B1 · 中级 章节 8

Advanced Passive Forms and Natural Phrasing

4 总规则
47 例句
5 分钟
本章规则 快速练习

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Elevate your English by mastering advanced passive constructions and natural, conversational phrasing.

  • Construct sentences using Present Perfect and Future passive forms.
  • Apply modal verbs to passive structures for added nuance.
  • Understand the natural use of terminal prepositions in English questions.
Sound more sophisticated and natural every day.

你将学到什么

Ready to make your English sound more natural and sophisticated? In this chapter, you'll master how to use passive forms with modal verbs and even understand why sentences sometimes end with prepositions. Soon, you’ll be expressing ideas with greater flexibility and sounding truly confident!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe completed and future tasks using the passive voice.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Construct natural-sounding questions that end with prepositions.

章节指南

Overview

As a B1 English learner, you've already built a solid foundation in the language. Now, it's time to refine your expression and unlock a whole new level of fluency and sophistication. This chapter,
Advanced Passive Forms and Natural Phrasing,
is designed to help you do exactly that.
We’ll explore how to use passive structures not just correctly, but naturally, making your English sound more confident and authentic.
You'll discover how to leverage passive forms with modal verbs like can be done to discuss possibilities and necessities without always stating who is doing the action. We'll also delve into the Present Perfect Passive and Future Simple Passive, which are fantastic tools for focusing on results and future outcomes. Additionally, we’ll tackle one of the most common hangups for learners: ending sentences with prepositions.
You'll learn that this isn't a mistake but often a hallmark of natural, modern English. Mastering these aspects of B1 English grammar will significantly enhance your ability to communicate complex ideas with greater flexibility and ease. Get ready to sound truly like a native speaker!

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the passive voice shifts the focus of a sentence from the doer of an action to the receiver or result of that action. This is incredibly useful when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, allowing you to highlight what really matters. For B1 learners, understanding the nuances of the passive voice with various tenses and modal verbs is crucial for advanced communication.
Let's start with the Present Perfect Passive. We form it with has/have been + past participle. It's used for actions completed in the recent past that have a result now, where the action itself or its outcome is more important than who did it.
For example,
The new policies have been approved by the board
emphasizes the approval, not necessarily the individuals on the board. Similarly, the Future Simple Passive uses will be + past participle to talk about actions that will be completed in the future, again, with the focus on the action or result.
The new bridge will be completed by next year,
tells us about the bridge's future state, regardless of which construction company builds it.
Next, we introduce Passive Voice with Modal Verbs. This is incredibly versatile! You combine a modal verb (like *can, should, must, might, could*) with be + past participle.
This structure allows you to express possibility (
The problem can be solved easily
), necessity (
The rules must be followed
), or advice (
The report should be reviewed before submission
). This adds great flexibility to your English advanced passive forms and natural phrasing. Finally, addressing the fear of ending with prepositions: It's a natural and common feature of English, especially in questions or when an object is implied.
Instead of
With whom are you going?
, a native speaker would almost always say,
Who are you going with?
It sounds much more natural and less formal.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Missing the 'be' verb in passive constructions.
* ✗ The window broken.
* ✓ The window was broken.
* Explanation: All passive structures require a form of 'to be' (e.g., *is, was, will be, has been, can be*) before the past participle.
  1. 1✗ Overusing the passive voice when the active voice would be clearer or more natural.
* ✗ The ball was kicked by the boy.
* ✓ The boy kicked the ball.
* Explanation: While passive is useful, sometimes the active voice is simpler and more direct. Use passive strategically to shift focus, not as a default.
  1. 1✗ Unnecessarily restructuring sentences to avoid ending with a preposition, making them sound overly formal or awkward.
* ✗ To whom are you speaking?
* ✓ Who are you speaking to?
* Explanation: In everyday conversation, ending a question or a relative clause with a preposition is perfectly natural and common. Embrace it!

Real Conversations

A

A

The project proposal has been sent to the client. Have you seen their feedback yet?
B

B

Not yet. It will be reviewed by the team tomorrow morning, so we should get comments then.
A

A

I can't find my keys anywhere!
B

B

Don't worry, they can be found if we look carefully. Did you check your jacket pocket?
A

A

Who was that meeting with? I saw you talking for ages.
B

B

Oh, that was Maya, my new colleague. We were discussing the upcoming event.

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use the Present Perfect Passive?

You should use it to talk about an action that was completed recently and has a result now, especially when the person who did the action is unknown or less important than the action itself. For example,

My laptop has been repaired
focuses on the laptop being fixed, not who fixed it.

Q

Is it always acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition?

In informal and most common English communication, yes! It's very natural, especially in questions (

What are you looking for?
) or certain clauses. Only in very formal writing or speech might you prefer to avoid it.

Q

Are advanced passive forms common in everyday speech?

Absolutely! While sometimes seen as formal, structures like

It can be done
or
The message has been received
are frequently used to express ideas efficiently and naturally without always naming the doer of the action.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these English advanced passive forms and natural phrasing patterns constantly, often without even thinking about them. The passive voice is a tool for emphasis and clarity, allowing speakers to navigate conversations smoothly. While formal writing might sometimes place prepositions before the object (e.g.,
The person with whom I spoke
), everyday conversation overwhelmingly favors ending sentences with prepositions.
There are no significant regional differences in this usage; it's a common feature across all major English accents and dialects.

关键例句 (6)

1

The new bridge will be completed by next year.

El nuevo puente estará terminado para el próximo año.

英语被动语态：将来时（将完成）
2

Your application will be reviewed soon.

Tu solicitud será revisada pronto.

英语被动语态：将来时（将完成）
3

The new features `can be tested` by next week.

Las nuevas características pueden ser probadas para la próxima semana.

情态动词的被动语态 (可以做)
4

Sensitive information `must be protected` carefully.

La información sensible debe ser protegida cuidadosamente.

情态动词的被动语态 (可以做)
5

Who are you going to the party with?

你打算和谁一起去派对？

介词结尾：你和谁在一起？
6

That's the book I was telling you about.

这就是我之前跟你提到的那本书。

介词结尾：你和谁在一起？

技巧与窍门 (4)

💡

寻找 'Been'！

看到 has been 后面跟着动词过去分词，通常就是被动语态。比如：
The report has been finished.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 被动语态：现在完成时（已完成）
💡

The 'By' Test

If you can add 'by zombies' to the end of your sentence and it still makes sense grammatically, it's passive! (e.g., 'The city will be destroyed... by zombies.')
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 英语被动语态：将来时（将完成）
💡

The 'By' Test

If you can add 'by zombies' to the end of your sentence and it still makes sense, it's passive! (e.g., 'The door must be closed... by zombies').
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 情态动词的被动语态 (可以做)
💡

拥抱自然感

在日常口语中，把介词放在句末会让你的表达听起来更像母语者，比如：
Who are you talking to?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 介词结尾：你和谁在一起？

核心词汇 (5)

renovated updated or repaired scheduled planned for a time prohibited not allowed inquired asked about accessible easy to reach

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Office Planning

Review Summary

  • has/have been + past participle
  • will be + past participle
  • modal + be + past participle
  • Question word + ... + preposition?

常见错误

The report cannot finish itself! You need the 'been' to make it passive.

Wrong: The report has finished.
正确: The report has been finished.

Always include 'be' when using the future passive.

Wrong: It will finished tomorrow.
正确: It will be finished tomorrow.

While 'To whom' is correct in formal writing, 'Who... to' is the natural, modern way to speak.

Wrong: To whom are you speaking?
正确: Who are you speaking to?

Next Steps

You've made incredible progress in this chapter. Keep practicing these structures in your daily emails!

Listen to a news report and note the passive sentences.

Continue to: Identifying People and Things

快速练习 (8)

Complete the sentence with the Future Simple Passive form of the verb in brackets.

The results of the test ___ (announce) next Monday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: will be announced
We need 'will be' + the past participle 'announced'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 英语被动语态：将来时（将完成）

Choose the correct passive form.

The windows ___ every month.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: should be cleaned
We need 'be' and the V3 'cleaned'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 情态动词的被动语态 (可以做)

选择正确的介词完成这个提问。

Which movie are you talking ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: about
动词 'talk' 讨论某个话题时常用介词 'about'，放在句末非常自然。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 介词结尾：你和谁在一起？

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

The documents can be send by email.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: send
The past participle of 'send' is 'sent'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 情态动词的被动语态 (可以做)

Fill in the missing words to complete the passive sentence.

The car ___ ___ ___ (must / repair) today.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: must be repaired
The formula is Modal (must) + be + V3 (repaired).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 情态动词的被动语态 (可以做)

Find the mistake in this sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

The meeting will being held at 2 PM.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: will being
It should be 'will be held', not 'will being held'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 英语被动语态：将来时（将完成）

找出并修正句子中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

Whom did you go to the concert with?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Who did you go to the concert with?
当介词 'with' 在句末时，代词应使用主格 'who'，这样才符合现代口语习惯。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 介词结尾：你和谁在一起？

Choose the correct passive sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The package will be delivered tomorrow.
Passive requires 'will be' and the V3 'delivered'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 英语被动语态：将来时（将完成）

Score: /8

常见问题 (6)

重点在于过去完成的动作对现在的影响，且不强调是谁做的。比如
The window has been broken
强调窗户现在的状态。
使用 has（用于单数）或 have（用于复数），后面接 been，再接动词的过去分词 (V3)。即
Subject + has/have + been + V3
。
Yes! You can say 'The house is going to be painted.' It follows the same logic: be going to + be + V3.
Not always, but it is *more* common in formal writing. In conversation, we use it for things like deliveries or services: 'My car will be fixed tomorrow.'
Yes, but only in informal speech. For example, It might get broken is okay with friends, but in an essay, use It might be broken.
They follow the same rule: The bill has to be paid or The law ought to be obeyed. Just add be + V3 after the 'to'.
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Focusing on Actions with the Passive Voice
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Identifying People and Things
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