this pattern require the construction "there is/there" or are there alternative verbs that can be used in the infinitive with the same meaning (passive or active) without it?

Answer 1

Yes, you're correct that there are verbs where the active and passive forms of the infinitive can carry similar meanings. You've mentioned "to paint" and "to be painted," which is a clear example. Here are a few more verbs that fit this pattern, along with a discussion about the context in which this occurs.

Examples of Verbs

1. To clean / To be cleaned:
2. Example: "The house needs to be cleaned." / "The house needs cleaning."
3. Both imply that someone is required to clean the house.
4. To repair / To be repaired:
5. Example: "The car needs to be repaired." / "The car needs repairs."
6. Again, both forms suggest the car requires attention.
7. To read / To be read:
8. Example: "The book is interesting to read." / "The book is interesting to be read."
9. While the second form is a bit less common, it’s grammatically acceptable and conveys a similar meaning.
10. To wash / To be washed:
11. Example: "The car is ready to be washed." / "The car is ready to wash."
12. Both imply that washing the car is the intended action.
13. To build / To be built:
14. Example: "The house is going to be built." / "The house is going to build (in a less standard phrasing)."
15. Again, the clearer statement would use one over the other depending on flow.

Use Without "There is/there"

The construction "there is/there" is not strictly necessary for the active/passive infinitives to convey similar meanings. Many verbs can exist independently outside of this construction. Here are ways to use them without "there":

1. "To bring":
2. Active: "It’s nice to bring dessert."
3. Passive: "Dessert is nice to be brought."
4. "To find":
5. Active: "This book is easy to find."
6. Passive: "This book is easy to be found."
7. "To write":
8. Active: "It is great to write a letter."
9. Passive: "It is great to be written."

Conclusion

The use of active and passive forms of the infinitive in English can indeed lead to similar meanings, and you can find various verbs that fit this pattern. While the construction "there is/there" helps to form a particular type of sentence, many verbs can be used without it and still retain the same meaning. The context in which these verbs are used often dictates the choice of active or passive forms.

Answer 2

1. Paint: "Rooms to paint" / "Rooms to be painted"
2. Repair: "Cars to repair" / "Cars to be repaired"
3. Fix: "Issues to fix" / "Issues to be fixed"
4. Clean: "Windows to clean" / "Windows to be cleaned"
5. Read: "Books to read" / "Books to be read"
6. Write: "Letters to write" / "Letters to be written"

These verbs tend to describe tasks or responsibilities, where the focus is on the action rather than the agent.