主动语态表示主语是动作的执行者，被动语态表示主语是动作的承受者。在翻译被动语态的句子时，有时强调动作的承受者，那么中文就要保持被动语态，反之，可以把含被动语态的句子翻译成主动句。
（一）原文是被动语态，译文保持被动语
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．
这句话中的“were denied”是一个被动语态，在这里翻译可以继续保持被动语态，但形式上有所变化，可译为“遭到”。参考译文为“不仅如此，他们贷款盖度假住房的申请也遭到了拒绝，购买取暖和制冷系统时被迫用现金支付，讨债者对他们纠缠不休。还有调查人员监视他们的家，以期寻找失踪的汽车，这令人十分难堪。”
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．（真题示范）
此句中“will be validated”是被动语态，同样在翻译为中文时，可以保留被动语态，但要译为“为，所”。参考译文为“这些预测将在多大程度上为后来的表现所证实取决于所用信息的数量、可靠程度、适宜程度以及用来解释这些信息的技巧与才智。”
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．
这句话的被动语态在句子后面“is called”，翻译时比较简单，可直接译为“被”。参考译文为“传达语言使用者情感（包括使用者态度，对语言使用效力的估量等）意义的强度被称为情感意义或感情意义。”
Laptops can be plugged in or run on batteries，although the batteries must be recharged every few hours．
这句话的被动语态有两部分，但只有第一部分在翻译时可译为被动语态，但要译为“使”。参考译文为“膝上型计算机可以插电源也可以使用电池运行。”
Early fires on the earth were certainly caused by nature，not by Man．
这句话中的被动语态可译为“由”。参考译文为“地球上早期的火肯定是由大自然而不是人类引燃的。”
I was so impressed by these words that I used them later for a Christmas。
参考译文为“我为这些话所深深感动，后来我就把它们写在圣诞卡上了。”
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．
参考译文为“最近，一位英国资深记者说，英语正在遭到一种‘官腔语言的致命病毒’的侵害，这种病毒已经感染了许多政治家的谈吐和思想。”
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．
参考译文为“1994年，阿拉法特和以色列领导人伊扎克·拉宾和希蒙·佩雷斯共同获得了诺贝尔奖，他们为签署“奥斯陆协议”所做的努力在当时被视作通往一个独立的巴勒斯坦国、实现巴以永久和平的‘重大突破’”。
汤姆被选为学生会主席。
此句汉语中由被动句的标记“被”，所以理所应当在译为英语时也译成被动句。参考译文为“Tom was elected Chairman of the Students’Union．”
这位医生深受大家的尊重。
这句话同样有被动标记“受”，所以也要译为英语被动句。参考译文为“This doctor is greatly respected by everyone．”
（二）原文是被动句，但要翻译为主动句
1．原文中的主语实际上是动作的承受者，但在翻译时仍做主语
In his attitude can be found seeds for art in the 20th century：the art of the primitive，of symbol，and of imagination．
参考译文为“在他的态度中可以找到20世纪艺术的种子：充满原始、象征和想象的艺术。”
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．（真题示范）
参考译文为“这种说法从一开始就将讨论引向两个极端，它使人们认为应该这样对待动物：要么像对待人类自身一样关切体谅，要么完全冷漠无情。”
Perfumes may be made from the oils of certain flowers．Soaps are made from vegetable and animal oils．
这句话含有被动语态，但在翻译时可译成主动句。参考译文为“有些花儿产生的油可以用来制造香水。植物油和动物油还可以用来制作肥皂。”
2．原文中的主语是动作的承受者，在翻译有些句子时，可以把它用做译文的宾语
During this transfer，traditional historical methods were argumented by additional methodologies designed to interpret the new forms of evidence in the historical study．
在这句话中“traditional historical methods”是主语，但在译文中它是宾语。参考译文为“在这种转变中，历史学家研究历史时，那些解释新史料的新方法充实了传统的历史研究方法。”
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．
参考译文为“一些希望得到否定答案的人有时候提出这样的问题，这些人害怕有朝一日宇宙中的一切或许会真相大白。”
3．it作形式主语的句子，表面上看起来是被动语态，但实际翻译中却要译成主动句
It could be argued that the radio performs this service as well，but on television everything is much more living，much more real．
这句话的形式主语“it”在翻译时要加上“有人”。参考译文为“可能有人会说无线电广播同样也能做到这一点，但还是电视屏幕上的节目要生动、真实得多。”
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．
这句话的形式主语“it”在翻译时不需译出。参考译文为“近来已注意到本馆存书正在惊人的减少，此事令人关切。现要求学生不要忘记借书还书规则，并考虑其他学生的需要。今后凡借书逾期不还者，必将严格按章处罚。”
It should be made clear to entire citizens that whoever enjoys rights must understake corresponding obligations．
参考译文为“应该使全体公民明白，享受权利者必须承担响应的义务。”
汉译英中有时也会出现这种情况，我们在翻译时应该注意。
玛丽被风吹病了。
此句话有被动标志“被”，但由于这句话不强调动作的执行者“风”，所以可以不译为被动句。参考译文为“Mary fell ill because of the draught．”
（三）在汉译英中，汉语是主动句，但翻译成英语是要变为被动句，这是因为英语中被动语态的应用要比汉语广
我国各族人民每年都要热烈庆祝十月一日的国庆节。
这句汉语虽然是主动句，但要强调动作的承受者，所以翻译为英文最好为被动句。参考译文为“National Day is enthusiastically celebrated on Oct．1by the Chinese people of all nationalities every year．”
几个学生立刻把这个老师围住了，向她提出了一个又一个的问题。
这句话表面上是一个主动句，但出现了“把”，故我们可以把这句话翻译为被动句。参考译文为“Very soon the teacher surrounded by several students and was snowed under with questions．”
这个校长提议在各校之间开展知识竞赛。
参考译文为“The principal proposed that a knowledge competition should be started among the different schools．”
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