英语中有主动和被动之分，并都以特定的形式出现。然而并非所有的主动句式都表示主动意义，有些句子形式是主动的，而意义却是被动的。就其在英语中的具体运用，从以下几个方面加以归纳。

1、一些表示感觉、感官的连系动词如：feel，sound，taste，look等后面接形容词作表语，形式上是主动的， 意思上表示被动。例如：

The mixture tasted terrible.这种混合液太难吃了。

She sound nice. She has a beautiful voice.她唱得很好，她有一副好嗓子。

Your father looks very angry. What's the matter? 你父亲看起来很生气，是怎么回事呢？

3、表示科学性及客观性，在新闻报道和科技文章中用得较多。例如：

Many of the stars cannot be seen because they are too far away.许多星星看不见，因为它们离我们太遥远了。

It was reported that the scientists were searching for new ways to solve the problems.据报道科学家正在寻求解决这些问题的新途径。

常见的句型结构如下：It is (was)agreed(believed/decided/hoped/thought......)that......大家同意(相信、决定、希望、认为)......

It is(was) well known that......众所周知

It is(was )taken for granted that......被视为当然

It must be remembered that......务必记住......

It mustn’t be forgotten that......千万别忘记......

It is(was) said(reported，heard，told，suggested)that......据说(报道、听说、告知、建议......)

2、我们关心动作的承受者但也关心动作的执行者，要用被动语态。例如：

Nahan was written by Lu Xun.《呐喊》是鲁迅写的。

1、当我们不知道谁是动作的执行者，或者没有必要指出谁是动作的执行者，或者指需要强调动作的承受者时，要用被动语态。例如：

The cotton is grown in that farm.那个农场里种植棉花。

9．情态动词的被动式：

主动句谓语如带有情态动词变成被动句时，应保留情态动词谓语部分为：“情态动词+助动词be+过去分词”。例如：

Our classroom should be kept clean and tidy.我们的教室必须保持干净清洁。

A few of them can be cut each year for firewood。每年一些树木被砍伐用作柴火。

Many thousands of trees must be planted every year.每年都得种成千成万株树。

被动语态的一般疑问句，须将第一个助动词移至主语之前构成。否定句须在助动词之后加构成。例如：

Is the stamp used for sending letters? 邮票是用来发信的吗？

The knife isn't made of wood.这个小刀不是用木头制做的。

8．一般将来时的被动语态形式

If you break the school rules, you will be punished. 如果你违反校规，你将受到惩罚。

A new Hope School will be opened in our village. 我们家乡将开办一所新的希望学校。

In a few years' time, those mountains will be covered with trees, too.过几年以后，那些山上会长满了树。

7．过去完成时的被动语态形式

His newly written novel had been translated into English by the end of last month.上个月末，他刚写的小说已被翻译成了英语。

She told me that she had been dismissed by her boss.　 她告诉我，她的老板已把她解雇了。

Her homework had not been finished when I got home. 我到家的时候，她的作业还没有完成。

6．过去将来时的被动语态形式

He said that a new trade center would be built in the centre of the city. 他说一个新的贸易中心将在市中心建起来。

She asked whether their plan would be considered with great care. 她问他们的计划会不会得到仔细的考虑。

　I wasn't told that I should be invited to the party. 没人告诉我要被邀请出席晚会。

5．一般过去进行时的被动语态形式

The question was being discussed at the meeting yesterday afternoon.在昨天下午的会上正讨论这个问题。

At that time they were being shown how to run the machine.在那时，他们正演示如何操作这机器。

4．一般过去时的被动语态形式

The classroom was cleaned by us yesterday. 昨天教室被我们打扫了。

The window was broken by my son. 窗子是我儿子打破的。

Were many trees planted on the hill yesterday 昨天山上种了许多树吗？