The Passive Sentence (2) – 被字句（2）

The Passive Sentence (2) – 被字句（2）

Subject + 被 + Verb + Other elements

In this structure, the subject is the patient of the action. Here the agent of the action doesn’t need to be mentioned. It emphasizes the action of the passive voice.

e.g.

公司的门早就被关上了。(Gōngsī de mén zǎo jiù bèi guān shàng le.) The door of the company has already been closed.

那个电脑被买走了。(Nàgè diànnǎo bèi mǎi zǒu le.) That computer has been bought.

他的父母被请去开会了。(Tā de fùmǔ bèi qǐng qù kāihuì le.) His parents were asked to have a meeting.

 

Note that in this case, it can’t be used with some certain words such as “给” “所” and “把”.

e.g.

✘ 农田被所淹没了。

农田被淹没了。(Nóngtián bèi yānmò le.) The farmland was inundated.

农田被大水所淹没了。(Nóngtián bèi dàshuǐ suǒ yānmò le.) The farmland was inundated by the flood.

 

✘ 乔丹被给称为“飞人”。

乔丹被称为“飞人”。(Qiáodān bèi chēng wéi “fēirén”.) Jordan was called “flying man”.

乔丹被大家给称为“飞人”。(Qiáodān bèi dàjiā gěi chēngwéi “fēirén”.) Jordan was called “flying man” by everyone.

“被” can be used with some monosyllabic word as a fixed phrase, which often indicates something disadvantageous.

e.g.

被盗 (bèi dào) be stolen

被告 (bèi gào) be accused

被迫 (bèi pò) be forced

被捕 (bèi bǔ) be arrested

被害 (bèi hài) be murdered