In the active voice, the subject does the action and the focus is on the doer. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action and the focus is on the result, the receiver, or the action itself. Passive voice is useful when the doer is unknown, unimportant, obvious, or intentionally not mentioned. Many passive sentences can include the doer with a by phrase, but they do not have to.

The passive voice is built with a form of be plus the past participle of the main verb. Tense, aspect, and modality are carried by the be verb or by modal verbs, while the main verb stays as a past participle. Only transitive verbs can normally form a passive because there must be an object to become the passive subject. The active object becomes the passive subject, and the active subject can be moved to an optional by phrase.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Form be plus past participle	🧩 be 与过去分词的形式	The report was written.	🗣️ 这份报告被写成了。
Tense is on be not on participle	🧩 时态由 be 决定，而非过去分词	The report is written every week.	🗣️ 这份报告每周都被写一次。
Use a by phrase to name the doer	🧩 使用 by 短语来指明执行者	The report was written by Maya.	🗣️ 这份报告由 Maya 写成。
Requires a transitive verb	🧩 需要一个及物动词	The window was broken.	🗣️ 这扇窗被打破了。

Choose the same time reference as in the active sentence, but express it through be or have plus been. Simple tenses use be directly, progressive uses being, and perfect uses been after have. The past participle does not change for tense. This helps keep meaning clear while shifting focus away from the doer.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Present simple passive uses am is are plus participle	🧩 现在时被动态使用 am / is / are + 过去分词	Meals are served at noon.	🗣️ 午餐在中午供应。
Past simple passive uses was were plus participle	🧩 过去时被动态使用 was / were + 过去分词	The meeting was canceled.	🗣️ 会议被取消。
Present continuous passive uses am is are being plus participle	🧩 现在进行时的被动态使用 am / is / are being + 过去分词	The road is being repaired.	🗣️ 这条路正在维修。
Past continuous passive uses was were being plus participle	🧩 过去进行时的被动态使用 was / were being + 过去分词	The data were being checked.	🗣️ 数据正在被检查。
Present perfect passive uses has have been plus participle	🧩 现在完成时的被动态使用 has / have been + 过去分词	The file has been uploaded.	🗣️ 文件已上传。
Past perfect passive uses had been plus participle	🧩 过去完成时的被动态使用 had been + 过去分词	The seats had been reserved.	🗣️ 座位已被预订。
Future passive uses will be plus participle	🧩 将来时的被动态使用 will be + 过去分词	The results will be announced tomorrow.	🗣️ 结果将于明天宣布。

With modal verbs, keep the modal and use be plus the past participle. For perfect meaning with modals, use have been plus the past participle. This structure keeps the same modality like ability, permission, obligation, or possibility while changing the focus. The doer can still be added with a by phrase if needed.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Modal plus be plus participle	🧩 情态动词 + be + 过去分词	The form must be signed.	🗣️ 该表格必须签名。
Modal plus have been plus participle for past meaning	🧩 情态动词 + have been + 过去分词，表示过去意义	The package might have been delivered.	🗣️ 这个包裹可能已经被送达。
Modal questions invert the modal not be	🧩 情态疑问句将情态动词与 be 的否定形式对换	Should the report be revised?	🗣️ 是否应修改该报告？

A by phrase names the agent, the person or thing that performs the action. Use it when the agent is important, surprising, or needed for clarity. Omit it when the agent is unknown, obvious, general, or unimportant, or when you intentionally want to avoid naming the agent. Even when included, the sentence focus usually stays on the passive subject.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use by to identify the agent	🧩 使用 by 来识别执行者	The mural was painted by local artists.	🗣️ 这幅壁画由当地艺术家绘制。
Omit by when the agent is unknown or irrelevant	🧩 当代理人未知或无关时省略 by	My bike was stolen.	🗣️ 我的自行车被偷了。
Omit by when the agent is general people	🧩 当代理人是普遍人时省略 by	The tickets are sold online.	🗣️ 票在网上出售。

Passive voice changes emphasis: it highlights what happens to the receiver or what result matters. It can create a more formal, objective, or impersonal tone, common in academic and professional writing. Passive can also help paragraph flow by keeping the same topic in the subject position across sentences. Use passive when it improves clarity and coherence, not just to sound formal.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use passive to focus on the receiver or result	🧩 使用被动语态聚焦接收者或结果	The samples were stored at room temperature.	🗣️ 这些样品在室温下储存。
Use passive for process descriptions	🧩 使用被动语态描述过程	First, the solution is heated to 80°C.	🗣️ 首先将溶液加热至 80°C。
Use passive to maintain topic continuity	🧩 使用被动态保持话题连贯性	The device was tested overnight. It was then calibrated.	🗣️ 设备整夜被测试。随后进行了校准。

Some verbs take two objects, like give, send, or teach. In these cases, English often allows two passive options, depending on which object you want to emphasize. The indirect object can become the passive subject, especially with people, and the direct object can remain as the second object. Choosing between these options is mainly about which information you want in the subject position.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Indirect object passive emphasizes the recipient	🧩 间接宾语被动强调接收者	She was given a refund.	🗣️ 她收到了退款。
Direct object passive emphasizes the thing given	🧩 直接宾语被动强调所给予的东西	A refund was given to her.	🗣️ 一笔退款被给予她。
Keep the remaining object in place	🧩 保留剩余宾语在原位	He was taught Spanish.	🗣️ 西班牙语被教给他。

English also uses get plus past participle as an alternative passive. Get passives are more informal and often suggest change, eventfulness, or that the subject is somehow involved or affected. They are common in spoken English and in situations that feel personal or unexpected. Use be passive for neutral, formal, or descriptive contexts, and get passive for more dynamic tone.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Get passive is informal and event focused	🧩 Get 被动是非正式且以事件为中心的	My phone got stolen.	🗣️ 我的手机被偷了。
Get passive often implies change of state	🧩 Get 被动常暗示状态改变	He got promoted last week.	🗣️ 他上周升职了。
Be passive sounds more neutral or formal	🧩 Be 被动听起来更中性或正式	The phone was stolen.	🗣️ 这部电话被偷了。

Some be plus past participle forms look passive but function like adjectives that describe a state. Compare an event meaning where an action happened with a state meaning that describes a condition. Context, time expressions, and the possibility of adding a by phrase help you decide. This distinction matters because adjective like uses behave more like descriptions than actions.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Event passive describes an action happening or completed	🧩 事件性被动描述正在发生或完成的动作	The door was closed by the guard.	🗣️ 门被警卫关上了。
Stative meaning describes a condition not the action	🧩 状态性意义描述一种状态，而非动作	The door was closed all day.	🗣️ 门整天都关着。
By phrase usually fits event passives better	🧩 by 短语通常更适合事件性被动	The window was broken by vandals.	🗣️ 这扇窗被破坏者打碎。

Passive voice can reduce clarity when it hides the agent or makes sentences long and abstract. In instructions, narratives, and persuasive writing, active voice often feels more direct and energetic. Avoid passive when the agent is essential for meaning, accountability, or precision. If you use passive, make sure the sentence still clearly answers who did what when needed.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Avoid passive when responsibility matters	🧩 当责任相关时避免使用被动	The deadline was missed.	🗣️ 截止日期错过了。
Prefer active for clear instructions	🧩 对清晰指令偏好主动	Click Save to finish.	🗣️ 点击保存以完成。
Use passive only if the agent is truly not needed	🧩 仅在确实不需要代理人时使用被动	The system is updated nightly.	🗣️ 系统每晚更新。