淺談主動表被動

請大家看看這道題：

The pen __________ quite smoothly.

A. writes B. is written C. has written D. is to be written

此題應選A。英語中有些及物動詞在用作不及物動詞時，雖然形式上爲主動，但意義上卻是被動，這種用法主要見於一般現在時的情況(有時也可能是將來時、進行時等)：

Meat cuts easily. 肉容易切。

The book sells well. 這書銷路好。

My coat caught on a nail. 我的衣服被釘子鉤住了。

This kind of cloth washes very well. 這種佈很耐洗。

Good leather will wear for years. 好的皮革可以穿好幾年。

The book is printing. 這本正在印刷。

The house is building. 房子正在建築中。

The book is selling well. 這書銷路好。

盡琯以上各例有時也可以直接使用被動語態形式：

Good leather will be worn for years.

The book is being printed. (www.yingyuyufa.com)

但是在實際運用中，用主動表被動的情況更普遍。不過值得注意的是：像本題所涉及的這樣的例子卻衹能用主動表被動：The pen writes quite smoothly. (這筆寫起來很流暢)，因爲若直接用被動語態：*The pen is written quites moothly. 那麽它相應的主動語態即爲：*He writes the pen quite smoothly. 這顯然是荒唐的。