主动vs.被动，选择需谨慎
英语中的两种语态
主动语态、被动语态
总是分不清、用不明白？
……
别急，看完这篇文章
相信你能找到答案！
英语中有两种语态：主动语态和被动语态。主动语态表示主语是动作的执行者，被动语态表示主语是动作的承受者。被动语态是不知道动作执行者或强调动作承受者的一种语态，在英语中使用频率很高。相对而言，中文使用被动态的频率要低很多。不过，自2012年以来，中文里突然出现了一种“被+动词”的流行句式，在全国各地引起了巨大的反响，出现了“被代表”“被和谐”等许多新鲜的表达，这种现象在很大程度是受了英文的影响。
当然，英语中被动语态的出现频率高并不意味着我们就一定要大量使用，有很多英语语言学家就极力提倡多用主动语态，在英语新闻写作中甚至要尽量避免使用被动语态。
那么，到底什么时候用主动，什么时候用被动呢？一般而言，如果主语是动作的发出者，谓语动词应用主动语态；如果主语是动作的承受者，谓语动词应用被动语态。另一种判断依据是，如果要突出或强调动作的执行者，应用主动语态；如果动作执行者不明或者想要突出动作的承受者，应用被动语态。下面我们结合例句具体讲解。
例句一
Weak Passive: He’ll need to be looked after.
Strong Active: He’ll need looking after.
【评析】原句中be looked after是被动语态，表达“他需要被照顾”的含义。但在need、want、require、worth等词后面，可以用动名词形式来表达被动意义，因此这里没有必要用被动语态。
例句二
Weak Passive: You’re going to be covered favorably by the press.
Strong Active: You’re going to get fabulous press.
【评析】原句中be covered favorably是被动语态，意为“被正面报道”。但是这样一来主语的能动性就削弱了，改成主动语态后，句子更能表现出you的主导地位，也更简洁。
例句三
Weak Passive: Do you remember when Nelson Mandela of South Africa was freed?
Strong Active: Do you remember when Nelson Mandela of South Africa walked free?
【评析】原句中was freed是被动语态，但句子强调的重点在于Nelson Mandela重获自由。既然是“自由”，当然使用主动语态更能表达出自由的精神。因此，将被动语态was freed改为主动语态walked free可以达到更为有力的表达效果。
例句四
Weak Passive: Rumors of a broader deal between Ford Motor Company and Shanghai Auto Works have been spread far and wide.
Strong Active: Rumors of a broader deal between Ford Motor Company and Shanghai Auto Works have gained currency.
【评析】原句强调的重点在于“流言得到了广泛传播”，至于“被谁传播”并不重要，因此可以用gain currency, 即“开始广泛传播”，来替代be spread far and wide，化被动语态为主动语态，更能表达出一种“流言不胫而走”的效果。
例句五
Weak Passive: His language was too bad to be repeated.
Strong Active: His language wouldn’t bear repeating.
【评析】句子强调的是his language的特点，至于repeat这一动作的执行者是谁并不重要，因此可以改为主动形式。在否定句中，动词bear后面可以加动名词形式，用主动语态来表达被动意义。
例句六
Weak Passive: My shoes need to be mended.
Strong Active: My shoes need mending.
【评析】如前文所说，need之后可以用动名词这一主动形式来表达被动意义，因此没有必要使用被动语态。
例句七
Weak Passive: Honey was gathered by the bee as it flitted from flower to flower.
Strong Active: The bee, flitting from flower to flower, gathered honey.
【评析】原句强调的是动作的执行者bee。在句中bee发出的动作有两个，一是在花丛中飞舞，二是采蜜，两个动作可以统一使用主动语态来表达，若用被动语态则弱化了“蜜蜂”的动作。
例句八
Weak Passive: What awaits him when a door is opened by him is known by no man. Surprises may be harbored in even the most familiar room.
Strong Active: No man knows what awaits him when he opens a door; even the most familiar room may harbor surprises.
【评析】原句中使用了三处被动语态，句子显得比较冗杂，结构不清晰，读起来非常拗口。三处被动语态的动作执行者都是已知的，也不需要强调动作的承受着，因此完全可以使用主动语态来表达。
例句九
Weak Passive: The great challenge of this conference is to give voice to women everywhere whose experiences are not noticed and whose words are not heard by the rest of the world.
Strong Active: The great challenge of this conference is to give voice to women everywhere whose experiences go unnoticed and whose words go unheard by the rest of the world.
【评析】原句的两处被动语态出现在一个由whose引导的定语从句中。从句强调的重点在于“未被注意到”和“未被听到”这两个动作，若使用被动语态则变成了强调“经历、经验”和“话语”，句子的重心发生了改变，也就弱化了表达效果。
例句十
Weak Passive: This project has been benefitted from many outstanding contributors who have worked with exceptional care and devotion.
Strong Active: This project has the benefit of many outstanding contributors who have worked with exceptional care and devotion.
【评析】原句表达的意思是“这个项目从……中受益”，应使用主动语态“has benefitted from …”，也可以使用benefit的名词形式改写成“has the benefit of …”。
看完以上例句，
相信大家对于主动语态和被动语态的使用
已经有了初步的认识和体会。
接下来我们再看看
被动语态运用得当的一些例子。
01
All the buildings were destroyed during the bombing.
【评析】句子强调的是动作的承受者“所有建筑”，因此使用被动语态比较恰当。
I resent being spoken to so rudely.
02
【评析】句中的说话者对事不对人，并没有明确的动作执行者，因此使用被动语态。
03
Any person who attempts to escape will be shot.
【评析】句子旨在强调“任何人”，突出的是动作的承受着，因此应使用被动语态。
Apples are grown in Michigan, so are blueberries.
04
【评析】句子突出的是apples和blueberries，二者都是动作的承受着，因此应用被动语态。
05
Much has been written and much has been said, but nothing has been done.
【评析】这句话中的动作执行者不方便挑明，因此使用被动语态。
中译英实例
例一
王先生的书架需要除除尘。
不合格译文：The book shelfs of Mr. Wang need to be dusted.
【评析】“书架”的复数形式应该是bookshelves。
合格译文：Mr. Wang’s bookshelves need to be dusted.
【评析】此处没有必要使用被动语态，可以考虑把被动语态变为主动语态。
最佳译文： ① Mr. Wang’s bookshelves can use some dusting. ② Mr. Wang’s bookshelves need some dusting.
【评析】用主动语态表达被动含义，句子表达更加自然。
例二
来访的韩国流行歌手所得到的安全保护不亚于总统。
不合格译文：High-level security is offered to the visiting South Korean pop singer. It is about the same as the President.
【评析】句中is offered意思是有人建议要提供安全保护，而原文中安全保护已经落实到行动上了，所以应改为was provided (过去时态)；比较结构the same as前后的两个成分必须保持对应，即应把“歌手的安全保护”(the security provided to the singer)和“总统的安全保护”(the security provided to the President)相比较，不能把It和the President相比较。
合格译文：The security provided to the visiting South Korean pop singer could be compared with that provided to a visiting president.
【评析】因为“provided to …”已经是被动态了，因此第二个被动态could be compared with可转换为主动态，避免句式单一。
最佳译文：The security provided to the visiting Korean pop singer rivaled that of a presidential visit.
【评析】动词rival意为“与……相匹敌”，用来表达“不亚于”这一含义非常贴切，也很简洁。
练习：
主动与被动的转换
The search for the criminal is still being conducted. (提示：将后半句的被动语态转换成主动语态)
The time will come when peace will be realized. (提示：将被动语态换成主动语态)
You are responsible for all the careless mistakes in this report. (提示：改为被动语态以缓和语气)
China is known for its diversity of peoples and lands, which cannot be generalized. (提示：不用被动语态，并把动词转换为名词)
My windshield was hit by a flying stone. (提示：用主动语态描述更直接)
I find substance needs to be added to his speech. (提示：设法将be added to转换为主动语态)
By 1945, more than 1,000 German V-2 rockets had been dropped on the ruined city of London. (提示：改为主动语态，并找一个drop的替换词)
The prisoner claims that he is innocent. He wants people to give back his good name and restore his rights. (提示：设法去掉people，使用被动语态)
参考答案
The search for the criminal is still on.
The time will come when peace will prevail.
The mistakes in this report have to be corrected.
China is a patchwork of peoples and land that defies generalization.
A flying stone hit my windshield.
I find the substance of his speech lacking.
By 1945, more than 1,000 German V-2 rockets rained down on the ruined city of London.
The prisoner claims that he is innocent. He wants his good name cleared and his rights restored.
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