英語文法中有一種Passive Voices，一般叫作「被動式」。很多時我們寫作會用到Passive Voices，但究竟在何種情況下才用得恰當？

“You use Passive when you are more interested in the person or thing affected by the action. Or when you don’t know who did the action. ”  簡單講，Passive Voices是將最重要元素放在句子開首，當你想「凸顯事情的重要部份」，又或是你不知道「誰是主事者」的情況下就可應用。

舉例：She told me the truth. (Active)

            I was told the truth. (Passive)

以上句為例，是想凸顯 I was told 這件事，至於who told 就不是這麼重要 (又或者你不想提及，這情況在講是非時會常用到的)。

Passive Voices 亦分為Present, Past, Future 及Continuous tense，Present 及 Past tense 的句式結構是 verb to (be) Eg. is, am, are, was, were, + past participle (p.p) of the main verb 。

舉例：

Present – We are welcomed (p.p) by the committee.

         I am referred (p.p) to as a teacher.

Past –   The house was bought (p.p.) on my last birthday.Future tense就要在verb to be之後加上 be。

              My wallet was stolen (p.p.) !

舉例：Our Contract will be expired (p.p.) in 2006.  

The scholar will be announced (p.p.) tomorrow.

Continuous Tense的句式結構是verb to be + being + pp。

舉例：I am painting a mother day picture. (Active)

         The mother day picture is being painted (p.p.) . (Passive)

I am cooking a new dish. (Active)

A new dish is being done (p.p.) . (Passive)

其實將ing 轉為being就可以了，是不是很簡單易記呢！