英文的「語態」是表示主詞與受詞關係的一種動詞形式，分為主動語態和被動語態兩種。
主動語態: 主詞是動詞的「執行者」，被動語態: 主詞是動詞的「承受者」。
到目前為止，所介紹的英語句型都是主動語態(Active voice)，這種句型的基本形式如下:
主詞＋動詞＋受詞
例如:
He kicks a dog. (他踢了一隻狗)
句型解析: 他是主詞，踢是動詞，狗是被踢的承受者，踢這個動作的執行者是主詞「他」。
I saw a cat. (我看到一隻貓)
句型解析: 我是主詞，看是動詞，貓是被看的承受者，看這個動作的執行者是主詞「我」。
注意: 以上例句的動詞都是「及物動詞」，及物動詞的後面都會跟著一個名詞，這個名詞就是及物動詞的「受詞」。
任何英語句子都一定要有「動詞」而且僅能有一個動詞，這個動詞又可分為「及物動詞」和「不及物動詞」，其差別在於及物動詞後面要接一個名詞當受詞，不及物動詞後面則不需要接受詞，例如:
I swim. (我游泳)
You go. (你走)
She dances. (她跳舞)
上面這些例句的動詞後面都沒有接任何詞句，雖然意思有些不完整，但都是正確的句型，如果要將句子說明得更完整，可以在不及物動詞後面加上「補語」(補充說明的意思)，例如:
I swim every day. (我每天游泳)
You go to school. (你去學校)
She dances very well. (她舞跳得很好)
注意:
英語句型中只有「及物動詞」才會有「被動語態」，後面不須接受詞的不及物動詞，是無法改為被動語態的，因為句型中缺少「被」怎樣的受詞，所以只有及物動詞的句型可以改為被動語態，因為所謂的被動語態，就是將原來句子的「受詞變成主詞」。
主：David wrote a letter yesterday. (wrote是過去式)
被：A letter was written by David yesterday. (Be動詞要注意時態，written是過去分詞)
主：A thief stole my bike. (stole是過去式)
被：My bike was stolen by a thief. (Be動詞要注意時態，stolen是過去分詞)
主：Tom drinks a cup of coffee every morning. (drinks是現在式)
被：A cup of coffee is drunk by Tom every morning. (Be動詞要注意時態，drunk是過去分詞)
主：I broke my window yesterday. (broke是過去式)
被：My window was broken by me yesterday. (Be動詞要注意時態，broken是過去分詞)
主：Tom liked Helen 3 years ago. (liked是過去式)
被：Helen was liked by Tom 3 years ago. (Be動詞要注意時態，liked是過去分詞)
主：I bought a watch yesterday. (bought是過去式)
被：A watch was bought by me yesterday. (Be動詞要注意時態，bought是過去分詞)
注意: 若受詞的單複數與主詞不同時，當受詞變成主詞後，動詞也必須跟著主詞變化，例如:
主：I saw two cats. (過去式單數動詞)
被：Two cats were seen by me. (同樣用過去式的verb to Be但改為複數)
I saw two cats. (我看見兩隻貓)，原來的主詞是單數，但改成被動語態之後，原來的受詞(two cats)是複數，當兩隻貓變成主詞之後，後面必須接複數的verb to Be “were”, 變成Two cats were seen by me.
以下是主動改被動的例句，注意verb to Be的變化:
主動語態 被動語態
Mr. Jones hit the dog. The dog was hit by Mr. Jones.
My brother saw you yesterday. You were seen by my brother yesterday.
He sent the book to me. The book was sent to me by him.
Dickens wrote those two novels. Those two novels were written by Dickens.
They ate all of the apples. All of the apples were eaten by them.
Jane wrote that song. That song was written by Jane.
My mother loves me. I am loved by my mother.
不同時態的主動語態改為被動語態
由以上例句可看出，被動語態可用於各種時態的句型(句型的時態可由動詞時態看出)，例如：
I am not so easily deceived.
我是不會輕易被騙的。（現在式）
The window was broken by a naughty boy.
窗戶被一個頑皮的男孩打破了。（過去式）
You will be allowed to borrow five books at a time.
你將允許一次借五本書。（現在未來式）
He said that the bridge would be built next year.
他說這座橋將於明年建造。（過去未來式）
The injured player was being carried off the field.
受傷的選手正被抬離現場。（過去進行式）
The question is being discussed at the meeting.
這個問題正在會議中被討論。（現在進行式）
The food has been cooked.
飯已經被煮好了。（現在完成式）
現在進行式:
主動語態 被動語態
I am writing this letter. The letter is being written by me.
現在完成式:
主動語態 被動語態
I have written the letter. The letter has been written by me.
過去進行式:
主動語態 被動語態
I was writing the letter when you came. The letter was being written by me when you came.
過去完成式:
主動語態
I had written the letter before you came.
被動語態
The letter had been written by me before you came.
未來式:
主動語態
I will write the letter. The letter will be written by me.
被動語態
I am going to see you. You are going to be seen by me.
未來完成式:
主動語態 被動語態
I will have written this letter. This letter will have been written by me.
有助動詞的主動語態改被動語態
上面例句除了表示各種時態的助動詞外，有些助動詞不一定和時態有關，例如:
can、should、has to、ought to……..
與時態無關的助動詞在改成被動語態後，都應維持助動詞原型，只需加入verb to Be和過去分詞即可，例如:
主動語態 被動語態
I can play the guitar. The guitar can be played by me.
I may use this car. This car may be used by me.
He must give the book to me. The book must be given to me by him.
You should help him. He should be helped by you.
You have to write this letter. This letter has to be written by you.
He ought to write this report. This report ought to be written by him.
主動語態否定句改被動語態否定句
將主動語態的否定句改成被動語態否定句，其步驟如下:
1. 先將主動語態否定句改成肯定句。
2. 再將此肯定句改成被動語態。
3. 然後將被動語態的肯定句改成否定句。
例如:
下面的例句都是將主動語態否定句改被動語態否定句:
1. They did not like the music.
(a). They liked the music.
(b). The music was liked by them.
(c). The music was not liked by them.
2. I have not written that letter.
(a). I have written that letter.
(b). That letter has been written by me.
(c). That letter has not been written by me.
3. You cannot eat that cake.
(a). You can eat that cake.
(b). That cake can be eaten by you.
(c). That cake cannot be eaten by you.
在熟悉了上面的更改步驟之後，其實我們可以直接將主動語態的否定句改成被動語態的否定句，例如:
主動語態 被動語態
They do not enjoy such music. Such music is not enjoyed by them.
He did not tell that story. That story was not told by him.
They have not written that story. That story has not been written by them.
Peter is going to see me. I am not going to be seen by Peter.
He will not help me. I will not be helped by him.
主動語態疑問句改被動語態疑問句
將主動語態疑問句改成被動語態疑問句，其步驟與上面類似:
1. 先將主動語態疑問句改成肯定句。
2. 再將此肯定句改成被動語態。
3. 然後將被動語態的肯定句改成疑問句。
下面的例句都是將主動語態疑問句改成被動語態疑問句:
1. Did you drink my coffee?
(a). You drink my coffee.
(b). My coffee was drunk by you.
(c). Was my coffee drunk by you?
被動問句將主動問句的助動詞還原成Be動詞 (注意時態)
2. Do farmers in Taiwan grow apples?
(a) Farmers in Taiwan grow apples.
(b) Apples are grown by farmers in Taiwan.
(c) Are apples grown by farmers in Taiwan?
3. Have you finished the report?
(a) You have finished the report.
(b) The report has been finished by you.
(c) Has the report been finished by you?
同樣的，在熟悉了上面的更改步驟之後，其實我們可以直接將主動語態疑問句改成被動語態疑問句，例如:
主動語態 被動語態
Does he help his students? Are his students helped by him?
Did he tell that story? Was that story told by him?
Has she written that story? Has that story been written by her?
Whom is Peter going to visit? Who is going to be visited by Peter?
When did you read that book? When was that book written by you?
Why do his friends avoid him? Why is he avoided by his friends?
Whom did you see? Who was seen by you?
Has he read that report? Has that report been read by him?
Is he writing that letter? Is that letter being written by him?
未來式之主動語態改被動語態
未來式與現在式的區別在於句子的主詞後面會多加一個will表示未來的助動詞，因此主動語態未來式改被動語態與主動語態現在式改被動語態一樣，只是主詞後面多加一個will表示未來式。
主: I will study English tonight
被: English will be studied by me tonight. (注意主格要改受格)
主: They will finish the work tomorrow
被: The work will be finished by them tomorrow. (注意主格要改受格)
其他例句
主動語態： I am looking for you.
(注意look是不及物動詞，所以要加介係詞for變成及物動詞當作「尋找」的意思)
被動語態： You are being looked for by me.
主動語態： I sleep. (正確，不及物動詞後面不須接受詞)
被動語態： I am slept. (錯誤，不及物動詞沒有被動語態)
主動語態： We must do it now.
被動語態： It must be done (by us) now.
如果句子中有助動詞，那麼動詞的被動語態的形態是：
助動詞 + Be + 動詞的過去分詞 (在不引起誤解的情況下"by us"有時可省略)
主動語態： You can do it now.
被動語態： It can be done by you now.
主動語態： I gave him a book.
被動語態： He was given a book by me.
句中如果有兩個受詞，通常人稱代名詞的受詞可變為主詞，另一個保留不動，稱為「保留受詞」(retained object)。
使用被動語態的理由
被動語態強調的是「接受動作」的人或物，例句:
The ball was hit by the boy.
主動語態強調的是「執行動作」的人或物，例句:
The boy hit the ball
因為主動語態的句子較為清楚、生動，而通常也較為簡潔，因此英文寫作建議應盡量使用主動語態。但原則雖然如此，若整篇文章全部都以主動語態去撰寫，內容會過於單調缺乏變化，若能偶而穿插一些被動語態，會使文章讀起來比較活潑生動。
被動語態除了可增加文句的變化外，有些情況下使用被動語態可能更為恰當，以下為使用的時機：
1. 當「執行者」未知、與討論不相關，或「執行者」已經相當明確時：
(1) Up to 90% of the energy in light bulbs is wasted in the form of heat.
該句子很難去指名誰是執行者(所有使用電燈泡的人)。
(2) The first edition of Freud's earliest writings on dreams (佛洛依德的夢的解析) was published in 1899.
該句假定讀者不會有興趣知道出版者的名字(重點在書而不是出版者)
2. 當「執行者」的重要性沒有「動作」重要時:
當討論科學實驗程序時，研究者常會這樣寫：
The honey bees were kept in a humidified chamber at room temperature overnight.
The solution was heated to 90°C for approximately 30 minutes and then allowed to cool.
上述被動語態句型若改為主動語態句型：
We kept the honey bees in a humidified chamber at room temperature overnight.
We heated the solution to 90°C for approximately 30 minutes and then allowed it to cool.
主動語態有把句子變短嗎？有變簡潔嗎？其實沒有(事實上，第二個句子還多出一個字) ，那主動語態有讓句子更清楚嗎？也許有，雖然讀者也許本來就會合理的假設作者就是執行者。
從上述兩個例句可以感覺出，主動語態改變了句子內容的「重點」，從「研究材料」本身變成了「研究者」，然而這兩個例句的重點其實是在討論科學實驗的「程序」，「研究者」並不是句子的重點，研究的「材料以及程序」才是重點。
從另一方面來說，以上例句如果以主動語態撰寫，句子的開頭多半會是”We…”，當We開頭的主詞一再重複使用時，會令讀者分心混淆了文章的重點。因此被動語態可用來強調「研究主體」的本身，使讀者將注意力導向研究的「動作」或是「程序」，用以改變句子的結構和節奏。
3. 當受詞為主要的議題時:
有時選用被動語態寫法是必要的，藉此將重要的資訊或想要表達的重點放在句子的開頭。
例如，作者在句子中想討論的主題(人、事情、想法)應盡量靠近主詞位置的開頭，好引起讀者注意、易於確認句子想要表達的重點。
以下的主動語態句子以”green plants” (執行者)作為句子的開頭:
Green plants produce carbohydrates (碳水化合物) in the presence of light and chlorophyll (葉綠素).
如果換個寫法，以"carbohydrates" (動作的受詞)來作為句子主詞的開頭，整個句子的重點會更加凸顯:
Carbohydrates are produced by green plants in the presence of light and chlorophyll.
總結:
一般而言，在整篇文章中應盡量使用主動語態作為句型的主體。
但當有以下三種情況時，可以考慮使用被動語態：
1. 當「執行者」未知、與討論不相關，或「執行者」已經相當明確時。
2. 當「執行者」的重要性沒有「動作」重要時。
3. 當受詞為主要的議題時。
注意:
對英語非母語的中國人來說，不要隨意或故意的使用被動語態，因為有時被動語態句子的語意是不自然的或是不客氣的(上對下，帶有命令式的語態)，例如:
主動語態 被動語態
I will tell you later. You will be told by me later.
(我待會兒會告訴你) (待會兒你會被我告知)
觀察上述句子的語意，主動語態是客氣的說法，被動語態則是上對下，帶有命令式的語態，如果是長輩、老闆或上級詢問你什麼事時，如果你用被動語態回答，肯定會得罪人的。
主動語態 被動語態
We shall observe the rules. The rules shall be observed by us.
(我們應遵守規定) (這些規定應被我們遵守)
上面例句的主動語態是表示「主動、自願」的遵守規定，改成被動語態後，句子的意思就給人感覺是「被迫」遵守的意思，有心不甘情不願的感覺，因此若使用被動語態會讓人覺得誠意不足。
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