Talk:attempt

double passives

According to Garner's fourth edition,

Recasting of the first passive verb form into the active voice clarifies the sense:
The prisoners were ordered to be shot → Active/Passive: He ordered them (to be) shot
Yet, in the following example, a recasting of the first passive verb into the active voice does not make sense:
The contention has been attempted to be made. → He attempted it to be made.
The last-quoted sentence is un-English

What does the author exactly mean by the vague expressions "not make sense" or "be un-English"? Secondly, would He attempted the contention made be a better option? --Backinstadiums (talk) 15:40, 27 June 2020 (UTC)