在主动语态中,主谓泾渭分明,看起来一目了然,也是常见的思维表达方式,但是现实往往并不总是这样的,有的时候我们可能想把作用对象放在第一位,或者我们不想说是谁做了什么,此时就要考虑用被动语态了。其实被动语态存在有很多合理的原因和意义,而且有的时候只有被动语态才更符合具体的环境。
一、当要强调或突出动作的承受者,也即要改变句子的焦点时用被动语态主动语态:Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.解析:该句的动作执行者 Leonardo Da Vinci 是焦点,也就是比起这幅画,我们对作者达芬奇更感兴趣。被动语态:The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.解析:该句的动作承受者 Mona Lisa 是焦点 ,也就是比起这幅画的作者达芬奇,我们对画更感兴趣。主动语态:Suzy asked Darlene to take on a new role on the committee.被动语态:Darlene was asked to take on a new role on the committee.
达琳被要求在委员会中担任新的职务。
洪水造成24人死亡。
主动语态:The flood killed 24 people.
被动语态:24 people were killed by the flood.
二、当动作的执行者未知或不重要、或者动作的执行者很明显或指”一般“的人且没必要指出是谁时用被动语态解析:该句动作执行者很明显是警察,因为只有警察才有权逮捕人。解析:该句动作执行者是未知的,不一定是小偷,也可能是其他人借用了。The road is being repaired.The form can be obtained from the post office.My rent has been increased at an exponential rate.解析:房租的增加可以是一个单独的房东,也可以是一个租赁公司,一个拥有多处房产的企业集团,或者是其他人或实体。这些信息是未知的,所以使用被动语态是合适的。I'm carrying this box of my stuff because I have been let go.解析:是谁解雇我已经无关紧要了,说明动作的执行者无关紧要。
三、用被动语态使人不用人称代词或特定人员的名字作为句子的主语来写作,特别是在一些正式的科技或学术论文等写作中,也即涉及到一些与个人无关的事
It has been decided to cancel next week's meeting.I regret to inform you that your application has been rejected.Twenty volunteers were asked to participate in the study.The entrance exam was failed by over one-third of the applicants to the school.
I was surprised by how well the students did in the test.解析:正常的语序是 how well the students did in the test surprised me.
五、当动作执行者在前面已经提及时,使用被动语态有助于保持你的写作简洁,避免多次重复执行者而造成冗余Mrs. Haynes is my English teacher. Character analysis will be discussed in our next class.
海恩斯太太是我的英语老师。下节课她将讨论性格分析。
六、用被动语态描述一些过程
The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered into the computer.Then the pig is disembowelled and cut into two.
After they had been picked, the grapes were crushed with bare feet.
摘完葡萄后,光着脚把葡萄压碎了。
词或词组辨析:
1. exponential [ˌekspəˈnenʃl] 意为”指数的,幂的;越来越快的“
2. disembowel [ˌdɪsɪmˈbaʊəl] 意为”取出…的内脏“