被动态用于以下各种情况:
A 动作的施动者很明显,没有必要提到时:
The rubbish hasnt been collected.
垃圾没有清走。
The streets are swept every day.
马路每天都清扫。
Your hand will be X-rayed.
你的手要照X片。
B 不知道、不确切知道或忘记了谁是施动者时:
The minister was murdered.
部长被谋杀了。
My car has been moved!
我的汽车被挪动过了!
Youll be met at the station.
有人会到车站去接你。
Ive been told that
有人告诉我说
C 主动动词的主语是人们时:
He is suspected of receiving stolen goods.
他被怀疑接受了赃物。(人们怀疑他)
They are supposed to be living in New York.
据猜测他们现在住在纽约。(人们猜测他们住在)
D 主动句的主语是不定代词one时,如One sees this sort of ad- vertisement everywhere(这样的广告到处可见),通常可以表示为:
This sort of advertisement is seen everywhere.
这样的广告到处可见。
在很口语化的话语中可用不定代词you(参见第68节)和主动动词:
You see this sort of advertisement everywhere.
你在任何地方都可以见到这种广告。
但较正式的英语要求用one+主动动词或用通常的被动形式。E 对所做的事比对做事的人更感兴趣时:
The house next door has been bought(by a Mr Jones).
隔壁的房子被(一个叫琼斯的先生的人)买下了。
如果认识琼斯先生,就会使用主动态:
Your fathers friend,Mr Jones,has bought the house next door.
你父亲的朋友琼斯先生买下了隔壁的房子。
同样:
A new public library is being built(by our local council).
正在(由我们地方议会)兴建一个新公共图书馆。
然而在不太正式的英语中,可用不定代词they和主动动词:
They are building a new public library.
他们正在修建一个新的公共图书馆。
而地方议会成员当然也可以说:
We are/The council is building
我们/地方议会正在修建
F 使用被动语态可避免说出别扭或不合语法的句子时。这样做通常可避免改换主语:
When he arrived home a detective arrested him.
他回到家时,一名侦探逮捕了他。
最好表示为:
When he arrived home he was arrested(by a detective).
他回到家就被(一名侦探)逮捕了。
When their mother was ill neighbours looked after the children.
孩子们的母亲生病时,邻居们照顾他们。
最好表示为:
When their mother was ill the children were looked after by neighbours.
孩子们的母亲生病时,他们由邻居们照顾。
G 有时为了心理学上的原因而选择使用被动态动词。说话人可能用这个办法来表示他对自己所宣布的令人不快的事情不负有责任:
Employer:Overtime rates are being reduced/will have to be reduced.
雇主:加班工资将调低/将必须调低。
如果宣布令人高兴的事项,则当然会使用主动态动词:
I/We are going to increase overtime rates.
我/我们将调高加班工资。
有时说话人可能知道动作是谁做的,但不希望提到他的名字。如汤姆怀疑比尔私拆他的信件,他可能会策略地说This letter has been opened(这封信有人拆过了)而不说Youve opened this letter(你把我的信拆开了)。
H 关于have+宾语+过去分词结构的用法,如I had the car resprayed(我找人把汽车重新喷了漆).
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