有些被动形式有主动意思：
He is delighted（＝joyful），satisfied（＝content），exasperat－ ed（=angry），worried（＝sad），dejected（＝sorrowful），distracted（=mad），animated（=cheerful），disheartened （＝gloomy）．（多数表示情绪动词的被动形式都有主动意思）
He is exhausted（＝weary），married（＝not single），pinched （=poor），reserved（=modest），puffed－up（＝vain），unrestrained（=free），untrained（=ignorant），distin－ guished（＝famous）．It is untarnished（=clean），un－touched（=intact），untrodden（=pathless），unsettled （=unstable），deserted（＝lonely），complicated（=not simple），burnished（＝bright）．（表示状态的被动形式没有被动意思或只有少许被动意思）
另一方面有些主动形式却有被动意思：
1．谓语动词：
The secret discovered itself（=was discovered）．（参阅1213）
The matter settled itself（=was settled） at once．Don't worry yourself（=be worried）．
His energy has exhausted itself（=been exhausted）．The plan worked out（=was worked out） with success．（参阅1212）
School will open（=be opened） next week．
The project developed （=was developed） slowly．
A candle burned（=was burned） in the corner．
The book reads well．
This article sells well．
The cloth wears well．
How does the house let？
The door won't lock．
The house is building．
The cow is milking．
My work is finishing．
2．非谓语动词：
There' s nothing to buy（=to be bought）．
There's not a moment to lose．
There is some work to finish．
There are many lawyers to apply to．
The child wants spanking（＝to be spanked）．
The story won't bear retelling．
The composition needs correcting．
This house requires repairing．
This novel is worth reading．
3．形容词、介词短语和名词也可有被动意义：
The book is readable（=may be read）．（后缀-able和-ble有被动意义）
The root of this plant is eatable（=may be eaten）．
This theory is not defensible（=cannot be defended）．
No trees are visible（=can be seen） in the desert．
The matter is still in dispute（=being disputed）．
（有些介词短语有被动意义）
The bridge is in process（or course） of construction（=being constructed）．
Rice is in great demand（=greatly demanded）．
I am in his employ（＝employed by him）．
The plan is under contemplation （=being contemplat－ed）．
The house is under repair．
The problem is under discussion（or under investiga－tion）．
可以把下面各对句子加以比较：
This rich man is in possession of（＝owns） a large garden．
The large garden is in the possession of（＝is owned by）a rich man．
Miss White is in charge of this library．
The library is in（or under） the charge of Miss White．
General Dong is in command of the Second Division．
The Second Division is under（the） command of Gen－eral Dong．
Our army is in control of the city．
The city is in（or under） the control of our army．
Few know about his ill-treatment，punishment，anddemotion（=being ill－treated，being punished，and beingdemoted）．（有些表示动作的名词可有被动意义）
He came to my aid（or assistance，rescue）．（＝I was aid-ed，assisted，rescued．）
