在主动句中，主语是动作的执行者：Maria wrote the letter.（Maria 写了这封信。）在被动句中，主语是动作的承受者：The letter was written by Maria.（这封信是由 Maria 写的。）承受动作的人或物成为句子的主角。
被动语态在日常生活中非常实用——当你不知道是谁做了某件事、当这并不重要，或者当结果比施动者更值得关注时。
核心句型： 主语 + am / is / are（现在时）或 was / were（过去时）+ 过去分词 → English is spoken here. The window was broken.
被动语态只适用于及物动词——即主动句中带有宾语的动词（speak English、break the window、check the locks）。不及物动词如 arrive、happen、sleep 没有宾语，因此没有被动形式。
为什么使用被动语态？
使用被动语态通常有以下三个原因：
- 施动者不明： My phone was stolen last night.（不知道是谁拿走的）
- 施动者显而易见或无关紧要： She was born in 1998. English is taught in schools worldwide.
- 结果比施动者更重要： The bridge is inspected every year. This song was recorded in one take.
在正式文体中——新闻报道、学术文章、操作说明——被动语态尤其常见，因为重点在于发生了什么，而不是谁做了这件事。
一般现在时被动语态
Am / is / are + 过去分词
现在时被动语态用于描述常规状态、日常行为和客观事实——与主动语态的一般现在时情境相同，但焦点落在承受动作的事物上。
| 主动语态 | 被动语态 |
|---|---|
| Farmers grow coffee in Brazil. | Coffee is grown in Brazil. |
| Someone checks the locks every night. | The locks are checked every night. |
| The team uses this software. | This software is used by the team. |
am / is / are 的选择取决于被动句的主语：
| 主语 | 助动词 | 过去分词 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | invited | I am invited to the party. |
| he / she / it | is | checked | It is checked daily. |
| we / you / they | are | made | These shoes are made in Italy. |
一般过去时被动语态
Was / were + 过去分词
过去时被动语态描述过去已完成的动作，重点是主语经历了什么。
| 主动语态 | 被动语态 |
|---|---|
| Someone built this bridge in 1920. | This bridge was built in 1920. |
| They cancelled the concert. | The concert was cancelled. |
| Workers made the first cars by hand. | The first cars were made by hand. |
Was 用于 I、he、she、it；were 用于 we、you、they——与 Past simple: was / were 的规律相同。
| 主语 | 助动词 | 过去分词 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / he / she / it | was | built | It was built in 1920. |
| we / you / they | were | cancelled | The concerts were cancelled. |
过去分词
过去分词是动词的第三种形式——与现在完成时中 have 后面所接的形式相同。
规则动词通过加 -ed 构成过去分词，拼写规则与一般过去时完全相同（短元音后双写末尾辅音：stop → stopped；去掉不发音的 -e：close → closed）。完整规则详见 Past simple: regular verbs。
| 动词原形 | 一般过去时 | 过去分词 |
|---|---|---|
| invite | invited | invited |
| close | closed | closed |
| paint | painted | painted |
不规则动词有独立的过去分词形式（动词变化表的第三列）。有些与一般过去时相同，有些则不同：
| 动词原形 | 一般过去时 | 过去分词 |
|---|---|---|
| break | broke | broken |
| write | wrote | written |
| make | made | made |
| know | knew | known |
| steal | stole | stolen |
常见不规则动词完整列表请参阅 Past simple: irregular verbs。
引出施动者（by + ……）
如果需要说明是谁执行了动作，在句末加上 by + 施动者：
- The report was written by the director.
- This painting is admired by millions of visitors.
- The decision was made by the committee.
by 短语是可选的——只有当施动者值得提及时才使用。施动者不明或不重要时，直接省略即可。
否定句
Not 放在 am / is / are / was / were 之后：
| 时态 | 句型 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 现在时 | am / is / are + not + 过去分词 | It is not used any more. / It isn't used. |
| 过去时 | was / were + not + 过去分词 | The window wasn't broken. / They were not invited. |
常用缩写形式：isn't、aren't、wasn't、weren't。注意：am not 在陈述句中没有标准缩写——✅ I am not invited 或 I'm not invited，但 ❌ I amn't invited。
汉语可以用"被"字句表达被动，也常说"窗户破了"这类没有明显被动标记的句子。英语被动语态则必须有 be 动词（am/is/are/was/were）+ 过去分词，不能省略。例如，不能只写 The window broken——必须写 The window was broken，缺少 was/were/is/are 句子就不完整。
疑问句
疑问句中，am / is / are / was / were 移到主语之前：
| 时态 | 句型 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 现在时 | Am / Is / Are + 主语 + 过去分词? | Is this product sold online? Am I included? |
| 过去时 | Was / Were + 主语 + 过去分词? | Was the parcel delivered? |
简短回答与助动词保持一致：Yes, it is / No, it isn't；Yes, it was / No, it wasn't。
特殊疑问句中，疑问词放在句首：
- Where is this coffee grown?
- When was the palace built?
- Who was the symphony composed by?（正式场合：By whom was it composed?）
常见错误
- ❌ The window was break. → ✅ The window was broken. （用过去分词，不用动词原形或过去式）
- ❌ Coffee is grew in Brazil. → ✅ Coffee is grown in Brazil. （不规则过去分词：grow → grown）
- ❌ The letters was delivered. → ✅ The letters were delivered. （letters 是复数 → were）
- ❌ The form signed by the manager. → ✅ The form was signed by the manager. （被动语态必须有助动词 was/were）
- ❌ The film was directed very well by. → ✅ The film was directed very well. （by 后面没有施动者时不能单独使用）
- ❌ They were inviting to the party. → ✅ They were invited to the party. （被动语态用过去分词，不用 -ing 形式）
练一练
主动还是被动？填写正确的动词形式。
- This museum ____ (open) in 1887.（past passive）
- Thousands of people ____ (visit) this museum every year.（present active）
- The original paintings ____ (restore) last year.（past passive）
- By whom ____ the Mona Lisa ____ (paint)?（past passive question）
显示答案
- This museum was opened in 1887.
- Thousands of people visit this museum every year.
- The original paintings were restored last year.
- By whom was the Mona Lisa painted?（或更自然的说法：Who was the Mona Lisa painted by?）
要点总结
- 被动语态将焦点从施动者转移到动作或结果：The letter was written 强调的是信，而不是写信的人。
- 一般现在时被动： 主语 + am / is / are + 过去分词 → It is made here.
- 一般过去时被动： 主语 + was / were + 过去分词 → It was built in 1920.
- 规则动词的过去分词与过去式相同（closed、painted）。不规则动词有独立的第三种形式（broken、written、made）。
- Was 用于 I / he / she / it；were 用于 we / you / they。
- by + 施动者 仅在施动者值得提及时使用；否则省略。
- 否定：isn't used、wasn't built、weren't invited。
- 疑问：助动词移到主语前 → Was it built here? Is it used often?