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I assume that the above sentences have the same meaning. Are they really interchangeable? Is not there after all some stylistic or semantic difference between them?
bart-leby
Posted 2015-03-10T15:41:38.147
Reputation: 8 713
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You are correct, the two phrases have identical meaning and can be used interchangeably. The only very minor difference I could think of is that the first version sounds more personal, while the second sounds more professional. The first sentence focuses more on "you," the recipient, while the second version focuses on the message. The difference, however, is so small that it does not matter.
Whelt
Posted 2015-03-10T15:41:38.147
Reputation: 374
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By rules, some verbs have 2 objects, a person and an object. Either can be used as a subject of the passive sentence (as in your example).
A person is usually used because a person is usually more important than an object. However, it really depends on where you want to put emphasis on.
So generally speaking both is correct.
PS. In your case the 2nd sentence sounds better as in this case the message is more important than the receiver.
sandalone
Posted 2015-03-10T15:41:38.147
Reputation: 322
2Genreally true, but: the subject rarely if ever takes the emphasis in a sentence. It's put at the beginning for this reason! :-) – Araucaria - Not here any more. – 2015-03-10T16:59:13.530