语态是动词的一种形式,用以说明句中主语和谓语的关系。如果主语是动作的执行者,动词形式为主动语态(The active voice);如果主语是动作的承受者,动词形式为被动语态(The passive voice)。
例如:
1.Many people speak Chinese.(主动语态)
解析:speak的动作是由主语many people来执行的。
2.Chinese is spoken by many people.(被动语态)
解析:many people是speak 的动作的承受者。
一、被动语态的基本结构
被动语态的基本结构是“be +动词的过去分词”,而对于动词的各种时态的被动语态结构要做相应的变化。各种时态的被动语态如下:
1.一般现在时:主语+am/is/are+动词的过去分词
例如:English is spoken in Canada.
2.一般过去时:主语+was/were+spoken+动词的过去分词
例如:Many trees were planted last year.
3.一般将来时:主语+will/be going to be+动词的过去分词
例如:A new bridge will be built in this city next year.
4. 现在进行时:主语+am/is/are being+动词的过去分词
例如:The World Cup is being held in Germany now.
5.过去进行时:主语+was/were being+动词的过去分词
例如:My computer was being used by him when I went to get it back.
6.现在完成时:主语+have/has been+动词的过去分词
例如:Papers and printing have been used for ages.
7.过去完成时:主语+had been +动词的过去分词
例如:The bag had been left at home when I got to school.
8.情态动词:主语+情态动词+be+动词的过去分词
例如:Books can be replaced by computers.
二、何时使用被动语态
1.不知道谁是动作的执行者或没有必要,如:
(1)Paper is made from wood.
(2)The house is quite old. It was built in 1950.
(3)He was wounded in the fight.
2.需要强调动作的承受者时,如:
(1)Calculator can't be used in the math exam.
(2)Books and newspapers in the reading room mustn't be taken away.
(3)He was awarded first prize in that contest.
3.为了使语气婉转,避免提及自己或对方而使用被动语态,或由于修饰的需要,使用被动语态,使句子得以更好的安排。例如:
(1)The construction of the new lab must be completed by the end of next month.
(2)Electricity is used to run machines.
三、主动语态和被动语态的转换
主动语态变为被动语态时,应注意三个方面:
1.把主动语态的宾语改为被动语态的主语
2.把主动语态的谓语动词改为相应的被动语态的结构
3.把主动语态的主语改为“by+原主语(主格变宾格)”,放在主谓结构之后,在意思明确时by短语可以省略。例如:
(1)We speak English.
(2)English is spoken by us.
四、被动语态需要注意的地方
1.只有及物动词有被动语态,不及物动词没有被动语态。例如:Great changes have taken place in our hometown these years.(have taken place不可表达为have been taken place,因为take place为不及物动词)。
2.含有双宾语的句子由主动语态变为被动语态时有两种情况:
(1)把间接宾语改为被动语态的主语,直接宾语仍留在原位。
(2)把直接宾语改为被动语态的主语,此时,间接宾语前要加介词to或 for。例如:
She gave the boy a book.
The boy was given a book.或The book was given to the boy.
3.短语动词是不可分割的整体,改为被动语态时,要保持其完整性,介词或副词不可漏掉。这样的短语有:look after, listen to, look at, pay attention to, take care of, look forward to, make use of ,etc.例如:
(1)You must take care of your dog.
(2)Your dog must be taken care of.
4. 主动句中在感官动词see, look at, hear, listen to, feel, watch, notice及使役动词make, let, have等动词后应跟不带to的动词不定式,而在被动句中应加上不定式符号to。例如:
(1)I saw Tom enter the room.
(2)Tom was seen to enter the room.
5.宾语为反身代词,相互代词及虚词it时,不用被动,只用主动。例如:
(1)I will do it myself.
(2)The man introduced himself as Mr. Wang
6.有些被动语态结构成了习惯用法。例如:
(1)It is said that… 据说…
(2)It is(was) reported that…据报道…
(3)It is well-known that…众所周知…
五、主动形式表被动意义的情况
1. 有些表示状态特征的系动词、感官动词,如look, sound, feel, smell, taste, prove, appear, sound, turn out 等+形容词/名词的系表结构。如:
The music sounds beautiful. 这音乐听起来很美。
2. 表示主语的某种属性特征的动词。如:read, write, act, sell, wash, clean, wear, open, cook, lock, shut, dry, eat, drink, keep, feel,burn, last, strike, cut等。这类动词一般不单独使用,常有一个修饰语。或与表示行为方式的状语连用,或与情态动词连用。如:
This coat dries easily. 这件大衣很容易干。
The door won't lock. 这扇门锁不上。
3. 表示开始、结束、运动的动词。如begin, finish, start, open, close, stop, end, move。如:
Work began at 7 o'clock this morning. 今天早晨的工作是7点开始的。
4. 少数动词用于进行时,其主动形式表示被动含义。如:print, build, cook, fry, hang, build, make。如:
The books are printing. 这些书正在印刷中。
5. 介词in, on, under ... + 名词构成的介词短语表示被动意义。如:
The house facing the tower is in the possession of Mr Bob. 面对着塔的屋子是Bob的。
6. 当get, become, go 等动词用作系动词,其表语是过去分词时,可以表示被动,此结构比较口语化。如:
The patient got treated once a week. 那位病人一周得到一次治疗。
7. 某些不及物动词或相当于不及物动词的短语动词如break out, go well, take place, occur等。如:
What body changes occur when the sperm whale drives? 抹香鲸潜入水中时,身体会发生什么变化?
8. want, need, require等动词后用V-ing形式可以表示被动意义。如:
The machine needs repairing. 这台机器需要修理了。
9. 形容词worth + V-ing分词时。如:
This book is well worth reading again. 这本书很值得再读一遍。
六、被动语态与系表结构的区别
“be+过去分词”形式在句子中可能是一个被动语态的谓语,也可能是一个系表结构的谓语。对于它们的区别主要从它们表达的意义上看,而不是从形式上看。系表结构中的过去分词是表示主语的特征或状态,而被动结构则是表示主语是动作的承受者。例如:
1.The door is closed at nine every day.(行为,被动结构)
2.The door is closed now.(状态,系表结构)
3.The letter was written yesterday.(行为,被动结构)
4.The letter is written in English.(状态,系表结构)