英语语法有一条规则：就是“现在分词表主动；过去分词表被动”，这已经是大家公认的规则了。

然而，任何事物都有其特殊的现象和内在规律，英语亦然。在有些情况下，英语过去分词无论作状语、作宾补还是作定语，并不表示被动，而是主动。例如：

Faced with so many problems, they never gave up.面对如此多的问题，他们从未放弃。

We found John seated in a chair, writing a letter. 我们发现约翰坐在椅子上，正在写信。

The woman dressed in red clothes was his aunt. 这个穿红色衣服的女人是他的姨妈。

语法书上讲“过去分词表被动”，但这却是“过去分词表主动”，或者说“被动语态表主动”。这是一个很有意思的问题，英语中确实存在这种现象，应该是有一定规律可循的。下面对此作一分析归纳。

（一）首先，这种现象的本质之一，缘于反身代词的用法。主语和宾语为同一个人，主语是动作的发出者，又是动作的接受者，这就出现了被动语态或过去分词都表示“主动”含义的语言现象。常见的这类用法归纳如下：

abandon yourself to沉湎于=be abandoned to

absorb oneself in 专心于=be absorbed in

dress oneself in穿衣= be dressed in

seat oneself in/on坐在=be seated in/on

face oneself with 面对=be faced with

addict oneself to 沉迷于=be addicted to

accustom oneself to 习惯于=be accustomed to

devote oneself to 献身于=be devoted to

hide oneself 藏起来=be hidden

lose oneself in 迷失于=be lost in

settle oneself in定居于=be settled in

prepare oneself for为做准备=be prepared for

recover oneself from 从病中中痊愈= be recovered from

例如：

Absorbed in the newspaper, he didn’t hear the bell. 他专心读报，连门铃也没听见。

Fully recovered from his operation, he decided to leave the hospital.从他的手术完全恢复后，他决定离开医院。

（二）英语中有一种“使令性动词”，意为“使……怎么样”，表示人的心理或情绪变化。这类动词在句子中经常以过去分词的面貌出现，但在意思上却没有被动的意思。例如：

Satisfied with his result of the final examination, Tom was smiling all the time. 由于对期末考试结果很满意，汤姆乐得一直在笑。

Disappointed at her son’s behavior, she couldn’t sleep well all the time. 因对儿子的表现感到失望，她一直睡不好觉。

Worried about the time available, Zhang Pingyu had mad a list of the sites she wanted to see in London. (P 14, Unit 2, Book 5) 因担心可用的时间有限，张萍玉事先列出了她计划在伦敦参观的景点。

常见的这类“使令性动词”有：satisfy, frighten, amuse, amaze, surprise, astonish, shock, bore, tire, delight, disappoint, discourage, encourage, excite, interest, annoy, fascinate, upset, puzzle, confuse, move, worry, inspire, embarrass, frustrate, please, fascinate, disturb, terrify, horrify, thrill, relax等，都有这种用法。

（三）表示坐落、位置等概念的一些动词，其过去分词也表示主动意思。例如：

You find most of the population settled in the south. (P 10, Unit 2, Book 5) 你发现大部分人口定居在南方。

Located near the river, the chemical factory is ready to pour waste water into it and has caused much pollution. 由于坐落在河的附近，化工厂随时把废水倒入其中，造成大量污染。

They found a small village situated in the center of the forest and looked like a leaf. 他们发现一个小村庄坐落在森林中央，像片树叶一样。

Camped in the field across the stream, we could go fishing during the day. 在小溪对面的田野里宿营，我们可以在白天去钓鱼。

（四）表示“倾注、专心、集中、习惯”等含义的动词，其被动语态或过去分词，也有此种用法。例如：

The English professor was busied/occupied/employed/engaged in preparing his lecture.英语教授忙于准备他的演讲。

He was so absorbed in thought that he ran against a passerby. 他全神贯注地想心事，以至于和一个行人撞了个满怀。

She is devoted to the cause of the people’s education. 她献身于人民的教育事业。

Tom was lost in thought. 汤姆陷入了沉思。

They were deeply buried in his work. 他们埋头工作。

We should be concerned about the growth of the young people.我们应当关心年轻人的成长。

You will soon be used/accustomed to the climate here.你不久就会习惯这里的气候的。

The child was addicted to computer games. 这孩子沉迷于电脑有游戏。

（五）表示“装饰、盛满、装备”等含义的动词，也有此用法。例如：

This bottle is filled with milk. 这个瓶子盛满了牛奶。

The room was crowded with people. 房间挤满了人。

The meeting hall was decorated with fresh flowers. 会议大厅装饰着鲜花。

That newly built plant is equipped with modern machines. 那家新建的工厂装备着现代化机器。

    当然，还有一些其他情况，限于篇幅，不再赘述。