B1 Passive & Reported Speech 13 min read 中等

被动语态:用 'by' 表明施动者

在被动句里,如果你想给“幕后功臣”加个名,用 by + agent 就行,简单又清晰。关键词: give credit, identify doer, passive voice

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'by' in passive sentences to mention who or what performed the action while keeping the focus on the result.

  • Place 'by' after the past participle to introduce the doer: 'The song was sung by Adele.'
  • Only use 'by' if the person or thing doing the action is important information.
  • Don't confuse 'by' (the doer) with 'with' (the tool used): 'The door was opened by John with a key.'
Object + [be] + Past Participle + 👤 by + Agent

Overview

### 概述
被动语态(Passive Voice)是一种非常重要的语法结构,它能帮助我们改变句子的焦点,让我们能够强调动作本身或动作的承受者,而不是执行动作的人或物。很多时候,我们使用被动语态是因为不知道谁做了这个动作,或者觉得谁做的并不重要,又或者大家都心知肚明。但是,在某些关键的语境下,我们必须明确指出动作的执行者是谁。这时候,介词 by 就显得尤为重要了。通过 by 引导的短语,我们可以在保持被动语态结构的同时,清晰地说明动作是谁执行的。这是一种在不回到主动语态的情况下,依然能提供必要信息的有效方式,尤其是在 B1 阶段,大家需要学习更精细地表达意思的时候,这个用法就更加有用了。
从语言学的角度来看,被动语态常常用来将信息进行“前置”,也就是把动作的承受者(句子的语法主语)放在句首,以突出它在语篇中的重要性。当我们加入 by + 执行者 的结构时,我们实际上是在添加一层补充信息,将执行者的身份作为附加但常常是至关重要的细节。这种结构在各种语境中都很常见,从新闻报道、学术写作,到日常对话,只要我们想说明是谁做了某个动作,但又想把动作本身作为重点,就会用到它。理解并正确使用它,能极大地提高我们理解和表达的效率和准确性。
### How This Grammar Works
被动语态的核心构成方式是:使用 to be 动词的相应形式,加上动词的过去分词(通常称为 V3)。例如,The letter was sent.(这封信被送了出去。)在这个句子中,焦点完全集中在“发送”这个动作以及“信”这个承受者上。执行者被省略了,可能是因为不知道是谁,也可能是因为和信息传递没有关系。
但如果我们需要指明执行者是谁,并且这个信息很重要,那么我们就在基本被动结构后面加上 by,然后紧跟着执行者。
来看这个句子:The new bridge was designed by a team of engineers.(这座新桥是由一个工程师团队设计的。)在这个结构里,the new bridge 是主语(动作承受者),was designed 是被动语态的谓语,而 by a team of engineers 则明确指出了执行动作的群体。句子依然把重点放在“桥的设计”上,但工程师团队的参与被清晰地归因了。如果没有 by,执行者的身份就会丢失,重要的背景信息(比如责任归属或谁应该被表扬)也可能被忽略。
这种 by + 执行者 的短语,直接回答了隐含的问题:“谁做了这个动作?”或者“是什么导致了这个结果?” 它作为一个状语短语,用来修饰被动语态的谓语动词,明确动作的来源。这使得它成为在需要清晰归因和明确责任的语境中非常有力的工具,比如科学报告(需要说明研究方法和研究者)或历史叙述(需要点明关键人物)。例如:The theory of relativity was developed by Albert Einstein.(相对论是由阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦提出的。)在这里,Albert Einstein 是关键的执行者,他的名字是理解这句话意义不可或缺的一部分。
### Formation Pattern
包含 by + 执行者 的被动语态句子的构成,是建立在基本被动语态结构之上的。我们首先写出动作的承受者(主语),然后根据时态和主语的人称、数,正确地变化 to be 动词,接着加上主要动词的过去分词(V3),最后以 by 引导执行者(动作的发出者)。执行者通常是一个名词、名词短语,或者是一个宾格代词(比如 me, him, her, us, them, it, you)。
基本构成模式:
| 主语 (承受者) | to be (变化的) | 过去分词 (V3) | by | 执行者 (发出者) |
| :---------------- | :------------------ | :------------------- | :-- | :----------- |
| The car | was | repaired | by | the mechanic | (车被修理工修好了)
| Many novels | are | read | by | students | (很多小说被学生们阅读)
| The report | will be | submitted | by | tomorrow | (报告将在明天提交 - *注意:这里 tomorrow 是时间状语,不是执行者,仅为演示结构。更自然的表达是:The report will be submitted by the deadline.*)
我们来看一下不同时态下的具体应用:
  • 一般现在时被动语态 (Present Simple Passive): 主语 + am/is/are + V3 + by + 执行者
  • The news is reported by experienced journalists. (这则新闻是由经验丰富的记者报道的。)
  • 一般过去时被动语态 (Past Simple Passive): 主语 + was/were + V3 + by + 执行者
  • The decision was announced by the CEO yesterday. (这个决定是 CEO 昨天宣布的。)
  • 现在进行时被动语态 (Present Continuous Passive): 主语 + am/is/are + being + V3 + by + 执行者
  • The new software is being developed by a local company. (这款新软件正由一家本地公司开发。)
  • 过去进行时被动语态 (Past Continuous Passive): 主语 + was/were + being + V3 + by + 执行者
  • The presentation was being prepared by our team leader. (那个演示文稿正在由我们的团队领导准备。)
  • 现在完成时被动语态 (Present Perfect Passive): 主语 + has/have + been + V3 + by + 执行者
  • Several awards have been won by her innovative designs. (好几个奖项都是因为她创新的设计而获得的。)
  • 过去完成时被动语态 (Past Perfect Passive): 主语 + had + been + V3 + by + 执行者
  • The mistake had been identified by the auditor before the final review. (在最终审核之前,这个错误已经被审计员发现了。)
  • 一般将来时被动语态 (Future Simple Passive): 主语 + will be + V3 + by + 执行者
  • The new policy will be implemented by the end of the month. (新政策将在月底前实施。)
请牢记: 当代词作为执行者出现在 by 后面时,必须使用宾格形式。例如,你应该说 The book was written by him.(这本书是他写的),而不是 by he。同样,The decision was made by her.(这个决定是她做的),而不是 by she。正确的代词形式是 me, him, her, us, them, you, it
此外,确保 to be 的形式与句子的时态和主语的人称、数保持一致至关重要。例如,The results were published by the research team.(结果由研究团队发表。)这里使用 were 是因为主语 results 是复数,并且是过去时态。
### When To Use It
在被动语态中使用 by + 执行者 的短语,不是可有可无的选项,它有特定的沟通目的。当你需要指明执行者的身份,并且这个身份提供了重要、必要或令人惊讶的信息时,就应该使用这个结构。它的策略性使用可以增强句子的清晰度,明确责任归属,或者在专业、精确的语境中归因某个动作。
  • 为了归因责任或授予荣誉 (To Attribute Responsibility or Credit): 这是最常见也是最重要的用法。当需要承认谁执行了某个动作时,无论是表扬还是批评,by + 执行者 都必不可少。例如:The company's new strategy was developed by a cross-functional team.(公司的新战略是由一个跨职能团队制定的。)这里明确地将功劳归给了团队。反之,A significant error was discovered by the external auditors,(一个重大错误是由外部审计员发现的。)则清晰地指明了发现错误的主体。
  • 当执行者出乎意料或值得注意时 (When the Agent is Unexpected or Noteworthy): 如果执行动作的人或事物是令人惊讶的、著名的,或者有其他特别之处,那么用 by 来指明他们会产生更大的影响。例如:The world-renowned opera was composed by a relatively unknown artist.(这部举世闻名的歌剧竟是一位相对不知名的艺术家创作的。)这里,艺术家的名气不高使得他的成就更加引人注目。又如:This iconic speech was delivered by Martin Luther King Jr.,(这个标志性的演讲是由马丁·路德·金发表的。)强调了演讲者的历史地位。
  • 为了消除歧义 (To Clarify Ambiguity): 在执行者可能不清楚或存在多个潜在执行者的情况下,使用 by 可以消除疑虑。例如,如果你只说 The email was sent.(邮件被发送了。)收件人可能会疑惑是谁发的。但如果加上 The email was sent by the project manager,(这封邮件是项目经理发的。),就能立即提供关键的澄清信息。
  • 在正式或学术语境中 (In Formal or Academic Contexts): 科学报告、学术论文和官方文件经常使用被动语态并加上 by + 执行者,以保持客观的语调,同时又能引用来源或方法。例如:The data was analyzed using a novel statistical method developed by Professor Lee.(数据是使用李教授开发的一种新颖的统计方法分析的。)这种做法允许焦点保持在数据和方法上,但同时归功于创新者。这在客观性和归因都至关重要的领域是一种常见做法,反映了科学界注重过程和发现的传统。
  • 当动作本身比执行者更重要,但仍需提及执行者时 (When the Action Itself is More Important than the Agent, but the Agent Must Still be Named): 有时候,过程或结果是主题的重点,但省略执行者会让陈述不完整或影响力减弱。例如:The new building will be inaugurated by the mayor next month.(新大楼将在下个月由市长主持落成典礼。)落成典礼是主要事件,但市长的出席是一个关键细节,因此 by + 执行者 的短语是必不可少的。这确保了在突出动作的同时,相关的关键人物也得到了承认。
### Common Mistakes
即使在 B1 阶段,学习者在使用 by + 执行者 这个结构时,也经常会遇到一些特定的挑战。认识到这些常见的陷阱及其根本原因,对于发展准确、高级的英语用法至关重要。直接解决这些错误将有助于提高表达的清晰度和语法准确性。
  • 当执行者不重要、未知或显而易见时过度使用 (Overuse when the Agent is Unimportant, Unknown, or Obvious): 最普遍的错误之一是在添加 by + 执行者 没有任何新信息,或者使句子不必要地冗长时,仍然包含它。如果执行者是泛指(如 people, they, everyone)、匿名的,或者从语境中显而易见,那么通常应该省略。例如,说 English is spoken by people all over the world.(英语被全世界的人们说。)就显得多余;English is spoken all over the world.(英语在全世界都被说。)已经足够自然。同样,My car was stolen by someone.(我的车被某人偷了。)不如 My car was stolen.(我的车被偷了。)更有力,除非这个“某人”是特指的、已知的人物。
  • 混淆 bywith (Confusing by with with): 这是最根本的区别之一。by 用于引导执行者(执行动作的人或物),而 with 用于引导工具或手段(用来执行动作的物品)。混淆这两个词会导致句子意思不合逻辑甚至产生滑稽效果。例如,The letter was written by a pen.(这封信是用一支笔写的。)是错误的,因为笔不能独立写信。正确的句子应该是 The letter was written with a pen (工具) by the author (执行者). 另一个例子:The nail was hit by the hammer.(钉子被锤子击打了。)也是错误的。它应该是 The nail was hit with the hammer by the carpenter.(钉子被木匠用锤子敲打了。)记住:by 回答“谁/什么做的?”,with 回答“用什么做的?”
  • 代词格使用错误 (Incorrect Pronoun Case): 当代词作为执行者出现在 by 后面时,必须使用宾格。学习者有时会错误地使用主格。例如,The task was completed by I.(任务由我完成了。)在语法上是错误的。正确的形式是 The task was completed by me. 同样,The decision was made by he.(决定是由他做的。)应该是 The decision was made by him. 务必在 by 后面使用 me, him, her, us, them, you, it
  • by + 执行者 短语位置不当 (Incorrect Placement of the by + agent Phrase): 虽然 by + 执行者 通常出现在句末,但如果将其置于过早或不自然的位置,会破坏句子的流畅性或清晰度。一般而言,这个短语应该放在过去分词之后,如果存在直接宾语,则放在直接宾语之后。例如,将其放在 to be 和过去分词之间是错误的:The report was by the student written. 这是一个不符合语法的结构。
  • 未能正确匹配 to be 的形式 (Failing to Match to be with Tense and Subject): 虽然这不直接是关于 by + 执行者 的错误,但如果 to be 的形式(am/is/are, was/were, has/have been, will be 等)没有根据句子的时态和主语正确变化,整个被动语态的构建就会失败。例如,The houses is built by a local firm.(房子由一家本地公司建造。)是错误的,因为主语 houses 是复数,应该用 areThe houses are built by a local firm.
### Contrast With Similar Patterns
被动语态,特别是包含 by + 执行者 的结构,在功能上与主动语态有显著区别。理解这种区别对于在恰当的语境下选择最有效的表达方式至关重要。
| 特征 | 主动语态 (Active Voice) | 被动语态 (Passive Voice) |
| :---------- | :---------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------- |
| 焦点 | 动作的执行者 (Agent) | 动作的承受者 (Receiver) 或动作本身 (Action) |
| 结构 | 执行者 + 动词 + 承受者 | 承受者 + to be + V3 + (by + 执行者) |
| 例子 | The chef prepared the meal. (厨师准备了这顿饭。) | The meal was prepared by the chef. (这顿饭是厨师准备的。) |
| 强调点 | 强调“谁”做了事情 | 强调“什么”被做了,或者“什么东西”怎么样了 |
| by 的作用 | 通常不出现,除非是强调执行者(但仍是主动语态) | 用于引出执行者,当此信息需要被提及但不是句子的主要焦点时 |
| 中文对比 | 中文语序通常也是 SVO,与主动语态类似,如“我吃了苹果”。 | 中文被动语态常用意译,如“苹果被我吃了”,或使用“把”字句等。 |
主动语态 vs. 被动语态 (带 by):
  • 主动语态: The company launched the new product last week. (公司上周发布了新产品。)
  • 强调的是“公司”这个主体。
  • 被动语态: The new product was launched by the company last week. (新产品是上周由公司发布的。)
  • 强调的是“新产品”被发布这件事。by the company 提供了必要信息。
何时选择主动,何时选择被动?
  • 当你想要强调做了某事,或者是事件的主角时,使用主动语态。例如,在表扬某人时:“Maria won the competition!”(玛丽亚赢得了比赛!)
  • 当你想要强调什么事情发生了,或者什么东西受到了影响,而执行者不那么重要,或者不确定,或者你想把它放在句末时,使用被动语态。例如,在描述一个事件时:“The competition was won.”(比赛被赢了。)或者,“The competition was won by Maria.”(比赛是由玛丽亚赢得的。)——这里虽然提到了玛丽亚,但焦点仍在“比赛被赢”这件事上。
### Quick FAQ
1. Q: 我什么时候应该在被动语态句子后面加上 by + 执行者
A: 当执行者的身份很重要,需要被提及,但又不想让执行者成为句子的主要焦点时。比如,你想说明某项成就的归属,或者某项责任的承担者,但同时又想把重点放在成就或责任本身上。
2. Q: 如果执行者是‘人’(people) 或 ‘他们’(they),我需要用 by peopleby them 吗?
A: 通常不需要。当执行者是泛指的、不特定的“人”或“他们”时,使用被动语态时常常省略 by + 执行者。例如,English is spoken all over the world.English is spoken by people all over the world. 更简洁自然。如果语境中“他们”指的是特定的一群人,并且这个信息很重要,那么可以加上 by them,但这种情况相对较少。
3. Q: bywith 在被动语态中有什么区别?
A: 这是非常关键的区别!by 指的是动作的执行者(Agent),即“谁”或“什么东西”独立地完成了动作。而 with 指的是完成动作所使用的工具手段(Instrument)。例如:The window was broken by the boy.(窗户是被那个男孩打碎的。)——男孩是执行者。The window was broken with a stone.(窗户是用一块石头打碎的。)——石头是工具。
4. Q: 在口语中,我们经常用被动语态吗?
A: 是的,尤其是在解释某个过程、描述某个情况,或者当你不确定某事是谁做的,或者谁做的并不重要的时候。例如,在咖啡店点单时,服务员可能会说:Your coffee will be ready in a moment.(你的咖啡马上就好。)这里使用了将来时被动语态,重点是“咖啡马上就好”,而不是“谁会做”。加上 by + 执行者 的情况在口语中也存在,但通常是为了强调或归因,比如在讨论项目时:“This part of the report was written by Sarah.”(报告的这部分是莎拉写的。)

Passive Voice with 'By' Across Tenses

Tense Subject Verb 'Be' Past Participle By + Agent
Present Simple
The reports
are
written
by the staff.
Past Simple
The report
was
written
by the manager.
Present Continuous
The report
is being
written
by the intern.
Past Continuous
The report
was being
written
by Sarah.
Present Perfect
The report
has been
written
by the team.
Future (Will)
The report
will be
written
by the director.
Modals
The report
must be
written
by you.

Meanings

The passive voice with 'by' is used to identify the 'agent' (the person or thing that performs the action) when the sentence structure is passive. It allows the speaker to emphasize the receiver of the action while still providing credit or responsibility to the doer.

1

Artistic & Intellectual Credit

Used to attribute books, paintings, songs, or inventions to their creators.

“This novel was written by George Orwell.”

“The symphony was composed by Beethoven.”

2

Official & Legal Responsibility

Used in news or legal documents to state who performed an official action.

“The law was passed by the parliament.”

“The decision was made by the CEO.”

3

Unexpected Agents

Used when the doer of the action is surprising or particularly noteworthy.

“The window was broken by a falling branch.”

“The cake was eaten by the dog!”

Reference Table

Reference table for 被动语态:用 'by' 表明施动者
结构名称 英语例句 中文含义 使用场景
Active Voice
Sarah wrote the report.
Sarah 写了报告。
强调执行者 Sarah。
Passive (no agent)
The report was written.
报告写好了。
执行者未知或不重要。
Passive (with 'by')
The report was written by Sarah.
报告是由 Sarah 写的。
强调报告并交代作者。
Present Passive
The coffee is brewed by her.
咖啡是由她冲泡的。
日常习惯或例行公事。
Past Passive
The song was sung by him.
那首歌是他唱的。
描述过去发生的动作。
Future Passive
The project will be managed by them.
项目将由他们管理。
未来的计划或分工。

正式程度

正式
The manuscript was authored by an unknown scholar.

The manuscript was authored by an unknown scholar. (Literature)

中性
The book was written by a local author.

The book was written by a local author. (Literature)

非正式
It was written by some guy I know.

It was written by some guy I know. (Literature)

俚语
This was penned by my homie.

This was penned by my homie. (Literature)

带 'By' 的被动语态思维导图

被动语态:By 执行者

结构

  • Subject + Be + V3 + by + Agent Formation
  • Be (根据时态变化) Auxiliary verb
  • 过去分词 (V3) Main verb form

使用时机

  • 归功或定责 Assign responsibility
  • 强调重要的执行者 Highlight doer
  • 正式语境 Objective tone
  • 消除歧义 Remove ambiguity

关键区别

  • By (执行者) Who or what does the action
  • With (工具) Tool used for action
  • 不重要则省略 No need for doer

被动语态中 By vs. With 的区别

使用 'By'
The report was written by him. 他是执行者。
The house was built by a local team. 团队是执行者。
使用 'With'
The report was written with a pen. 钢笔是工具。
The house was built with bricks. 砖块是材料。

我该用 'By + 执行者' 吗?

1

句子是被动语态吗?

YES
进入下一步。
NO
如果想强调执行者,请用主动语态。
2

执行者已知且重要吗?

YES
使用 'by + agent'。
NO
省略 'by + agent'。
3

这个“执行者”其实是个工具吗?

YES
改用 'with + instrument'。
NO
坚持用 'by + agent'。

被动句中的各类执行者

👨‍🏫

人物

  • The book was read by a student.
  • The meal was prepared by the chef.
🏢

组织机构

  • The car was manufactured by Tesla.
  • The software was developed by Google.
🐾

动物

  • The food was eaten by the dog.
  • The sheep were herded by the dog.

自然力量

  • The tree was struck by lightning.
  • The bridge was damaged by the earthquake.

按水平分级的例句

1

The book was written by him.

El libro fue escrito por él.

2

The cake was made by my dad.

El pastel fue hecho por mi papá.

3

The car was washed by Sam.

El coche fue lavado por Sam.

4

The photo was taken by her.

La foto fue tomada por ella.

1

The window was broken by a ball.

La ventana fue rota por una pelota.

2

The songs were sung by a famous choir.

Las canciones fueron cantadas por un coro famoso.

3

The house was built by my grandfather in 1950.

La casa fue construida por mi abuelo en 1950.

4

The emails were sent by the secretary.

Los correos fueron enviados por la secretaria.

1

The new law was signed by the President yesterday.

La nueva ley fue firmada por el Presidente ayer.

2

The bridge was designed by a French architect.

El puente fue diseñado por un arquitecto francés.

3

The missing child was found by a local hiker.

El niño desaparecido fue encontrado por un excursionista local.

4

The dinner was prepared by a professional chef.

La cena fue preparada por un chef profesional.

1

The experiment was conducted by a team of researchers from Oxford.

El experimento fue realizado por un equipo de investigadores de Oxford.

2

The company was founded by two brothers in their garage.

La empresa fue fundada por dos hermanos en su garaje.

3

The mural was painted by an anonymous artist overnight.

El mural fue pintado por un artista anónimo durante la noche.

4

The decision was heavily criticized by the local media.

La decisión fue fuertemente criticada por los medios locales.

1

The initiative was spearheaded by a coalition of environmental NGOs.

La iniciativa fue encabezada por una coalición de ONGs ambientales.

2

The manuscript was discovered by chance by a young librarian.

El manuscrito fue descubierto por casualidad por un joven bibliotecario.

3

The city's infrastructure was severely damaged by the hurricane.

La infraestructura de la ciudad fue gravemente dañada por el huracán.

4

The role was originally intended to be played by a younger actor.

El papel estaba originalmente destinado a ser interpretado por un actor más joven.

1

The silence was eventually broken by the rhythmic ticking of the clock.

El silencio fue finalmente roto por el tictac rítmico del reloj.

2

The policy was implemented by the government in the face of mounting public pressure.

La política fue implementada por el gobierno ante la creciente presión pública.

3

The intricate patterns were woven by hand by artisans in the remote village.

Los intrincados patrones fueron tejidos a mano por artesanos en la remota aldea.

4

The verdict was reached by the jury after three days of deliberation.

El veredicto fue alcanzado por el jurado tras tres días de deliberación.

容易混淆

Passive Voice: Giving Credit with "By" 对比 By vs. With

Learners use 'by' for tools and 'with' for people.

Passive Voice: Giving Credit with "By" 对比 By vs. From

In many languages, the word for 'from' is used for the passive agent.

Passive Voice: Giving Credit with "By" 对比 By vs. To (with 'known')

Learners say 'He is known by everyone.'

常见错误

The book was written from Mark.

The book was written by Mark.

Learners often translate 'from' directly from their native language.

The cake was make by Mom.

The cake was made by Mom.

Forgetting to use the past participle (V3).

The car was wash by Sam.

The car was washed by Sam.

Using the base form instead of the past participle.

It was by him written.

It was written by him.

Incorrect word order; 'by' comes after the verb.

The window was broken by a hammer.

The window was broken with a hammer.

Use 'by' for people/agents and 'with' for tools/instruments.

The song was sang by her.

The song was sung by her.

Confusing the past simple (sang) with the past participle (sung).

The letter was by me sent.

The letter was sent by me.

Placing the agent before the verb.

The house was built of my father.

The house was built by my father.

Using 'of' instead of 'by'.

The decision was made by the meeting.

The decision was made at the meeting.

Using 'by' for a location/event instead of an agent.

He was known by everyone.

He was known to everyone.

Some verbs like 'know' use 'to' instead of 'by' in the passive.

The room was filled by smoke.

The room was filled with smoke.

Verbs of 'filling' or 'covering' usually take 'with'.

句型

The ___ was ___ by ___.

Has the ___ been ___ by ___ yet?

The ___ is being ___ by ___ right now.

It is believed that the ___ was ___ by ___.

Real World Usage

Art Galleries constant

This sculpture was created by a local artist.

News Headlines very common

The bank was robbed by three masked men.

Social Media Credits very common

Photo by @TravelGuru.

Job Interviews occasional

The project was managed by me and two colleagues.

History Books constant

The pyramids were built by thousands of workers.

Tech Support common

Your ticket is being handled by our senior engineer.

💡

执行者很重要!

只有当“谁干的”这件事能提供关键信息或需要表彰时,才加 by + agent。比如:
The cake was eaten by the dog.
⚠️

By 还是 With?

记住:by 接“人/执行者”,with 接“工具”。弄混了会闹笑话!例如:
The window was broken by the thief with a hammer.
🎯

焦点依然在主语

虽然加了执行者,但被动语态的重心依然在动作的承受者身上。比如:
The prize was won by our team.
🌍

正式 vs 非正式

虽然到处都能用,但 by + agent 在新闻和学术报告中更常见。日常聊天大家更爱说:
The law was passed by the parliament.
💡

代词检查

by 后面如果接代词,一定要用宾格(me, him, her 等)。千万别说:
The letter was sent by him.

Smart Tips

Always use 'by' to credit the creator. It's the most natural way to speak in English.

This is a book from Stephen King. This is a book written by Stephen King.

Pause and check if you should use 'with' instead of 'by'.

The lock was opened by a key. The lock was opened with a key.

Put it at the end of the sentence with 'by' to make the sentence easier to read.

A group of very angry and confused local residents blocked the road. The road was blocked by a group of very angry and confused local residents.

Ask yourself: 'Is it important to know who did this?' If no, delete the 'by' phrase.

My hair was cut by a hairdresser. My hair was cut.

发音

/wəz ˈrɪtn baɪ/

The 'By' Connection

The word 'by' is usually unstressed. It sounds like /baɪ/ but is said very quickly, linking the verb to the agent.

End-Focus

The book was written by SHAKESPEARE. ↘

The stress often falls on the agent at the end of the sentence because it is the new information.

记住它

记忆技巧

B.Y. stands for 'Behold the Yesterday-doer' — it brings the person from the past action back to the end of the sentence.

视觉联想

Imagine a movie poster where the title is huge at the top (the Object), and the director's name is in small letters at the bottom after the word 'By'. The focus is the movie, but the credit is at the end.

Rhyme

When the action is done and the object is first, use 'by' for the person or the bubble will burst!

Story

A famous painting was stolen from a museum. The news said 'The painting was taken' (Passive). Everyone asked 'Who?'. The news updated: 'The painting was taken BY a clever thief.' The 'by' solved the mystery.

Word Web

WrittenPaintedCreatedDiscoveredBuiltCaughtByAgent

挑战

Look around your room. Find three items and say who they were made or bought by. (e.g., 'This lamp was bought by my sister.')

文化笔记

In Western academic writing, the passive with 'by' is used to show objectivity. However, modern styles (like APA) now encourage the active voice ('We found that...') to be more direct.

The BBC and other UK news outlets frequently use the passive with 'by' to report crimes or official statements to avoid sounding biased.

In galleries worldwide, 'by' is the standard way to attribute work. You will almost never see 'from' or 'of' on a painting's label.

The use of 'by' to indicate an agent comes from Old English 'be', which originally meant 'near' or 'at'. Over time, it evolved to mean 'through the agency of'.

对话开场白

What is your favorite book, and who was it written by?

Think of a famous invention. Who was it invented by?

Was your house built by a company or an individual?

If your life were a movie, who would it be directed by?

日记主题

Write about a gift you received. Who was it given by and why was it special?
Describe a major historical event in your country. What happened and who was it led by?
Write a short review of a movie. Mention who it was directed by and who the music was composed by.
Discuss a scientific discovery. Who was it made by and what was the impact?

常见错误

Incorrect

正确


Incorrect

正确


Incorrect

正确


Incorrect

正确

Test Yourself

选择正确的介词来引出执行者。

The famous novel was written ___ an acclaimed author.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: by
在被动句中,我们用 'by' 来引出执行者(作者)。'With' 通常用于工具。
找出并修正句子中的错误。 Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The delicious pizza was eaten with my brother.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The delicious pizza was eaten by my brother.
错误在于用了 'with' 来引出执行者。哥哥是吃披萨的人,不是吃披萨的工具,所以要用 'by'!
哪个句子正确使用了被动语态中的 'by'? 多项选择

选择正确的句子:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new song was produced by the popular DJ.
选项 1 正确使用了 'was produced'(被动形式)加上 'by' 来引出执行者 DJ。
用带 'by' 的被动语态翻译这个句子。 翻译

翻译成英语:'La presentación fue dada por la profesora.'

Answer starts with: ["T...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The presentation was given by the teacher.","The presentation was delivered by the teacher."]
被动结构是 'was given/delivered' 加上 'by' 来引出执行者 'the teacher'。

Score: /4

练习题

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct preposition (by or with).

The letter was written ___ a fountain pen ___ my grandfather.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: with / by
We use 'with' for the tool (fountain pen) and 'by' for the person (grandfather).
Choose the correct passive sentence. 多项选择

Which sentence correctly gives credit to the artist?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The mural was painted by Banksy.
Passive voice requires 'be' + V3 + 'by'.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The cake was eaten from the dog.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'from' to 'by'
In English, the agent of a passive sentence is introduced by 'by', not 'from'.
Change the active sentence to passive. Sentence Transformation

Active: 'Steve Jobs founded Apple.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apple was founded by Steve Jobs.
The object (Apple) becomes the subject, we add 'was', and the agent (Steve Jobs) follows 'by'.
Match the object with its famous creator. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All of the above
These are all common examples of the passive voice with 'by'.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Building

broken / by / was / window / the / him

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The window was broken by him.
Standard word order: Subject + be + V3 + by + Agent.
Is the following rule true or false? True False Rule

You must always use 'by' in every passive sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
You only use 'by' if the agent is known and important.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Who fixed your computer? B: It ___ by my brother.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was fixed
The context is past, so we use 'was' + the past participle 'fixed'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

14 exercises
用正确的形式完成句子。 填空

This famous cathedral ___ built ___ hundreds of workers.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was / by
找出并修正错误。 Error Correction

The delicious cake was baked by a special recipe.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The delicious cake was baked with a special recipe.
选择语法正确的句子。 多项选择

哪个句子是正确的?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new album was released by the band last month.
使用带 'by' 的被动语态翻译句子。 翻译

翻译成英语:'El problema fue resuelto por mi colega.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The problem was solved by my colleague."]
将单词排序组成正确的被动句。 Sentence Reorder

将这些单词排列成句:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The novel was written by a famous author.
将主动句与其对应的被动句匹配。 Match Pairs

匹配句子:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
选择最佳选项完成被动句。 填空

The decision has already ___ made ___ the committee.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: been / by
识别并修正语法错误。 Error Correction

The new rules was announced by the principal.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new rules were announced by the principal.
哪个句子正确使用了 'by' 和 'with'? 多项选择

选择正确的句子:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The letter was written by Sarah with a blue pen.
提供该句子的英语翻译。 翻译

翻译成英语:'El trabajo de casa fue terminado por todos los estudiantes.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The homework was finished by all the students.","The homework was completed by all the students."]
连词成句,组成有意义的被动句。 Sentence Reorder

将这些单词排列成句:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The car was damaged by the storm.
将被动句片段与正确的 'by + agent' 短语匹配。 Match Pairs

匹配片段:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
适当地完成句子。 填空

Many classic novels ___ still read ___ students today.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are / by
识别并修正句子中的错误。 Error Correction

The new software is being developed by a small team of engineers now.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new software is being developed by a small team of engineers.

Score: /14

常见问题 (8)

Don't use `by` if the agent is obvious (e.g., 'He was arrested'), unknown (e.g., 'My bike was stolen'), or unimportant (e.g., 'The road was paved').

Yes, but it's rare. Usually, we use the specific noun or a person's name. 'The window was broken by it' is grammatically correct but 'The window was broken by the wind' is better.

The passive voice itself is often formal, but adding `by` is just a way to provide information. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Use `by` for the person or force that does the action. Use `with` for the tool or object used to do it. 'The tree was cut by the lumberjack with an axe.'

Absolutely. 'The office is cleaned by a professional crew every night.'

In creative writing, 'by' can make sentences feel long and slow. However, in academic and technical writing, it is essential for accuracy.

Yes. 'He got caught by the police.' This is more informal than 'He was caught by the police.'

Usually, yes. However, you can add time phrases after it: 'The book was written by him in 1990.'

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

por

Spanish speakers might confuse 'by' with 'for' because 'por' can mean both.

French high

par

French sometimes uses 'de' for states (e.g., 'aimé de tous'), whereas English usually sticks to 'by' or 'to'.

German moderate

von

German word order is much more flexible, often placing the 'von' phrase before the verb.

Japanese partial

ni / ni yotte

Japanese passives often imply that the subject is 'adversely affected' by the action, which English doesn't necessarily do.

Arabic low

min qibal

In Arabic, it is often considered stylistically better to avoid mentioning the agent in a passive sentence.

Chinese moderate

bèi

In Chinese, the 'bèi' structure is traditionally used for negative or unpleasant events, though this is changing in modern usage.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?
还没有评论。成为第一个分享想法的人!