主動語態(tài)表示主語是動作的執(zhí)行者，被動語態(tài)表示主語是動作的承受者。在翻譯被動語態(tài)的句子時，有時強調(diào)動作的承受者，那么中文就要保持被動語態(tài)，反之，可以把含被動語態(tài)的句子翻譯成主動句。

（一）原文是被動語態(tài)，譯文保持被動語

In the meantime，they were denied a loan to build a vacation home，forced to pay cash for a new heating and cooling system，hounded by debt collectors，and embarrassed by the spectacle of having their home watched by investigators looking for the missing car．

這句話中的“were denied”是一個被動語態(tài)，在這里翻譯可以繼續(xù)保持被動語態(tài)，但形式上有所變化，可譯為“遭到”。參考譯文為“不僅如此，他們貸款蓋度假住房的申請也遭到了拒絕，購買取暖和制冷系統(tǒng)時被迫用現(xiàn)金支付，討債者對他們糾纏不休。還有調(diào)查人員監(jiān)視他們的家，以期尋找失蹤的汽車，這令人十分難堪?！?/p>

How well the predictions will be validated by later performance depends upon the a－mount reliability，and appropriateness of the information used and on the skill and wisdom with which it is interpreted．（真題示范）

此句中“will be validated”是被動語態(tài)，同樣在翻譯為中文時，可以保留被動語態(tài)，但要譯為“為，所”。參考譯文為“這些預測將在多大程度上為后來的表現(xiàn)所證實取決于所用信息的數(shù)量、可靠程度、適宜程度以及用來解釋這些信息的技巧與才智?！?/p>

The level of meaning that conveys the language user’s feelings，including his attitude or evaluation in shaping his use of language is called affective meaning or emotive meaning．

這句話的被動語態(tài)在句子后面“is called”，翻譯時比較簡單，可直接譯為“被”。參考譯文為“傳達語言使用者情感（包括使用者態(tài)度，對語言使用效力的估量等）意義的強度被稱為情感意義或感情意義。”

Laptops can be plugged in or run on batteries，although the batteries must be recharged every few hours．

這句話的被動語態(tài)有兩部分，但只有第一部分在翻譯時可譯為被動語態(tài)，但要譯為“使”。參考譯文為“膝上型計算機可以插電源也可以使用電池運行。”

Early fires on the earth were certainly caused by nature，not by Man．

這句話中的被動語態(tài)可譯為“由”。參考譯文為“地球上早期的火肯定是由大自然而不是人類引燃的?！?/p>

I was so impressed by these words that I used them later for a Christmas。

參考譯文為“我為這些話所深深感動，后來我就把它們寫在圣誕卡上了?！?/p>

The English language is being destroyed by a“deadly virus of management speak”which has infected the mouths and minds of politicians，a leading UK journalist said recently．

參考譯文為“最近，一位英國資深記者說，英語正在遭到一種‘官腔語言的致命病毒’的侵害，這種病毒已經(jīng)感染了許多政治家的談吐和思想?！?/p>

In 1994，Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize，along with Israeli leaders Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres，for their work on the Oslo accords，seen at the time as a breakthrough toward an independent Palestinian state and a permanent peace with Israel．

參考譯文為“1994年，阿拉法特和以色列領(lǐng)導人伊扎克·拉賓和希蒙·佩雷斯共同獲得了諾貝爾獎，他們?yōu)楹炇稹皧W斯陸協(xié)議”所做的努力在當時被視作通往一個獨立的巴勒斯坦國、實現(xiàn)巴以永久和平的‘重大突破’”。

湯姆被選為學生會主席。

此句漢語中由被動句的標記“被”，所以理所應當在譯為英語時也譯成被動句。參考譯文為“Tom was elected Chairman of the Students’Union．”

這位醫(yī)生深受大家的尊重。

這句話同樣有被動標記“受”，所以也要譯為英語被動句。參考譯文為“This doctor is greatly respected by everyone．”

（二）原文是被動句，但要翻譯為主動句

1．原文中的主語實際上是動作的承受者，但在翻譯時仍做主語

In his attitude can be found seeds for art in the 20th century：the art of the primitive，of symbol，and of imagination．

參考譯文為“在他的態(tài)度中可以找到20世紀藝術(shù)的種子：充滿原始、象征和想象的藝術(shù)。”

It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset：it invites you to think that animals should be treated either with the consideration humans extend to other humans，or with no consideration at all．（真題示范）

參考譯文為“這種說法從一開始就將討論引向兩個極端，它使人們認為應該這樣對待動物：要么像對待人類自身一樣關(guān)切體諒，要么完全冷漠無情?！?/p>

Perfumes may be made from the oils of certain flowers．Soaps are made from vegetable and animal oils．

這句話含有被動語態(tài)，但在翻譯時可譯成主動句。參考譯文為“有些花兒產(chǎn)生的油可以用來制造香水。植物油和動物油還可以用來制作肥皂?！?/p>

2．原文中的主語是動作的承受者，在翻譯有些句子時，可以把它用做譯文的賓語

During this transfer，traditional historical methods were argumented by additional methodologies designed to interpret the new forms of evidence in the historical study．

在這句話中“traditional historical methods”是主語，但在譯文中它是賓語。參考譯文為“在這種轉(zhuǎn)變中，歷史學家研究歷史時，那些解釋新史料的新方法充實了傳統(tǒng)的歷史研究方法?！?/p>

Sometimes this question is posed by people who hope the answer will be in the negative，who are fearful of a universe in which everything might one day be known．

參考譯文為“一些希望得到否定答案的人有時候提出這樣的問題，這些人害怕有朝一日宇宙中的一切或許會真相大白?！?/p>

3．it作形式主語的句子，表面上看起來是被動語態(tài)，但實際翻譯中卻要譯成主動句

It could be argued that the radio performs this service as well，but on television everything is much more living，much more real．

這句話的形式主語“it”在翻譯時要加上“有人”。參考譯文為“可能有人會說無線電廣播同樣也能做到這一點，但還是電視屏幕上的節(jié)目要生動、真實得多?！?/p>

It has been noted with concern that the stock of books in the library has been declining alarmingly．Students are asked to remind themselves of the rules for the borrowing and return of books，and to bear in mind the needs of other students．Penalties for overdue books will in the future be strictly enforced．

這句話的形式主語“it”在翻譯時不需譯出。參考譯文為“近來已注意到本館存書正在驚人的減少，此事令人關(guān)切?，F(xiàn)要求學生不要忘記借書還書規(guī)則，并考慮其他學生的需要。今后凡借書逾期不還者，必將嚴格按章處罰?！?/p>

It should be made clear to entire citizens that whoever enjoys rights must understake corresponding obligations．

參考譯文為“應該使全體公民明白，享受權(quán)利者必須承擔響應的義務(wù)?！?/p>

漢譯英中有時也會出現(xiàn)這種情況，我們在翻譯時應該注意。

瑪麗被風吹病了。

此句話有被動標志“被”，但由于這句話不強調(diào)動作的執(zhí)行者“風”，所以可以不譯為被動句。參考譯文為“Mary fell ill because of the draught．”

（三）在漢譯英中，漢語是主動句，但翻譯成英語是要變?yōu)楸粍泳洌@是因為英語中被動語態(tài)的應用要比漢語廣

我國各族人民每年都要熱烈慶祝十月一日的國慶節(jié)。

這句漢語雖然是主動句，但要強調(diào)動作的承受者，所以翻譯為英文最好為被動句。參考譯文為“National Day is enthusiastically celebrated on Oct．1by the Chinese people of all nationalities every year．”

幾個學生立刻把這個老師圍住了，向她提出了一個又一個的問題。

這句話表面上是一個主動句，但出現(xiàn)了“把”，故我們可以把這句話翻譯為被動句。參考譯文為“Very soon the teacher surrounded by several students and was snowed under with questions．”

這個校長提議在各校之間開展知識競賽。

參考譯文為“The principal proposed that a knowledge competition should be started among the different schools．”