Everything you need to use the passive with 被 correctly: the patterns, when to use them, examples with audio, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
The 被 construction expresses the passive: the affected subject comes first and the agent follows 被, though the agent may be left out. Key patterns: Affected object + 被 + agent + verb + (result); Affected object + 被 + verb + (result).
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Full passive | Patient + 被 + Agent + V + (Result) Affected object + 被 + agent + verb + (result) | 我的手机被他弄坏了。 My phone was broken by him. |
| Agent omitted | Patient + 被 + V + (Result) Affected object + 被 + verb + (result) | 门被关上了。 The door was closed. |
The 被 construction is used when the speaker wants to stress being affected.
The agent can be left out when there is no need to say who did it.
Pick the right option, then open the answer to check it.
Options: 在 · 把 · 比 · 被
被. The passive uses 被: 我的包被偷了。
Options: 作业把老师改好了。 · 作业被改好老师了。 · 作业被老师改好了。 · 老师被作业改好了。
作业被老师改好了。. The affected object comes before 被.
Options: 被门关上了。 · 门把关上了。 · 门被关上了。 · 门被关了上。
门被关上了。. The agent can be dropped: 门被关上了。
Options: 在 · 把 · 被 · 跟
被. 被 is used to say the rain acted on him.
Options: 我的电脑被他修好了。 · 我的电脑被老师修好了。 · 电脑被修好了。 · 被他我的电脑修好了。
被他我的电脑修好了。. In the passive the affected object must come before 被.
Options: 在 · 把 · 比 · 被
被. Object + 被 + agent + V: My bike was ridden off by someone.
Options: 在 · 完 · 很 · 着
完. A 被 sentence usually has a result after the verb; 吃完 = eat up: The cake was eaten up by my younger brother.
Options: 窗户把风吹开了。 · 窗户被风吹了开。 · 窗户被风吹开了。 · 风被窗户吹开了。
窗户被风吹开了。. Affected object + 被 + agent + V + result: The window was blown open by the wind.
Options: 对 · 把 · 比 · 被
被. The person affected comes before 被: He was criticised by the teacher.
Options: 在 · 很 · 着 · 走
走. 偷走 = steal away: My wallet was stolen by a thief.
Options: 和 · 把 · 比 · 被
被. The computer is affected, so 被 is used: My computer was broken by my younger brother.
Options: 书没有被拿走。 · 书没被拿走了。 · 书被拿走没有。 · 书被没有拿走。
书没有被拿走。. To negate a 被 sentence, put 没(有) before 被 and drop 了: The book was not taken away.
Options: 在 · 把 · 比 · 被
被. The agent can be left out: Object + 被 + V: This problem has already been solved.
Options: 很 · 得 · 着 · 破
破. 打破 = break: The cup was broken by him.
Options: 把 · 比 · 被 · 让
被. 被 can drop the agent, while 让 must have one: That book has been borrowed.
Options: 他的话把大家听见了。 · 他的话被听见大家了。 · 他的话被大家听见了。 · 大家被他的话听见了。
他的话被大家听见了。. Object (他的话) + 被 + agent (大家) + V + result: What he said was heard by everyone.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. A 被 sentence can end with a degree complement V + 得 + adjective: The room was cleaned very well by Mum.
Options: 对 · 把 · 比 · 被
被. The pattern 是 + 被 + agent + V + 的 stresses who did it: That cup was broken by me.
Options: 妹妹被面包吃了。 · 面包把妹妹吃了。 · 面包被吃妹妹了。 · 面包被妹妹吃了。
面包被妹妹吃了。. The affected thing (面包) comes before 被 and the agent (妹妹) after it: The bread was eaten by my younger sister.
Options: 对 · 把 · 比 · 被
被. 被 + agent + 选为 = be chosen as: He was elected class monitor by everyone.
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