ask for accommodation <made><to be made> for him

Y

yuand

Senior Member
Chinese
An old man entered the inn and asked for accommodation ____ for him.
A. made
B. to be made

This is grammar practice from a grammar book. The given answer is B. I was wondering if A was Ok. If so, what's the difference between them. Thanks in advance.
 
    • B is the better choice, but neither one sounds like it was written by a native speaker.

    Is he asking for a room at the inn? In that case:

    An old man entered the inn and asked for accommodations.
    OR ... and asked that he be given accommodations.

    On the other hand, if he's asking for a special service related to a disability (a large-type menu, for example, if his eyesight is poor) you could say:

    An old man entered the inn and asked that accommodations be made for him.
     
    knuckleboom said:
    An old man entered the inn and asked for accommodations.
    Click to expand...
    Interesting that you've used "accommodations" there, for what is usually an uncountable noun. I guess it must be a regional thing - I can't imagine an AusE speaker using the "s" form. Other than that, I'd say your sentence is the best way to put it.
     
    CaptainZero said:
    Interesting that you've used "accommodations" there, for what is usually an uncountable noun. I guess it must be a regional thing - I can't imagine an AusE speaker using the "s" form. Other than that, I'd say your sentence is the best way to put it.
    Click to expand...
    You wouldn't use a plural in BE, either, if you meant he wanted a room. You would, however, use it in the second case @knuckleboom mentions, i.e. when referring to special services related to a disability.
     
    yuand said:
    An old man entered the inn and asked for accommodation ____ for him.
    A. made
    B. to be made

    This is grammar practice from a grammar book. The given answer is B. I was wondering if A was Ok. If so, what's the difference between them. Thanks in advance.
    Click to expand...
    For me, one way to change to sentence to make (A) possible is to say "asked for the accommodation made for him." With that change, "made for him" is a reduced adjective clause. That is, "the accommodation (which had been) made for him."
    I think one possible difference in replies may be in the definition of "accommodation" which people may have.
     
    yuand said:
    An old man entered the inn and asked for accommodation ____ for him.
    A. made
    B. to be made

    This is grammar practice from a grammar book.
    Click to expand...
    This is a very bad question. The example is not idiomatic unless the old gentleman has some special needs (e.g. he is lame, blind, in a wheelchair requires a special diet, etc.) that he hopes the hotel will be able to meet.

    If he is looking for a room, it doesn't work. The sentence is very formal - and commoner prior to the 20th century but the verb would be "to be readied" - a construction rarely, if ever, used currently.
     
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