1. Passive and Active 2016-03-22 LOGO 由NordriDesign提供

2. When the passive voice is used?
LOGO
doer of the action is unknown
doer of the action need not be mentioned
to give different focus so as to answer different questions
a pragmatic variable

3. Examples a) Your son broke my window.
b) The window was broken by your son.
a) Joe has taken my place.
b) The place has been taken by Joe.
a) The dishes must be washed up.
b) You must wash up the dishes.

4. Examples
She is spied upon by a nosy, suspicious, uncharitable neighbour.
In fact, a few moments after the accident took place, he was seen by a police to whom he made an oral statement.

5. To Dig Further The passive voice is also used for other functions:
1) To express objectiveness
e.g. It is believed that they would do it again.
The experiment was conducted under the supervision of a group of scientists.

6. To Dig Further It is alleged (claimed, declared, announced) that ...
It is predicted that ...
It is assumed (taken, regarded) that ...
It is rumored that ...
It may be safely said that ...
It is established that ...
It is preferred that ...
It cannot be denied that ...
It has recently been brought home to us that ...

7. To Dig Further
2) To show politeness in putting forward suggestions or criticisms
e.g. Turn in the paper tomorrow, if it can be done.
It is hoped that she will cure her bad habit of crying.
3) To show a formal style
e.g. You are invited to a graduation party ...
Readers are requested to note that as from May 1, the library will be open during the following hours ...
A party will be held by Classes I, II and III. Your presence will be appreciated.

8. Application in English-Chinese Translation
English: active / passive voice
Chinese: no grammar item of voice
sense of "passiveness" is often unmarked in Chinese
active form with complements:
房子盖好了. / 旧报纸卖了. / 肉切厚了. / 练习做完了.
active form with auxiliary verbs:
教材还在印刷中. / 很多工厂建在这个区. / 这件事一定要做.

9. Examples From Chinese to English: 1. 又一座立交桥将于年底通车.
2. 很容易看出这台录音机已经修理过好几次了.
3. 说话时, 已摆了茶点上来.
4. 林如海已葬入祖坟了, 诸事停妥, 贾琏方进京的.

10. Examples From English to Chinese 1. That man cannot be denied upon.
2. Every minute should be made good use of.
3. His speech was greeted with hisses.
4. These data have been utilized in production.
5. When will this new product be made commercially available?

11. Examples From English to Chinese
6. An illustration is furnished by an editorial in the Washington Post.
7. Yet, only a part of this energy is used by man so far.
8. Many expected that he would be ousted by one of his rivals.
9. Such success was never thought of when we first started.
10. He was seen to push a bike out of the house.

12. Certain Chinese sentence patterns which can be used to translate English passive voice

13. Causative structure (使动结构)
1. Principles mean very little unless they are acted upon.
2. In fact it is a myth that people can be changed by having strict rules imposed on them.
3. The educational reform must be carried through to the end.
4. Personal interest must not be placed over and above national interest.

14. Sentences with complement to the subject
1. Ink stains cannot be washed out.
2. History is made by the people.
3. Selenology is founded on the data collected by shuttles.
4. I was received by a tall, lithe, vibrant woman in her 70s, white-haired, and still beautiful.

15. zero-subject sentences
1. An agreement was arrived at after two days' negotiation.
2. Mention should also be made of the role played by the other team.
3. Children should be taught to speak the truth.
4. Quality of products must be guaranteed first.
5. Once this principle contradiction is grasped, all problems can be readily solved.
6. You have been invited to this forum today to study further steps to be taken.

16. Thanks for Attention!