第七讲 被动语态

第七讲被动语态
英语中被动语态使用范围极为广泛，尤其以科技英语为甚。

凡是在不必说出主动者、不愿说出主动者、无从说出主动者或者是为了便于连贯上下文等场合，往往都用被动语态。

汉语中虽也有被动语态的句子，但使用范围狭窄得多。

被动语态的处理
a)Many people think birth control is quite necessary in China.
b)It is widely(commonly)thought/believed/held/accepted)that birth control is quite necessary in China.
a)More and more people agree(realize/are aware)that women should enjoy full equality with men.
b)There is a growing agreement(realization/awareness)that women should enjoy full equality with men.
a)Many Chinese people have gone to the United States in the past15years.
b)The past15years have brought many Chinese people to the United States.
a)We almost forget this event.
b)This event is now almost fading from our memory.
a)Students should certainly make continuous efforts.
b)Continuous efforts on the part of students are certainly required.
a)We easily drew the conclusion through the investigation.
b)The investigation easily led us to the conclusion.
不要千篇一律地使用主动态(英语中被动结构的使用频率远高于汉语),如例11中的a）。

a)We are making great efforts to improve our English.
b)Great efforts are being made to improve our English.
a)We know very little about the nature of human beings.
b)Little is known about the nature of human beings.
a)Because of social demands,there appear many evening schools.
b)Many evening schools are called into existence by social demands.
a)We may think more of the elderly who live apart from their children.
b)More thought may be given to the elderly who live apart from their children.
1. 常见的汉译英被动语态
广泛应用被动语态，是英语的特点之一，而在汉语中被动语态使用较少。

如：
例1：这个问题解决了。

This problem has been solved.
例2：这座电站今年年底造好。

The construction of this power station will be completed by the end of the year.
例3：这个规定不得违反。

This regulation should not be violated.
例4：这件事至今还没得出正确的结论。

So far no correct conclusion has been drawn on the matter.
从语法上讲，英语被动语态的各种用法都有一定的理由。

这些理由正是在汉译英时使用被动语态的依据。

从汉英对比的角度看，下述几方面值得我们特别注意：
汉语中的完全被动态（真正的被动态）用表示被动的助词“被”或跟“被”意义相同的“受”、“由”、“遭”、“给”、“挨”、“叫”、“让”、“为……所……”等构成。

用完全被动态的句子一般要相应地译成英语的被动句子。

如：
例1：他仅有的一点钱也被抢去了。

He was robbed of what little money he had.
例2：他受人尊敬。

He is respected (honored, esteemed) by all.
例3：这些小孩每天早晨由母亲替他们穿衣服。

These children are dressed by their mother every morning.
例4：他遭到了邻居们的嘲笑。

He was laughed at by his neighbours.
例5：这组织已给不良分子破坏了。

The organization has been destroyed by undesirable elements.
例6：这孩子将挨母亲责罚了。

The boy will be punished by his mother.
例7：一个男孩子让汽车压死了。

A boy was run over by a motorcar.
例8：有明显的迹象表明，一些古老的传统和价值观不再为年轻人所珍视。

Obvious signs show that some old traditions and values are not cherished by youth any more.
汉语中还有些被动句是用“加以”、“予以”等之后加谓语动词来表达被动意义，英译时一般译为被动句。

例9：这个问题必须以适当的方式予以处理。

The problem must be dealt with by appropriate means.
例10：该计划将由一个特别委员会加以审查。

The plan will be examined by a special committee.
汉语中凡着重说明一件事是怎样的，或在什么时候、什么地点做的，常用“是……的”或“为……所”。

这种结构的句子带有一种解释语气，也属于被动，英译时常使用被动语态。

如：
例11：缺点和错误是会克服的。

Shortcomings and mistakes will surely be overcome.
例12：这艘轮船是中国制造的。

This ship was made in China.
例13：社会主义思想体系已为全国人民所接受。

Socialist ideology has been accepted by the people of the whole country.
2. 无主句的被动语态
汉语和英语在主语的应用上是很不同的。

英语语法通则要求每一个句子有一个主语，没有主语是例外。

汉语语法的通则是：凡主语显然可知时以不用为常。

所谓显然可知，多指主语是“我”、“我们”、“你”、“你们”；在语言环境能暗示或说话人双方能意会时，就不必说出。

这种无主句英译时一般要用被动语态。

如：
例1：一开始只能学习少数句型。

At first only a few sentence patterns can be learned.
例2：要把必要的资料收集起来，加以分析。

The necessary quantity of data should be collected and analyzed.
例3：最后达成了协议。

At last an agreement was arrived at.
例4：如果不按时将书归还图书馆或到期前不续借，就得按规定罚款。

If books are not retuned to the library on time or not renewed before they are due, a fine must be paid in accordance with the regulations.
例5：随着工业的迅速发展，将生产出更多更快的喷气式飞机。

With the rapid development of industry, more and faster jet planes will be produced.
汉语中还有一些无主句，其中主动者是不可知的，或是无从根究的，英译时需用被动语态。

如：
例6：昨天捉到了那凶手。

That murderer was caught yesterday.
例7：必须保证每天八小时睡眠。

Eight hours per day for sleep must be guaranteed.
例8：门外对了许多钢板。

A number of plates was stored outside of the door.
3. 主动句被动译
在汉语中，如果一句话有两个分句，或上下两句话在意思上紧密相关，英译时用被动式有时可以给予连接上的便利，或加强上下文的连贯性。

如：
例1：他站起来讲话，到会听众予以热烈鼓掌。

He rose to speak and was warmly applauded by the audience present.
汉语中两个分句分别以“他”和“到会听众”为主语。

英译时第二个分句改为被动式后两个分句可共用一个主语he。

这样读起来通畅并强调了he受到欢迎。

例2：你听说过马拉松赛跑吗？去年国家体委曾在北京举行第一次全国马拉松锦标赛。

Have you heard of the Marathon Race? The First All-China Marathon Championship Race was held in Beijing lat year under the auspices of the Chinese National Athletic Committee.
译文中，第二句话使用了被动语态，把在汉语中作宾语的“第一次马拉松锦标赛改为了英文中的主语，从而使上下两个句子衔接更紧密。

4. 模糊语句的被动译法
汉语中有许多习惯用语，其中有的是用“有人”、“人们”、“大家”等作主语，又得看来是无主句，又得则是句中的独立结构，如“据悉”、“应该说”、“必须承认”、“由此可见”等等。

从语态上来说，汉语中这类习惯用语是主动式，英译时则用被动式。

在表达方式上，通常利用以it 作形势主语的句型。

如：
例1：曾经有人提议立即设计和生产这种装置。

It was suggested that such devices should be designed and produced without delay.
例2：已经指出，他们的建议在某种程度上是合理的。

It has been pointed out that their suggestion is reasonable to a certain degree.
例3：据说，她能讲几种外国语。

It is said that she can speak several foreign languages.
She is said to be able to speak several foreign languages.
例4：大家知道，宇宙万物都在不断地运动和变化。

It is known to all that everything in the universe is in constant motion and constant change.
例5：还不知道今天下午是否要开会。

It is not yet known whether there will be a meeting this afternoon.
例6：可以预见，在一个不太长的时间内，中国必将在科学技术方面赶上世界最先进的国家。

It can be predicted that China will certainly catch up with the most advanced nations in the world in science and technology in not too long a time.
汉语中这类习惯用语及其译法如下：
据闻（悉）……It is leaned that……
据推测（有人推测）……It is supposed that……
据估计（预计）……It is estimated /predicated /calculated that……
大家知道（众所周知）…… It is well-known that…
必须承认（毋庸讳言）…… It must be admitted that…
人们有时问……It is sometimes asked that…
由此可见……It can be seen from this that…
据报导……It is reported that…
人们（有人，大家）以为… It is thought /considered that…
有人（人们，大家）相信… It is believed that…
不用说（谁都知道）……It is understood that…
无可否认……It cannot be denied that…
已经证明……It has been proved /demonstrated that…
可以肯定……It may be confirmed that…
可以有把握地说……It may be safely said that…
人们希望……It is expected /hoped that…
有人宣布……It is declared that…
有人主张……It is asserted that…
英译汉
1.译成汉语主动句
（1）原文中的主语在译文中仍作主语
例1 Every moment of every day, energy is being transformed from one form into another.
每时每刻，能量都在由一种形式变为另一种形式。

例2 The sense of inferiority that he acquired in his youth has never been totally eradicated.
他在青少年时期留下的自卑感永远也消除不掉。

（2）原文中的主语在译文中作宾语
例1 Fifteen million trees had been blown down by the high winds, blocking road paths and railway lines.
狂风刮倒了1500万棵树，阻塞了大小通道和铁路线。

例2 A new way of displaying time has been given by electronics.
电子技术提供了一种新的显示时间的方法。

（3）增添适当主语
例1 To explore the moon’s surface, rockets were launched again and again.
为了探测月球的表面，人们一次又一次地反射火箭。

例2 Salt is known to have a very strong corroding effect on metals.
大家知道，盐对金属有很强的腐蚀作用。

例3 By five years of age, they have been found to have significantly higher IQs and to score higher on language tests.
到了五岁时，人们发现他们的智商和预言测试的分数明显（比前一类儿童）高得多。

例4 Little Jim should love to be taken to the theatre this evening.
今晚如果有人带小吉姆去看戏，他一定会很高兴。

（4）转换为系表结构
例1 The picture was painted by Professor Smith.
这幅画是史密斯教授画的。

例2 My first thirty years were spent in Western America.
我的前三十年是在美国西部度过的。

例3 They are ordered to do this.
他们是接到命令这样做的。

（5）其他情况
例1 Communications satellites are used for international living transmission throughout the world.
全世界都将通信卫星用于国际间的实况转播。

（状语充当主语）
例2 Nowadays people usually prefer driving to being driven.
现在人们喜欢自己开车，而不喜欢坐别人开的车。

（将被动转换成主动）
2 将英语被动语态转为汉语的无主句
汉译表达比较灵活，不像英语那样受严格的主、胃、宾结构限制，汉语句子可以不要主语，因此在很多情况下，可采用汉语的无主句来翻译英语的被动语态。

例1 New sources energy must be found, and this will take time.
必须找到新能源，但这需要时间。

例2 Attention has been paid to the new measures to prevent corrosion.
已经注意到采取反腐新措施。

例3 At the same time another kind of paper was developed, made from silk.
同时用丝研制出了另一种纸。

例4 When traveling, you are advised to take travelers checks, which provide a secure alternative to carrying your money in cash.
旅游时，建议你用旅行支票，这比带现金安全。

3 译成汉语被动句
在有些情况下，原文的主语确实处于某种不利的境地，可以按汉语习惯分别用“被……”、“给……”、“遭……”、“受……”、“令……”、“为……所”等字眼。

汉语的“受”字比较中性，如：受表扬，受批评，可以忽略其负面含义。

（1）译成“被……”或“给……”
例1 If the scheme is approved, work on the project will start immediately.
如果方案被批准，这项工程将立即动工。

例2 In industry, natural materials difficult to get are often replaced by plastics.
在工业中，不易获得的天然材料常常被塑料所代替。

例3 At the end of the month he was fired for incompetence.
月底，他因自己的无能而给解雇了。

（2）译成“遭……”或“受……”，“令……”
例1 He was set upon by two masked man.
他遭到两个蒙面男子的袭击。

例2 Everyone was fed up with her gossip.
人人都受够了她的流言蜚语。

例3 He was pitied rather than disliked.
他让人可怜，而不是令人讨厌。

（3）译成“为……所”，“加以……”
例1 As soon as all the facts have been found out, we can begin to formulate a theory.
一旦所有的事实为人们所发现，即可开始形成系统的理论。

例 2 For a better understanding of the present invention, two embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
为了更好地理解本发明，两个实施方案现通过举例和附图加以说明。

4 译成“把”、“使”和“由”字句
例1 By evening the occupation was complete, and the people were chased off the streets by an eight o’clock curfew.
至傍晚，占领已告完成。

八点钟开始的宵禁把人们从街道赶走。

例2 The famous hotel had been practically destroyed by the big fire.
大火使这著名旅馆几乎全部毁灭。

例3 Most letters from his wife, are read to him by the nurse in the hospital.
他的妻子给他的信件，大多是由医院的护士念给她听的。

5 It + be+ past participle + that引导的从句的翻译
英语中这样的句子在汉语中可以译成不带主语或带主语的句子。

（1）不带主语
It is hoped that…希望……
It is reported that…据报……
It is said that…据说……
It is supposed that…据推测……
It may be said without fear of exaggeration that…可以毫不夸张地说……
It must be admitted that…必须承认……
It must be pointed out that…必须指出……
It will be seen from this that…由此可见……
例1 It is expected that this project will draw on overseas experience.
期望这个项目会利用外国的经验。

例2 It’s hoped that as many people as possible can join the volunteers in looking after the aged.
希望尽可能多的人加入志愿者的队伍来照顾老人。

（2）带主语
It is asserted that…有人主张……
It is believed that…有人相信（认为）……
It is generally considered that…大家认为……
It is well known that…大家知道……众所周知……）
It will be said that…有人会说……
It was told that…有人曾经说……
例1 It is well known that the number of people has been increasing.
众所周知，人口数量一直在增加。

例2 It is understood that reasonable safety rules of the employer shall be complied with by all employees.
大家都明白所有员工都应该遵守合理的员工安全条例。

6 某些表示被动含义的句型的翻译
英语句子虽然看上去是主动语态，含义却是被动的，翻译成中文通常也用主动形式。

例1 The house needed painting.
房子需要油漆一下。

例2 The possibility of employing more staff is still under discussion.
是否雇佣更多的员工还在研究中。

7 用汉语的其他手段代替
有些情况下，英汉语言结构差异太大，汉语没有与类似英语的表达法，可采用意译表达出原文的真实含义。

例1 The village is populated by about 13,000 farmers. (populate v.构成…的人口) 这个村子里住着大约1.3万名农民。

例2 Most trees are denuded of leaves in winter. （denude使裸露）
大多数树木冬天要落叶。

例3 The news was passed on by word of mouth.
众口相传，消息不胫而走。

例4 She was delivered of a boy.（deliver接生）
她生了一个男孩。

例5 She and her husband have been asked out for the banquet.
她和丈夫应邀赴宴去了。

例6 He has been wedded to translation.
他与翻译结下不解之缘。

例7 He was told that two of them seemed unlikely to make the grade.
他已得知他们中有两个人好像不能及格。

练习四
作业：
翻译下列被动句
1 The oil of the world will have been used up, and man will be using the more convenient power obtained from the splitting of the atom.
2 Much has been said about the complication of the nuclear power station reaction.
3 I was astounded that he was prepared to give me a job.
4 A large sum of money has been put aside for that purpose.
5 I am afraid I shall be laughed at.
6 Eventually, of course, the plan was abandoned.
7 The ship was destined for London.
8 Tom was dismissed by the boss of the factory.
9 She was blamed for everything her sisters did.
10 Rivers are controlled by dams.
翻译下列各句，注意被动语态的应用：
1. 人人钦佩他。

2. 他被人轻视。

3. 那孩子让他母亲惯坏了。

4. 最后达成了协议。

5. 这本书已译成了好几国语言。

6. 这件事将在下次会议上予以讨论。

7. 由于刮暴风，供电中断了好几个小时。

8. 我很荣幸，被邀请在这里讲话。

9. 全国到处都在兴建新的工厂和中小型水电站。

10.关于这个问题，已经说得很多了。

11.认识落后，才能改变落后。

12.那个男孩受了重伤，医院立即把他收下了。

13.我们的工作是可以在规定时间内做完的。

14.我国的工农业生产很快就提高了，我国人民的生活条件也大大改善了。

15.据说你们将提前一年毕业。

区分主从
汉语和英语最基本的区别在句法上。

汉语的句法重意合，句中的各意群、成分往往通过内在的联系贯穿在一起。

至于内在的主从或并列关系须由读者自己去体会。

从句子的整体看，意思很清楚。

英语的句法则重形合，句中各意群、成分的结合及其相互关系都用适当的连接词和介词来表达。

从形式上看，主从分明。

另外，汉语动词没有英语动词的那些非限定形式：不定式、分词和动名词，从形式上看，句中连接出现的动词都是等立的，没有主从、偏正之分。

因此，在英译时，必须首先从逻辑上弄清楚汉语句中各部分在意义上的主从关系，以及主从之间有哪些关系，然后按英语的语法规则和表达方式加以处理。

1. 行为、方式的主从
表示方式和状态的部分应从属于表示行为或动作的谓语部分或表语部分。

例1：游行的人拿着鲜花和彩旗走过天安门广场。

The paraders marched through Tian’anmen Square, carrying flowers and banners in their hands.
例2：在旧社会，杂技演员终年流浪街头，饥寒交迫。

In the old society, the acrobats had to wander about in the streets all the year round, suffering from cold and hunger.
例3：全国人民紧密团结在党中央周围，朝气蓬勃，奋勇前进。

Rallying closely round the Party Central Committee, the whole people of our country are advancing with vigor and velour.
在上述例子中，“拿着……”、“饥寒交迫”、“团结……”和“朝气蓬勃”都表示方式或状态，“走”、“流浪”、“前进”则是表示行为和动作的谓语部分或表语部分，所以前者用分词和介词短语处理，后者一位全句的主要谓语。

例4：一个中年妇女抱着婴儿，急急忙忙在赶路。

A middle-aged woman with a baby in her arms was walking hurriedly on.
例5：一队民兵从街上走过去，肩上背着枪，头上包着白毛巾。

A column of militiamen walked past the street with guns on their shoulders and white towels round their heads.
在例4、例5中，“抱着婴儿”、“肩上背着枪”、“头上包着白毛巾”都是说明伴随状态的，故以“with+名词+介词短语”的结构处理。

2. 手段与目的的主从
表示方法和手段的部分一般应从属于表示目的的部分。

例1：你可以运用词干和构词法的知识，猜测生词的意思。

Using what you know of word stems and formations, you can make guess at the meaning of a new word.
例2：我们依靠自己的力量改善生活质量。

We are improving our life by our own efforts.
例3：学生们听磁带学习英语发音。

Students learn English pronunciation by listening to tapes.
3. 原因与结果的主从
表示原因或条件部分一般应从属于表示结果的部分。

例1：电子表价格便宜，计时准确，在我们生活中使用的越来越广泛。

Electronic watches, being cheap and accurate, are finding wider and wider use in our life.
例2：听说这个大的工厂几年前创建时只有6名工人，我们都很吃惊。

We were astonished to hear that there were only six workers in that huge factory when it started a few years ago.
例3：去年秋天，我接到全国总工会的邀请，到北京参加国庆节庆祝活动。

At the invitation of All-China Federation of Trade Unions, I went to Beijing to attend the National Day celebrations.
上述各句中，“价格便宜，计时准确”、“听说……”、“接到……邀请”均表示原因，故分别利用现在分词，不定式和介词短语处理。

例4：你站在风里，就会感到有一股力在推你。

Standing in a wind, you will feel a force pushing against you.
“站在风里”表示条件，故用现在分词短语处理。

例5：没有现代化的科学技术，就不可能实现四个现代化。

Without modern science and technology, we couldn’t realize the four modernizations.
“没有……”是一种假设条件，故用介词短语处理。

11。