高级英语语法2

第八章 VP： 被动语态Passive Voice

人们普遍认为英 语主动态和被动态是深层结构相同的转换关系。于是，以下
两例都接受图(15)的描写：

The butler murdered the detective.
The detective was murdered by the butler.

S
NP VP
Det Head V NP
Det Head
Diagram (23)

既然是转换关系，按全局思路本章应出现在动态描写的句法部分 。由于这一
语言实体一直作为动词语法范畴而为人们熟悉，我们还是沿袭传统的做法。
图(16)指示被动语态的结构知识：

S
NP VP

(Aux) V

Voice
Active Passive------------------------------------

Form Occasion
Be-type Get-type
End-focus End weight
Syntactic By phrase
Semantic
Stylistic






Diagram
(24)

8.1
被动态的实现形态
英语被动态可理解为两型：Be型和Get型：

Tom was beaten.
Tom got beaten.
两型的句法、语义、文体均有各自特征。
8.1.1
句法
综述中已经指出，get 是半助动词，因此句法上Get型与Be型差别明显，
从疑问和否定可以看出get的助动功能不齐备：
He was punished.
He got punished.
Was he punished?
He was not punished.
Did he get punished?
He didn’t get punished.
*Got he punished?
*He got not punished
Get型的被动态中不出现by短语。比较：
The holiday was spoiled by the storm.
*The holiday got spoiled by the storm.
8.1.2
语义
两型的语义不相同。Get型倾向强调结果而常有这样的语义状语相随；Be
型无此倾向：
Finally he got elected.
Tom got beaten at last.
I got completely confused in the end.
This story eventually got translated into English.
没有上述状语的情况下“结果”语义也是明显的：
Mary and John got married yesterday.
They all got lost in the forest.
Did you get hurt in the leg?
8.1.3
文体
Be型对文体不敏感，中性 ；Get型除语义要求外在正式场合不多见，以下各
例更容易发生在口语中：
The house is getting rebuilt.
Such criticisms will get treated with the contempt they deserve.
I wouldn?t take the slightest risk of getting trapped inside.
8.1.4
时态、体、其它助动词产生Be型被动态的丰富形态变化如下：
This type of computer is made in Taiwan.
He was taught a lesson on the subjunctive.
We have been told about the matter.
They had been warned three times before the accident.
The bridge is being built.

The boy was being beaten when we got there.
Two girls have been being questioned.
The machine had been being repaired all the time.
The expected result will eventually be arrived at.
He is going to be taught a lesson.
This matter will be being dealt with this time tomorrow morning.
He must have been being tortured by the news

8.2
被动态的语境
8.2.1a
正常情形下，句子的末位是最重要的 语言信息位置所在，对此人们已有共识，
语言学的概念为“末位焦点”。试观察以下两组例句：
Tom gave Mary a ring.
Tom gave a ring to Mary.
John is familiar with French.
French is familiar to John.
表面上看，这儿发生了简单的句式转换但其实不然。不难想象它们回应的最
自然提问分别是：
What did Tom give Mary?
Who did Tom give a ring to?
What language is John familiar with?
Who is familiar with French?
因为对这些提问的最简单和准确回答分别是句中的末位黑体信息单位：
A ring.
Mary.
French.
John.
8.2.1b
被动语态也是句式转换，转换的目的也是信息单位的调节，试比较：

Chairman Mao wrote On Practice.
On Practice was written by Chairman Mao.
两句句末的黑体部分应是新信息即“末位焦点”所在。传统语法告诉人们：
被动态中的by- 短语即主动态句的主语，在被动句中，by-短语可有或无。事实不
是这样：
On Practice was written by Chairman Mao.
* On Practice was written.
The computer is made by a Taiwan company.
* The computer is made.
以下却又是信息意义明确的句例：
On Practice was written in 1942.
On Practice was written in Yanan.
The computer is made in Taiwan.
The computer is made by a Chinese company.

8.2.1c 因此有理由以为：被动语态是积极的对句子结构重组以实现信息调节的语言
行为，而“末位焦点”则 深刻把握了这一语言行为的目的和意义：
Why did you have to take a detour?
The road was being repaired.
What?s your idea about the environment?
The environment should be improved.
How is the case?
The case has recently been tried.
What do you think we?ll do to such people?
Such people are to be punished.
消除赘言的目的也能随之实现：
People speak English everywhere.
English is spoken everywhere.
In your talk you needn’t mentioned it.
In your talk it needn’t be mentioned.

8.2.2
如果说“ 末位焦点”是从信息意义上把握语态转换，“末端重量”则是美学
考虑。“末端重量”指的是避免前重后 轻、虎头蛇尾的最基本美学原则，美术作
品、音乐作品莫不如此，语言亦不例外。
英语许多句式的转换都在实践这一原则：
To realize that they are ready to answer the two questions is not difficult.
It is not difficult to realize that they are ready to answer the two questions.
Reading English aloud early every morning in such a quiet place as the
river side is a good habit.
It is a good habit to read English aloud early every morning in such a quiet
place as the river side.
The time when every one of us will be as free as a happy bird and do what
we like to will come.
The time will come when every one of us will be as free as a happy bird
and do what we like to.
An old fish man and his wife together with a dog and a cat were living in a
lonely hut near the river.
In a lonely hut near the river were living an old man and his wife with a
dog and a cat.
“末端重量”同样也作用于被动态的句式转换：
The consideration that he would give in and therefore spoil the matter if
things might go wrong also supported the idea.
The idea was also supported by the consideration that he would give in and
therefore spoilt the matter if things might go wrong.
On my way home an old guy who happened to be once your classmate too
met me.
On my way home I was met by an old guy who happened to be once you

classmate too.

8.2.3
影响被动态实现的其它因素
8.2.3a
被动态只能在NP+V+NP, NP+VP+NP+NP, NP+VP+NP+(C) 和
NP+V+NP+(A)句型结构中完成转换：:
Tom owned a large house.
A large house was owned by Tom.
He told us a story.
We were told a story.
A story was told by him to us.
We found her happy.
She was found happy.
She was treating the boy like a mother.
The boy was being treated by her like a mother.
Tom took great care of his stamps.
His stamps were taken great care of.
Great care was taken of his stamps.
8.2.3b
大多数静态动词不接受被动语态转换：
Tom had a large house.
*A large house was had by Tom.
The bottle contains some water.
*Some water is contained by the bottle.
Jane resembled her father.
*Her father is resembled by Jane.
This book costs 20 Yuan.
*20 Yuan is cost.
8.2.3c
反身代词和相互代词不可为被动态句的主语：
She watched herself in the mirror.
*Herself was watched in the mirror.
They could not see each other in the fog.
*Each other could not be seen in the fog.
8.2.3d
以下各例非NP+VP+NP句型，无被动态转换可言：
You have borne bravely in the battle.
The house has changed hands recently.
When will the football match take place?
The medicine won?t take effect.

8.2.4
除了by之外，被动态中介词with 也常见。By表示“施动”，with表示“工

具”“方式”或“原因”：
This article must have been written by Bill, not by John.
They were driven indoors by the sudden rain.
This pencil was evidently not sharpened with a knife.
He was killed with a sword.
Tom?s trousers were soiled with mud.
Is your land fenced with barbed wire?
The house was filled with smoke.
比较：
The man was seized by the policeman.
The man was seized with a fever.
The little mouse was covered by a lid.
The little mouse was covered with a lid.

8.3
英语主动态表达被动意义的情形
8.3.1
主动态表达被动意义有三种情形。第一 种情形的特点是：及物动词，进行体，
有被动态的转换可能：
The house is building.
The house is being built.
The book is printing.
The book is being printed.
The dinner is cooking.
The dinner is being cooked.
The magazine is binding.
The magazine is being bound.
The cakes are baking.
The cake is being baked.
Some measures are taking.
Some measures are being taken.
The cows are milking.
The cows are being milked.
A grand ceremony is preparing.
A grand ceremony is being prepared.
8.3.2
第二种情形的特点为：及物动词，简单动词词组，有被动态的转换可能但主
动态和被动态的意义 有很大出入：
She does not photograph well. (though she is pretty enough)
She was not photographed well. (that?s the fault of the photographer)
Tomatoes bruise easily. (be careful with them, please)
The tomatoes were bruised. (they are not what I want to buy)
My voice doesn't carry far. (so would you please keep quiet)
My voice was not carried far. (the wind was against me)

This box doesn't close properly. (there must be something wrong with its
quality)
This box was not closed properly. (re-close it if you can)
这种情形的另一特点是：动词有副词修饰语对主语质量、质地描写：
This metal cuts easily.
Nylon dries quickly.
This cloth washes well.
His novels don't sell well.
She does not photograph well.
This paper tears easily.
The cow milks well.
The books pack easily.
Some kinds of wood split easily.
This poem reads well.
8.3.3
第三种情形仍为及物动词，宾语为-ing 分句，大都有被动语态的转换且意
义不变：
Your face wants washing.
Your face wants to be washed.
Your suggestion deserves considering.
Your suggestion deserves to be considered.
The children need looking after.
The children need to be looked after.
My coat requires mending.
My coat requires to be mended.
That case can?t bear thinking of.
I can?t stand treating like this.


Exercises:
1. Are the following sentences those in which we find passivization（以下是被动语
态的句子吗）?
He is easily excited.
I?m annoyed with him.
I was interested in chess.
I was surprised by a knock at the door.
2. Put the following sentences into two passive forms（改写下面各句为被动语态
的情形）:
People believe that he is ill.
They had made a mess of the house.
3. Is the passive more often found in literary works or in popular science
readings（被动语态多见于文学作品还是科技读物）? Why（为什么）?
4. Try to tell the difference between the following pairs（说明各组例句中二句的
不同意义）:

(1) There is nothing to do.
There is nothing to be done.
(2) I have nothing to eat.
I have nothing to be eaten.
(3) He had nothing to talk about.
He had nothing to be talked about.
(4) He got tire.
He was tired
5. Put the proper forms of the verbs in the parentheses in the blanks（填入所给动
词的正确形态）:
(1) All these data seem to ______ (accurately measure) by Babylonian
astronomers as early as 1,800 BC. They ______ (use) to establish a calendar based on
a lunar month consisting sometimes of twenty- nine and sometimes of thirty days.
Prediction of these intervals ______ (require) a remarkable knowledge of the apparent
movements of the Sun and the Moon. The Egyptians, whose life ______ (link) to the
flooding of the Nile, ______ (opt) for an annual calendar with a year of exactly 365
days. This ______ (put) the calendar year out of phrase with the solar years, and
therefore with the agricultural (seasonal) year, by one day every four years. Thus the
civil (calendar) year only ______ (coincide) with the solar year once every 1,460
years!
(2) There are many applications of holography. In industry a hologram ______
(can make) of a perfect model of an item that is to (manufacture), such as a ship?s
propeller. When production gets under way, a hologram of each newly manufactured
propeller ______ (superimpose) on a hologram of the defect-free model. Defects
______ (show up) as variations from the perfect model because they ______ (produce)
an interference pattern. This of finding flaws ______ (call) holographic
interferometry.
(3) But the oldest light of all ______ (be not) even light we ______ (think) of it.
It ______ (be) a very faint radio hiss that ______ (come) from every direction, all at
once. This “light” ______ (be) the fading fireball of the Big Bang, the cooling fire of
creation, and it ______ (pose) a problem for cosmologists because it ______ (be) very,
very smooth. No matter where they aim their instruments, the hiss ______ (sound)
exactly the same. The smoothness of the hiss ______ (show) that the Big Bang was
the tidiest, most well-mannered explosion that ever was – and yet soon after the Bang,
galaxies ______ (appear). Where did they come from? Gravity could build a galaxy
quickly, but it ______ (have) to have a seed to start with. The seed ______ (can be)
either a slightly denser clump of matter or a wrinkle in the explosion. Cosmologists
______ (argue) over the observations, which ______ (seem) to show that the early
Big Bang ______ (have) neither, and they ______ (construct) elaborate theories in
which galaxies ______ (spring) forth instead out of such arcane as cold dark matter,
false vacuums, or quantum tunneling.
(4) In topology the problem is to find the geometric properties invariant under
distorting transformations. If a triangle ______ (stretch) into a circle, which of its
geometric properties ______ (retain)? Is the hole ?inside? or ?outside? the doughnut?

How can the hole ______ (remove)? What is a knot? Can a surface ______ (construct)
which has only one side? Can a cylinder with a hole through it ______ (squeeze) into
a sphere? Is it possible to make a bottle with no edges, no inside and no outside?