動詞的語態
1. 概念與構成
當句子的主語是動作的執行者時，謂語的形式用主動語態；當句子的主語是動作的承受者時，謂語要用被動語態。被動語態由“助動詞be + 過去分詞”構成，時態通過be 表現出來。如下表所示：

　　2. 一些特殊的被動語態
　　1) 短語動詞的被動結構：用于這類被動結構的短語動詞要作為整體看待，即要把它們看作單個及物動詞。例如：
　　The baby is looked after carefully.
　　2) 有些動詞形式上是主動結構，但表示被動的意思：
　　① 具有及物意義的不及物動詞的被動意義：在主語是物的句子中，有些動詞的主動形式可以表示被動意義。常用的這類動詞有sell, read, feel, write, wear, wash, open, clean, cook, keep, cut, fill, blow, measure, lock, run, record, begin, shut等等。例如：
　　The book sells well. 這本書很暢銷。
　　Your composition reads well. 你的作文讀起來很不錯。
　　This pen writes smoothly. 這支鋼筆好用。
　　② 動名詞主動形式表示被動意義：通常是物作want, need, require等動詞的主語時，表示事物客觀上需要……，用動名詞一般式的主動形式作賓語表示被動意義。例如：
　　The classroom wants / needs / requires cleaning. 教室需要打掃。
　　這種用法的動名詞改用不定式一般式的被動形式后也可表示同樣意義。例如：
　　The classroom wants to be cleaned.

　　Exercises:
　　1. Directions: There is a blank and a verb (or verbal phrase) given in the brackets in each of the following sentences. Fill in the blank with the verb or verbal phrase in its proper form.
　　1) The students were writing busily when Miss Brown went to get a book she _____ (leave) in the office.
　　2) It is said that the new building that _____ (build) now will be used for teaching.
　　3) Just a few years ago, tomatoes _____ (believe) to have magical powers, making people who ate them fall in love.
　　4) By the coming end of the term, we _____ (learn) twenty passages.
　　5) “What are you doing now?”
　　“I _____ (prepare) my lessons for the final exam.”
　　6) Needless to say, the second list of words _____ (can, remember) more easily than the first one.
　　7) In the old days, the children _____ (take good care of) by the mother because she did not work outside the house.
　　8) The waiter soon _____ (bring) him a cup of tea but the Englishman shook his head.
　　9) My father went to Shanghai in 1988 and he _____ (work) there ever since.
　　10) John said that the car _____ (make) long before his mother was born.

　　2. Directions: In each of the following sentences there is one underlined part which is incorrectly used. Please put it right in a proper form.
　　1) We usually spent ten minutes doing fast-reading exercises in class.
　　2) We hoped you will provide us with some information needed in our research.
　　3) The medical team has left for the mountainous area next month.
　　4) You will be able to write good papers when you mastered some writing skills.
　　5) He saw at a glance that something unusual is happening in the class.
　　6) it was reported that the boy has seen a UFO flying over the area.
　　7) The old man was made burst into a happy smile by the letter from his daughter.
　　8) She was not at all surprising at the news.
　　9) I don’t know when the football match will be taken place.
　　10) The teacher explained to the students that the movement of the earth around the sun has caused seasons.

　　Answers:
　　1. 1) had left 2) is being built 3) were believed
　　4) will have learned 5) am preparing 6) can be remembered
　　7) were taken good care of 8) brought 9) has been working / has worked
　　10) had been made
　　2. 1) spend 2) would provide 3) is leaving for / will leave for
　　4) have mastered 5) was happening / had happened
　　6) had seen 7) made to burst into 8) surprised
　　9) will take place 10) causes