在英语中,句子的被动意义常用动词的被动语态来表达(即be+动词的过去分词)。但是,在我们使用英语的过程中不难发现某些句子结构中的动词形式在表示被动意义时并非局限于常见的由过去分词组成的被动结构。如下例:
Her novels sell well.她的小说销路好。(=Her novels are sold well.)
No sooner had he entered the room than the door closed.他刚一进屋,屋门就关上了。
All substances consist of small particles.所有物质都是由离子组成。
The book is printing.书正在萤(=The book is being printed.)
The movie is worth watching.这部电影值得一看。(=The movie is worthy to be watched.)
I have a few words to say.我有几句话要说。(=I have a few words to be said.)
从以上例句中,我们可以看出英语中表示被动意义的还可以是动词的主动形式(包括某些动词,动词短语,动词进行体,动词的 -ing形式及动词不定式)。
一、动词的主动形式表示被动意义
常见的这类动词有:sell,wear,lock, feel,peel,open,close,change,end,burst,increase,act,read,write,wash,taste,smell,etc.例如:
Nowadays leather shoes won't wear long.如今的皮鞋不耐穿。
The door locks easily.这门容易锁上。
Iron feels very cold in winter.冬天,铁摸起来很冷。
The library opens at 7:30.图书馆7:30开门。
The balloon suddenly burst.气球突然爆炸了。
At that time the prices always increased.那时物价总是上涨。
The food tastes delicious.这吃的尝起来味道很好。
二、动词短语的主动形式表示被动意义
常见的这类动词短语(有的本身就含有被动意义)有:consist of,add up to,divide into/go into,take place,come into being,run out,etc.例如:
Great changes have taken place in China recently.近年来,中国发生了巨大的变化。
All the gasoline has run out.所有的汽油都用完了。
Water consists of Oxygen and Hydrogen.
The class divides into four groups.这个班分成4组。
All the single number adds up to a large number.所有这些单个数加起来就是个大数。
三、动词主动形式的进行体表示被动意义
常见的这类动词(往往不强调这些动词动作的发出者)有:print,bake,bind,cook, owe,etc.例如:
The breakfast is cooking.正在做早饭。
The book is binding.书正在装订。
The bread is baking.正在烤面包。
$100is still owing to me.还欠我$100。
四、动词的-ing形式表示被动意义
常见动词如:need,deserve,require,want, be worth等词后可跟主动语态的动名词表示被动意义,相当于"to be +动词的过去分词。例如:
The classroom needs cleaning.教室需要打扫。(=The classroom needs to be cleaned.) The murderer deserves hanging.杀人犯该绞死。(=The murderer deserves to be hanged.)
His words require investigating.他的话需要调查核实。(=His words require to be in- vestigated.)
The method is worth trying.这个办法值得一试。(=The method is worthy to be tried.)
五、动词不定式的主动形式表示被动意义
1.在"subj.+link V.+to V.结构中,句子主语是不定式动词动作的承受者。例如:
The theory of relativity is hard to explain.(=The theory of relativity is hard to be explained.)
English is difficult to learn.(=English is difficult to be learned.)
A lot remains to do.(=A lot remains to be done.)
You are to blame for this.(=You are to be blamed for this.)
注:并非所有的动词不定式都可以这样用。在there be结构中,主动语态与被动语态表达不同的两种含义。例如:
There was nothing to see.没什么值得看的。
There was nothing to be seen.什么也没看见。
2.在"subj.+have /has +obj.+to V.结构中,宾语是动作的承受者。例如:
I have some words to say.我有几句话要说。
We have many problems to solve.我们有许多问题要解决。
I have a lot of things to do in the evening.我今晚有许多事要做。
3.在"subj.+V.+Oi+Od+toV.结构中,直接宾语(Od)是动作的承受者。例如:
She offered me a novel to read.她给我一本小说读。
The director assigned us an essay to write.导师给我们布置了一篇文章写。
4.在"subj.+V.+obj.+comple.+toV.结构中,宾语是动作的承受者。例如:
He found the job difficult to finish.他发现工作很难完成。
We all consider the teacher easy to get along with.我们都认为这个老师很好相处。
They made the situation hard to control.他们使得形势很难控制。