★ 從動詞的性質來區分:
英文中的不及物動詞沒有被動態。但是,不及物動詞的過去分詞可以放在be動詞的後面作為主詞補語。在此結構中,過去分詞只表示動作已經完成,強調事物的狀態。
常見的這種形式的不及物動詞有:gone, come, arrived, fallen, retired, startled, vexed, mistaken 等等。這些不及物動詞都具有描述的性質。例如:
※ Joe was back to his hometown when he was retired. (Joe退休後返回他的故鄉)
※ His fever is gone, but he still feels weak. (他已退燒,但身體仍感到虛弱)
然而,如果構成分詞的動詞是持續性動詞,不表示動作的結果,而是強調動作的持續性,在這種情況下動詞大多數是被動態。例如:
※ All the fruits were carried to the market. (所有水果都被運送到市場)
※ Several students were honored for their excellent performance in the final English exam. (數名學生因英文期末考的優異表現而受到褒獎)
★ 從句子表達的內容來區分:
被動語態表示動作,句子的主詞是動作的承受者;補語結構中的過去分詞基本上已失去了動詞的意義,只有形容詞的作用,在句子中作補語,說明主詞的性質,所具有的特徵或所處的狀態。例如:
※ Their houses were beautifully decorated. (他們的房子裝潢得很漂亮) -- 補語
※ Their houses were decorated and rented to several people. (他們的房子裝潢後租給數個人) -- 被動語態
※ The book is not illustrated. (這本書沒有畫插圖) -- 補語
※ The book was beautifully illustrated by a famous artist. (這本書由一位著名畫家畫 上精美的插圖) -- 被動語態
注意:在現代英語中,有一些是從古英語中遺留下來的只能用作形容詞的pp。這種分詞形容詞特性顯著,完全作形容詞用。例如:
amused, broken, closed, confused, crowded, covered, done, delighted, frightened, bent, blessed, bound, drunk, lit, melted, rotten, shaved, shrunk, sunk, believed, burnt, excited, faded, married, interested, pleased, satisfied, surprised 等等。
★ 從pp後所接的介系詞來區分:
作形容詞用的pp在個別情況下,可以跟除了 by-phrase 以外的其他介詞連用,如 about, at, in, on, with, over, to 等等。例如:
※ I'm interested in playing baseball, basketball, and table tennis. (我喜愛打棒球、籃球和桌球) -- 補語
※ I was interested by what you showed me. (我被你給我看的東西引發了興趣) -- 被動語態
※ We are all really annoyed with his bad behavior. (我們都對他不良的行為感到煩透了) -- 補語
※ I was much surprised by Mr. Lee's rudeness. (我被李先生的粗魯無禮嚇了一大跳) -- 被動語態
※ Her look was quite amused. (她的神情相當愉快) -- 補語
※ The audience was amused by the performance. (觀眾被這個表演逗樂了) -- 被動語態