被动语态与系表结构
2016-03-28杨进山
□杨进山
被动语态与系表结构
□杨进山
同学们都知道,“be+过去分词”这一结构既可能是被动语态,也可能是系表结构,尽管二者形式相同,但意义却不一样。被动语态是就动作而言的,强调动作。但有时be后面的过去分词转化为形容词时,在句中作表语,构成系表结构,表示主语的特点或所处的某种状态。那么大家该如何辨别它们呢?
【依据一】根据句中有无by引导的短语来确定
英语中的被动语态表示句子的主语是动作的承受者,动作的执行者一般由介词by引导的短语来表示。因此,当句中含有“be+过去分词+by短语”结构时,通常作为被动语态看待;而系表结构中的过去分词则说明主语的特征或状态。试比较:
The door was closed by my brother.门被我弟弟关上了。(被动语态)
The door was closed.门关着。(系表结构)
【依据二】根据句子的时态来确定
一般地,被动语态可以有多种时态以表示动作发生的不同时间,可用于一般时,将来时,进行时和完成时等8种时态。如:
It’s said that the long bridge will be built up in two months.据说那座长桥将在两个月后建成。
而系表结构通常只用于一般现在时、一般将来时或一般过去时,说明主语现在、将来或过去某时刻所处的状态。如:
I’m not quite used to the weather here yet.我还不太习惯这里的天气。
再比较:
New products are being made.新产品正在制造中。(现在进行时的被动语态)
The book has already been translated into many languages.这本书已被翻译成多种语言。(现在完成时的被动语态)
The meeting will be put off.会议将延期。(一般将来时的被动语态)
John and a singer were married.约翰和一位歌唱家结婚了。(一般过去时的系表结构)
I am interested in that story book.我对那本故事书感兴趣。(一般现在时的系表结构)
【依据三】根据句子的状语来确定
若“be+过去分词”结构是一般现在时或一般过去时,我们可以根据句子的状语来区别是被动语态还是系表结构。
1.“be+过去分词”结构是一般现在时,且句子中有usually,always,often等表示频度的副词说明动作反复发生,则为被动语态。如:
He’s often asked to come here.他经常被请到这儿来。
All questions were always answered in English by Mary.玛丽一直用英语回答所有的问题。
2.当“be+过去分词”结构是一般过去时,且句中有表示时间、地点、方式的状语,多为被动语态。如:
The factory was built in 1980’s.这家工厂是20世纪80年代建的。
【依据四】根据词语的搭配来确定
有些由动词转化而成的过去分词在运用中实际上已变成了形容词,在句中用作表语,且后面往往还有固定的介词搭配或构成固定的动词短语形式。如:
Anna’s father is worried about her lessons.安娜的父亲担心她的课程。(系表结构)
英语中类似的结构还有:be supposed to do sth.表示“应该做某事”,be filled with...表示“用……装满……”,be interested in...表示“对……感兴趣”,be surprised to∕at...表示“……使惊奇∕使惊讶”,be known as∕to表示“为……所知”等。
【依据五】根据句中的谓语动词来确定
被动语态中的过去分词必须是由及物动词或用作及物动词的短语动词构成;而系表结构中的由过去分词演变成的形容词可以由不及物动词构成的,如:gone,retired,covered,broken,married等。如:
The small boy was taken to the hospital by him.小男孩被他送到了医院。(被动语态)
When I came back,I found my book was gone.当我返回时,我发现我的书不见了。
His house was fallen down because of the earthquake.由于地震,他的房子倒塌了。
【检测练习】
一、判断下列句子是“被动语态”还是“系表结构”。
1.The window was broken.
2.The book is written in English.
3.English is the most widely spoken language in the world.
4.All of the students are supposed to hand in their homework on time.
5.Mary was married to a driver last Saturday.
6.The new teacher was given a warm welcome by the students.
7.The beautiful days are gone.
8.An old machine is being mended by the workers.
二、用所给动词的适当形式填空。
9.It is(know)to all that Guilin is famous for its beautiful scenery.
10.The bowl was(fill)with hot water.
11.they(see)to get off the bus by their teacher yesterday?
12.The PRC(found)on October 1,1949.
13.The supermarketusually(open)at seven o’clock.
14.—Did you go to Sam’s weekend party?—No,I(not invite).
15.She(not use)to staying up late.
16.Some of my classmates are(interest)in Bill Gates.
参考答案:
一、1.系表结构2.被动语态3.被动语态4.系表结构5.系表结构6.被动语态7.系表结构8.被动语态
二、9.known10.filled11.Were,seen12.was founded13.is, opened14.wasn’t invited15.isn’t used16.interested