主动语态之形，被动语态之意

在《语态：主动与被动的关系》一文里，提到有些动词有主动语态之形，但却有被动语态之意。

　　这些动词包括及物的（transitive verbs）、不及物的（ intransitive verbs）、动名词（gerunds）和不定式动词（ infinitives）。这些动词很特别，但数目不多。例如：

　　Ⅰ及物动词
① That house is building (= being built).
② The trumpets are sounding ( = being sounded).
③ The film is showing now (= being shown now).
④ The guns are firing (= being fired).
⑤ The drums are beating ( = being beaten).

　　Ⅱ不及物动词
⑥ The middle house won't let.
⑦ Porcelain sinks clean easily.
⑧ Such potatoes peel well.

　　⑥-⑧中的“出租”、“清洗”和“削”都有“被”的意思。

　　Ⅲ动名词
⑨ Your office needs cleaning (= to be cleaned).
⑩ The computer wants servicing (= to be serviced).
11. This watch requires winding up ( = to be wound up).
12. That good point bears repeating (= to be repeated).

　　Ⅳ不定式动词
13. This is an apartment to let.
14. Give him a chair to sit down.
15. There is nothing to do for the time being.
16. You are to blame.

　　13-16中的不定式动词都有被动之意，情况和⑥-⑧中的不及物动词类似，都是具有主动语态之形，含有被动语态之意。然而，这种用法虽很特殊，却不普遍。当这些动词回到本来的性质时，还是有被动语态的， 只是含义有些不同。例如17和18中的(a)和(b)的含义便有些不同：

17.a) His books sell well.
　 b) His books are sold well.

18.a) Your shoes have worn well.
　 b) Your shoes have been worn well.

　　(a)的句子表示“书的销路好”和“鞋子耐穿”，都是因为主语有内在的优点。至于(b)的句子，它们只把事实反映出来，没有别的含义。

　　最后，当感官动词当接系动词用时，它们也是有主动语态之形，被动语态之意：

19.Honey tastes sweet.
20.Glass feels smooth.
21.Perfume smells good.
22.The sky seems to appear dark.
23.The weather has turned hot.