1. take place等能用于被动语态吗
Great changes ______ in China since 1978.
A. have taken place B. took placeC. have beentaken place D. were taken place
此题应选A。首先要排除C, D, 因为take place(发生)是不及物动词, 所以不能用被动语态；另一方面, 因为句子中的since 1978, 所以句子宜用现在完成时A。
大家知道, 不及物动词没有被动语态(因为不及物动词没有宾语，转换成被动语态便没有主语)。但这里要注意的是：由于受汉语的影响，有些不及物动词很容易被考生误认为是及物动词，从而误用被动语态。这类易用错的动词主要的有take place 发生 / happen 发生 / come about 发生 / breakout 爆发 / appear出现 / disappear 消失 / last 持续 等)。
他出什么事了?
误：What was [is] happened to him?
正：What has happened to him?
每四年举行一次选举。
误：Elections are taken place every four years.
正：Elections take place every four years.
我不知道这事是怎么发生的。
误：I don’t know how this thing was come about.
正：I don’t know how this thing came about.
夜里起了一起火灾。
误：A fire was broken out during the night.
正：A fire broke out during the night.
2. 通常不用于被动语态的静态动词
那里的人缺乏食物。
1. People there lack food. (正)
2. Food is lacked by people there. (误)
从形式上看, 句2是句1的相应的被动形式，既然句1为正句，那么句2从理论上说应该是成立的。而事实上句2却是个错句。
在英语中，并不是所有的及物动词都可以用于被动语态的, 有些动词(尤其是那些静态动词)尽管它们可以带宾语, 但却不用于被动语态, 这种动词考生容易弄错, 其中主要的有：have, lack, fit, suit, cost, let, like等：
他有一台电脑。
正：He has a computer.
误：A computer is had by him.
他当时正在洗澡。
正：He was taking a bath.
误：A bath was being had by him.
我的鞋不适合。
正：My shoes don’t fit me.
误：I am not fitted by my shoes.
这架钢琴花了她6000美元。
正：The piano cost her 6000 dollars.
误：She was cost her 6000 dollars.
误：6000 dollars was cost her.
这件衣服他穿很合适。
正：The coat suits him very well.
误：He is well suited by the coat.
3. 容易出错的被动语态时态
—Have you moved into the new house?
—Not yet. The rooms ______.
A. are being painted B. are painting C. are paintedD. are being painting
此题选A。从句意上看, 此题应选被动式(这是显然的), 同时注意：被动语态要用现在进行时形式(这点容易忽视)。
在做动词的语态题时, 同时要注意其时态形式：
You are wanted on the phone. 有人给你打电话。(一般现在时)
When was the building completed? 这座大楼什么时候建成?(一般过去时)
You won’t be allowed to take so much luggagewith you. 不会准你带这么多行李。(一般将来时)
A new railway is now being built. 一条新铁路正在修建。(现在进行时)
The roads were being widened. 道路当时正在加宽。(过去进行时)
Such a thing has never been heard of before. 这种事以前从未听说过。(现在完成时)
有时被动式动词可与情态动词连用：
The work must be finished at once. 这工作必须马上完成。
The method can still be improved upon. 这方法还可以改进。
My umbrella may have been left on the train. 我的伞可能忘在火车上了。
