英语中表示被动意义的最主要的方法是使用被动结构,即"动作承受者+动词被动态",但有时用主动结构也可以表示被动意义.
一、 用不定式的主动结构表示被动意义
1. 不定式作定语,与其所修饰的词之间往往有动宾关系.例如:
I have a lot of work to do.
Give me something to drink.
2. 不定式用在形容词easy, difficult, hard, cheap, expensive, fit, nice, dangerous, comfortable, exciting, funny, light, heavy, important, good, interesting等后作状语.例如:
This text is easy to understand.
They found the question difficult to answer.
3. 不定式to let(出租), to blame(责备)等作表语.例如:
The house is to let.
Who is to blame for it?
4. 在too... to... 结构中.例如:
The problem was too complicated for us to solve.
5. 在there be 句型中.例如:
There is nothing to read.
二、 用动名词的主动结构表示被动意义
1. 在形容词worth之后.例如:
This book is worth reading.
His suggestion is worth considering.
2. 在need, want, require, deserve, bear, stand等动词之后.例如:
This house needs repairing.
The boy deserves whipping.
3. 在介词past,beyond之后.例如:
The old watch is past repairing.
The beauty of the West Lake is really beyond describing.
三、 用动词的主动结构表示被动意义
这类动词通常都是既可作及物动词,也可作不及物动词,当作为不及物动词用于"主语+动词(主动式)"结构中时,往往含有被动意义.
1. 用动词的进行式(主要是现在进行式)表示被动意义,这种句子的主语通常都是指物的,而且可转换为相应的被动结构.例如:
The house is building. = The house is being built.
2. 用动词的主动结构(常用一般现在时)表示被动意义,这类句子的主语(也是指物的居多)通常具有某些内在的特征,能够促使动词所表示的动作得以实现或难以实现.而动词常与well, easily, badly, poorly, nicely等修饰语连用,或与一些表示否定意义的词如not, hardly, scarcely等连用.例如:
This cloth washes well.
Damp wood will not fire.
3. 表示感觉的系动词,如look, sound, feel, taste, smell等可用主动形式表示被动意义.例如:
His conclusion certainly sounded reasonable.
A baby's skin feels smooth.
