When an ordinarily active verb is deliberately twisted into passive form, it often implies the helplessness of the person in controlling his own fate. College graduates can "be" job hunted, ordinary people’s opinions can also "be" represented。

如果一個主動動詞被故意用在了被動形式的句子里，那么通常就是在暗示當事人無法掌控自己命運的無助感。大學畢業生可以“被就業”，普通民眾的意見也可以“被代表”。

來看一個“被增長”的例句：

According to official statistics, our average income increased 5% in 2009. Many people think that is not true and that their income actually “was” increased。

據官方數據顯示，我們去年的平均收入增長了5%。很多人認為這個數據不屬實，認為他們的收入其實是“被”增長了。