被动语态
被动语态的作用
被动语态是用来表示对「承受」某动作的人或物的关注，而不是关注「执行」某动作的人或物。换句话说，最重要的人或物变成句中的主词。
举例
- The passive voice is used frequently. (= 我们关注的是被动语态，而不是关注使用被动语态的人)
- The house was built in 1654. (= 我们关注的是房屋，而不是关注建造房屋的人)
- The road is being repaired. (= 我们关注的是道路，而不是关注修理道路的人)
有时候我们之所以会被动语态，是因为我们不知道丶不想表达执行动作的人或物。
举例
- I noticed that a window had been left open.
- Every year thousands of people are killed on our roads.
- All the cookies have been eaten.
- My car has been stolen!
被动语态常用在正式书写上，改用主动语态会让您的语句较清楚且容易理解。
| 被动 | 主动 |
|---|---|
| A great deal of meaning is conveyed by a few well-chosen words. | A few well-chosen words convey a great deal of meaning. |
| Our planet is wrapped in a mass of gases. | A mass of gases wrap around our planet. |
| Waste materials are disposed of in a variety of ways. | The city disposes of waste materials in a variety of ways. |
如果在用被动语态时仍想表明执行动作的人或物，这时候就要用介词 by。当我们知道做动作的人是谁，也想强调这个人或事物，改用主动语态总是会比较好。
| 被动 | 主动 |
|---|---|
| "A Hard Day's Night" was written by the Beatles. | The Beatles wrote "A Hard Day's Night". |
| The movie ET was directed by Spielberg. | Spielberg directed the movie ET. |
| This house was built by my father. | My father built this house. |
进一步了解所有英语动词时态的被动语态与同义的主动语态写法。
被动语态的构成
英语的被动语态是以两个要素组成：
适当的 Be 动词型态 + 过去分词
| 肯定句 | 否定句 | 疑问句 | 否定疑问句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The house was built in 1899. | The house wasn't built in 1899. | Was the house built in 1899? | Wasn't the house built in 1899? |
| These houses were built in 1899. | These houses weren't built in 1899. | Were these houses built in 1899? | Weren't these houses built in 1899? |
被动语态，以 to clean 为例
| 主词 | + Be 动词（经过词形变化） | + 过去分词 | + 句子的其余字词 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一般现在时 | |||
| The house | is | cleaned | every day. |
| 现在进行时 | |||
| The house | is being | cleaned | at the moment. |
| 一般过去时 | |||
| The house | was | cleaned | yesterday. |
| 过去进行时 | |||
| The house | was being | cleaned | last week. |
| 现在完成时 | |||
| The house | has been | cleaned | since you left. |
| 过去完成时 | |||
| The house | had been | cleaned | before they arrived. |
| 一般将来时 | |||
| The house | will be | cleaned | next week. |
| 将来进行时 | |||
| The house | will be being | cleaned | tomorrow. |
| 条件式现在时 | |||
| The house | would be | cleaned | if they had visitors. |
| 条件式过去时 | |||
| The house | would have been | cleaned | if it had been dirty. |
| 不定式 | |||
| The house | must be | cleaned | before we arrive. |
带有不定词的被动语态
不定被动语态用于情态助词后，还有其他多数接不定词的动词后。
举例
- You have to be tested on your English grammar.
- John might be promoted next year.
- She wants to be invited to the party.
- I expect to be surprised on my birthday.
- You may be disappointed.
带有动名词的被动语态
动名词用在介词后，以及一般会接动名词的动词后。
举例
- I remember being taught to drive.
- The children are excited about being taken to the zoo.
- The children are excited to be taken to the zoo.
- Most film stars hate being interviewed.
- Most film stars hate to be interviewed.
- Poodles like to be pampered.
- Poodles like being pampered.
to be born 的用法
「to be born」是一种被动型态，而且多数主要用于过去时。然而在某些情况下，使用现在时或将来时也很妥当。
举例
- I was born in 1976.
- Where were you born?
- Around 100 babies are born in this hospital every week.
- We don't know on exactly which day the baby will be born.
有时被动语态的构成会用动词 to get 或 to have 来取代 Be 动词。关于这部分，可以参考构成被动语态的替代方法。