1. Basic Structure:

• With "被": [Receiver of Action Subject] + 被 + [Doer of Action] + [Verb Phrase]

• Notional Passive (No "被"): [Receiver of Action Subject] + [Verb Phrase]

2. The Connotation of "被" Sentences:

• 我的杯子被他打破了。 (My cup was broken by him.) -> Unhappy

• 我被老师批评了。 (I was criticized by the teacher.) -> Unhappy

• Most of the time, "被" sentences indicate that the subject has suffered something undesirable.

• Examples:

• Exception: In modern Chinese, especially in news or formal contexts, this negative connotation is weakening. For example: "他被选为班长。" (He was elected class monitor.)

3. Notional Passive Sentences:

• 作业做完了。 (The homework is done.)

• 问题解决了。 (The problem is solved.)

• 信写好了。 (The letter is written.)

• When the doer is unimportant or obvious, Chinese prefers to use the active form to express a passive meaning.

• Examples:

Summary: Unless you want to emphasize "misfortune" or must specify the doer, using a notional passive sentence (active form) is often more natural in many contexts.