被动语态是英语中一种重要的句式结构,它通过强调动作的承受者而非执行者,使表达更客观、简洁或符合特定语境,巧妙运用被动语态能让句子更具表现力,以下是具体的使用方法和技巧。

被动语态的基本结构是“be + 过去分词”,其核心在于突出动作的接受者。“The window was broken by Tom”中,窗户(动作承受者)成为句子主语,而Tom(动作执行者)可通过“by”短语补充或省略,这种结构在需要弱化执行者责任、强调结果或保持句子连贯性时尤为实用。
在学术写作和正式文体中,被动语态能增强客观性。“The experiment was conducted under strict conditions”比“We conducted the experiment...”更侧重实验过程而非研究者本身,符合科学论述的严谨性,新闻报道也常用被动语态传递事实,如“Three people were injured in the accident”,避免聚焦责任方,让读者关注事件本身。
当动作执行者未知或不重要时,被动语态能简化句子。“My bike was stolen”中,无需强调小偷是谁,直接突出损失的结果,类似地,“The book has been translated into ten languages”省略了翻译者,重点在书的广泛影响力,这种用法在描述普遍现象或客观事实时更高效,避免冗余信息。
被动语态还能增强句子的连贯性,尤其当段落中多次提及同一动作承受者时。“The data was collected, analyzed, and finally presented in the report”,若使用主动语态(“We collected the data, we analyzed the data, we presented the data...”),会显得重复累赘,被动结构通过保持主语一致,使行文更流畅。

在避免指责或委婉表达时,被动语态能起到缓冲作用。“Mistakes were made in the process”比“You made mistakes”更委婉,减少对立情绪,商务沟通中,“The deadline was missed”比“Missed the deadline”更正式,既指出问题又不失礼貌。
使用被动语态时需注意避免过度使用,否则可能导致句子生硬、缺乏活力。“The meeting was attended by many people”不如“Many people attended the meeting”直接自然,判断是否使用被动语态的关键在于:是否需要强调承受者、弱化执行者或提升客观性。
以下是被动语态与主动语态的对比示例,帮助理解不同场景下的选择:
场景 | 主动语态 | 被动语态 | 效果对比 |
---|---|---|---|
学术论文 | We conducted the experiment. | The experiment was conducted. | 被动语态更客观,突出研究内容 |
执行者未知 | Someone stole my wallet. | My wallet was stolen. | 被动语态更简洁,无需猜测执行者 |
连续描述同一对象 | The team wrote the report, and the team submitted it. | The report was written and submitted. | 被动语态避免重复,增强连贯性 |
委婉表达失误 | You forgot to lock the door. | The door was left unlocked. | 被动语态减少指责,语气更缓和 |
被动语态常用于固定搭配中,如“it is said that...”(据说)、“it is believed that...”(人们认为),这些结构能自然引出信息,无需明确来源。

掌握被动语态的关键在于灵活运用,根据表达需求选择主语视角,在强调结果、保持客观或弱化执行者时优先使用,在需要生动直接的场景下则回归主动语态,通过多读多练,逐渐培养对语境的敏感度,才能让被动语态成为写作中的得力工具。
FAQs
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被动语态是否比主动语态更正式?
不一定,被动语态常用于正式文体(如学术论文、官方文件)以增强客观性,但主动语态在口语和非正式写作中更自然,是否正式取决于整体语境,而非单一语态的使用。 -
如何判断何时该用被动语态?
可参考三个标准:是否需要强调动作承受者(如“The victim was helped”);执行者是否未知或不重要(如“The letter was posted”);是否需要保持句子连贯性(如避免重复主语),若符合任一标准,被动语态是合适的选择。