英語有的詞和漢語有這種關(guān)系,看起來是被動(dòng),表示主動(dòng)意義,或看起來是主動(dòng),表示被動(dòng)意義.比如be addicted to 好像是被動(dòng),但意思并不是被動(dòng)的.
在英語表達(dá)中,有時(shí)用主動(dòng)式表達(dá)主動(dòng)含義,即本句主語就是該句謂語動(dòng)詞的施動(dòng)者,例如They won the game yesterday.當(dāng)句子的主語為動(dòng)作的受動(dòng)者是,我們常用被動(dòng)式來表達(dá)句子的含義,例如He was praised by his teacher.然而在英文表達(dá)中常常使用一些特殊主動(dòng)句式和結(jié)構(gòu)來表達(dá)被動(dòng)含義,例如“杰克是個(gè)臭名昭著的罪犯,罪該處決.”“杰克該處決”是被動(dòng)意義,但可以主動(dòng)式翻譯,即Jack is a notorious criminal so he deserves a death penalty.那么,怎樣處理這種情況呢?大致可以分為以下幾種情況：
一．在主語 + be + 形容詞 + to do的句式中,如果形容詞表明主語的性質(zhì)和內(nèi)在特征,一般可以用不定式主動(dòng)語態(tài)表達(dá)被動(dòng)含義,如：This question is easy to answer.
盡管“問題”是被回答,但本句中的形容詞“easy”表明了主語“question”的性質(zhì),所以可以用“to answer”主動(dòng)表被動(dòng)含義.
二．在主語 + be +賓語 + to do的結(jié)構(gòu)中,如果不定式與賓語之間有動(dòng)賓關(guān)系,也可以用主動(dòng)式表達(dá)被動(dòng)含義.
例如：These are some questions to think about.
本句中正是由于“think about”與“questions”之間具備動(dòng)賓關(guān)系,我們要用主動(dòng)“to think about”來表達(dá)被思考的含義.
三．在have ( want need ...) + something + to do 的結(jié)構(gòu)中,如果用作定語的不定式和它前面的修飾的名詞或代詞構(gòu)成邏輯上的動(dòng)賓關(guān)系,有和該句的主語構(gòu)成邏輯上的主謂關(guān)系,這時(shí)不定式可以用主動(dòng)形式表達(dá)被動(dòng)含義,例如：
I have some food to eat.
句中的to eat 既與some food 構(gòu)成動(dòng)賓關(guān)系,又和句子主語構(gòu)成主謂關(guān)系,我們可以用主動(dòng)表被動(dòng),否則在表示被動(dòng)含義時(shí),仍需用不定式的被動(dòng)語態(tài).注意區(qū)分以下兩個(gè)句子的不同含義：
例：① Do you have some clothes to wash?
你是需要去洗衣服嗎?
② Do you have some clothes to be washed?
你有一些衣服讓我?guī)兔ο磫?
在例句中,盡管wash 和clothes 構(gòu)成動(dòng)賓關(guān)系,但不與主語you 構(gòu)成主謂關(guān)系,“你”并不是親自洗,所以布丁式仍然應(yīng)該用被動(dòng)式.
四．在“there be + 主語 + 不定式”的結(jié)構(gòu)中,當(dāng)不定式與主語之間在邏輯上有動(dòng)賓關(guān)系時(shí),不定式可以用主動(dòng)式也可以用被動(dòng)式,只是側(cè)重點(diǎn)不同.用主動(dòng)式作定語重點(diǎn)在人,用被動(dòng)式作定語重點(diǎn)在物,但在口語中多用主動(dòng)式表被動(dòng)的含義.
例如：There is a lot of work to be finished.
有很多工作要（我們）完成
There is a lot of work to be finished
有很多工作要做（不清楚誰完成）
在這里要注意區(qū)分something ( anything ,nothing ) to do 和something ( anything ,nothing ) to be done 之間的不同意義.
There is nothing to do ,I am bored.
無事可做,我感到悶得慌.
There is nothing to be done.We’ll have to buy another one
沒辦法,我們只得另買一個(gè).
五．在一些特殊的句式中,只能使用主動(dòng)式表達(dá)被動(dòng)含義,
例如：The film is well worth seeing.
本句中盡管“電影”是被“看”的,但由于be worth doing 結(jié)構(gòu)本
身就表達(dá)了被做的被動(dòng)含義,所以不存在be worth being done
的被動(dòng)用法.
再如 with + n + to do 的with 復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)中,with some work to
do,he had to stay up.“工作”與“做”之間具備邏輯上的被動(dòng)關(guān)系.但是我們只能選擇主動(dòng)式to do 來表達(dá)被做的被動(dòng)含義.
六．在英語的使用中,有一些詞有不同的含義,不同的含義與詞性使這些詞有不同的用法,例如：taste( feel,smell...)表達(dá)品嘗某物是及物動(dòng)詞有被動(dòng)式,但表達(dá)嘗起來怎樣就只能用主動(dòng)形式,試比較下面例句：
The cake was tasted by them at the party yesterday.
The cake tastes good.
類似的詞匯用法還有prove 等,試比較:
The theory has been proved by the scientist.
The theory proved to be right.
七.有些動(dòng)詞如果表主語固有性質(zhì),可使用主動(dòng)式,但表被動(dòng)含義,例如:
He persuades easily.( persuade = be persuaded )
The film ranks with the best.( rank = be listed 被列為 )
英語中類似這樣的動(dòng)詞用法很多,如 read,look,suffer,wash,clean,sell,cut,blow等,以及一些短語動(dòng)詞,come out ( = to be published ),go through ( = to be sold out ),go up ( = to be brought up ),come up ( = to be put forward )等,但是這些動(dòng)詞如果表示一次具體的被動(dòng)行為仍用被動(dòng)式.
He was persuaded easily yesterday.
The film was ranked with the best in the film Festival.
八.在英語使用中,有一些詞匯和短語由于受本身不及物性限制只能使用主動(dòng)形式,例如:happen,take place,come about,break out等,例:
Great changes have taken place in the city.
The war broke out in 1864.
九.副詞除了可以表示動(dòng)詞的意義外,還有被動(dòng)含義,這些副詞多源于介詞.
The meeting is off.( off = cancelled )
The film will be on tonight.( on = continue )對，是被動(dòng)形式，主動(dòng)含義