一般来说，人们写作时只是出于文体或上下文一致的原因，才使用被动语态。及物动词既可能是主动的，又可能是被动的。如果是主语发出的动作，谓语应用主语语态;反之，如果主语是动作施加的对象，谓语则应用被动语态。但事实上，人们更偏爱主动语态，因为它显得突出而直截了当。若谓语采用较弱的被动语态，行为者往往被隐去大名，或显得好像并不重要。然而，当不知道行为者是谁，或者作者想把重点放到动作承受方而不是动作方时，动作本身比采取动作的人更重要，这时就有必要用被动语态了。
WeakPassive:He’llneedtobelookedafter.
StrongActive:He’llneedlookingafter.
WeakPassive:You’regoingtobecoveredfavorablybythepress.
StrongActive:You’regoingtogetfabulouspress.
WeakPassive:DoyourememberwhenNelsonMandelaofSouthAfricawasfreed?
StrongActive:DoyourememberwhenNelsonMandelaofSouthAfricawalkedfree?
WeakPassive:RumorsofabroaderdealbetweenDailmerChryslerandNissanMotorCo.havebeenspreadfarandwide.
StrongActive:RumorsofabroaderdealbetweenDailmerChryslerandNissanMotorCo.havegainedcurrency.
WeakPassive:Hislanguagewastoobadtoberepeated.
StrongActive:Hislanguagewouldn’tbearrepeating.
WeakPassive:Myshoesneedtobemended.
StrongActive:Myshoeswantmending.
WeakPassive:Honeywasgatheredbythebeeasitflittedfromflowertoflower.
StrongActive:Thebee,flittingfromflowertoflower,gatheredhoney.
WeakPassive:Whatawaitshimwhenadoorisopenedbyhimisknownbynoman.Surprisesmaybeharboredineventhemostfamiliarroom.
StrongActive:Nomanknowswhatawaitshimwhenheopensadoor;Eventhemostfamiliarroommayharborsurprises.
WeakPassive:ThegreatchallengeofthisConferenceistogivevoicetowomeneverywherewhoseexperiencesarenotnoticedandwhosewordsarenotheardbytherestoftheworld.
StrongActive:ThegreatchallengeofthisConferenceistogivevoicetowomeneverywherewhoseexperiencesgounnoticedandwhosewordsgounheard.
WeakPassive:Thisprojecthasbeenbenefitedfrommanyoutstandingcontributorswhohaveworkedwithexceptionalcareanddevotion.
StrongActive:Thisprojecthasthebenefitofmanyoutstandingcontributorswhohaveworkedwithexceptionalcareanddevotion.
特殊情况:如果动作的承受方比动作的实施者更为重要，则采用被动语态则更为有力。(目的在于强调行为的承受者或忽略动作的实施者)
GoodPassive:Allthebuildingsweredestroyedduringthebombing
GoodPassive:Iresentbeingspokentosorudely.
GoodPassive:Anypersonwhoattemptstoescapewillbeshot.
GoodPassive:ApplesaregrowninMichigan,soareblueberries.
GoodPassive:Muchhasbeenwrittenandmuchhasbeensaid,butnothinghasbeendone.
GoodPassive:ScottFitzgeraldhadwrittenthathiscontemporariesgrewup"tofindallGodsdead,allwarsfought,allfaithsinmanshaken."
(斜体字部分的被动语气用作形容词，可与"dead"保持平行)
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