汉语的被动形式有以下两种:
A.有标志的被动形式
1.让、给、叫、由、被、受、挨、遭受
2.为…所、被…所
3.是…的(历史是人民创造的。门是我锁上的。)
4.在…中,表明被动和正在进行的意义(新的住宅在修建中。案件在审理中。)
B.没有标志的被动形式
票卖完了。我和钱发光了。屋子坐满了。肥皂用完了。他的鞋穿破了。
一、译成汉语的被动式
(一)无标志的被动式
1. More factories will be built in our city.
更多的工厂将在我市建立起来。
2. Resistance is measured in Ohm.
电阻以欧姆为单位计算。
3. His sincerity is illustrated not only by his proposed but also by his deeds.
其诚意不仅表现在他所提出的建议上,而且也表现在他的行动上。
4. All this was clearly stated between the lines in Lacouture’s last speech.
所有这些在拉古秋上次讲话的字里行间都表明得很清楚。
5. Transfers of ownership and other roundabout tricks could be dropped.
所有权的转让和其他变通的花招都尽可以丢开不管。
(二)有标志的被动式
1. Socialist ideology has been accepted by the people of the whole country.
社会主义思想体系已为全国人民所接受。
2. What concerns research workers even more, of course, is the fact that a certain number of innocent people are bound to be convicted of crimes they have not committed.
当然,对研究人员来说更有关系的则是这样一个事实,即一些清白无辜的人必将被冤枉定罪。
3. This ship is destined for London.
这条船是开往伦敦的。
4. These machines are operated by one worker only.
这些机器只由一个人操纵。
5. “In short,” says she, “I was overtaken by my husband.”
“一句话,”她说,“我给我丈夫追上了。”
6. “The Americans do not understand our fears,” said one West German Government official. “The United States is still a good way from the front. We would be hit first—and hardest.”
“美国人不理解我们的忧虑,”西德一位说。“美国离前线还很远。我们将首先受到打击,而且是最沉重的。”
7. Shakespeare’s principal characters are created in typical real situations: the feudal castle, the medieval city, the king’s court with its courtly atmosphere, etc.
莎士比亚的主要人物是塑造于典型的真实环境之中的:封建的城堡,中世纪的城市,富丽堂皇的宫廷,等等。
翻译这类句子时要注意搭配适当,选用符合汉语习惯的被动标志。如to be praised译为“受到表扬”,不能说“挨了表扬”或“遭到表扬”。
二、译成汉语的无主句
1. A large sum of money has been put aside for that purpose.
已经为那桩事拨了一大笔款项。
2. … In the end an agreement was reached which proved acceptable both to the British government and to the government of the Commonwealth countries which were most affected by Britain’s decision.
……最后达成了一项协议,既能为英国所接受,又能为受英国决策影响最大的英联邦所接受。
3. She was left, sitting on the straw in the dusty sunlight.
留下她一个人靠在麦杆堆上,沐浴在尘埃满布的阳光中。
4. Table tennis is played all over China.
中国到处都打乒乓球。
5. Heat treatment is used so as to improve the properties.
使用热处理可改进某些金属的性能。
三、译成汉语的主动句
(一)施事者作主语,谓语不变,原文的主语(受事者)作宾语
1. His natural conservative streak had been reinforced by his football.
他玩橄榄球的经验加强了这种自然而然的保守成分。
2. The airfields of Midway, they soon learned, had been shelled by a Japanese cruiser and a destroyer.
后来他们知道,日本的艘巡洋舰和驱逐舰炮轰了中途岛的机场。
3. He was haunted by regional prejudice and even the attainment of the presidency did not temper his feelings.
这种地方性的成见都是纠缠着他,甚至他登上总统宝座以后,仍然摆脱不了这种心理。
4. He said he was assured by the State Department that the U. S. is willing to normalize relations with his country.
他说,向他担保美国愿意同他的国家恢复正常交往。
(二)如果施事者在原文中不出现,可增加适当的主语
1. The workers were seen repairing machines.
有人看见工人们在修理机器。
2. He (O. Henry) was born in the eastern part of the United States in a middle-class family, but was sent to the west, where he might live in a more healthful climate.
他生于美国东部一个中产阶级的家庭。后来家里把他送到西部去,那儿的气候对他的健康有益。
3. Numerous cases were cited to sustain this opinion.
为了证实这个意见,他们举出了无数的例子。
4. The big spectacled Joy-Hulga would scowl and redden as if her privacy had been intruded upon.
戴眼镜的大个儿欢姐—赫尔格会气得横眉怒目,脸色涨红,好像人家触及了她的什么隐私。
5. I was started when the menu was brought, for the prices were a great deal higher than I had expected… “I am only going to eat one thing.” I said, as the waiter came again with the menu.
侍者送来菜单,一看价钱比我预想的高得多,我不禁吓了一跳……恰在这时,侍者带着菜单又起过来了。“我就准备吃一样东西,”我说。
(三)有时还可以译成汉语的“把”和“使”字句,用“把”和“使”字将受事者带出
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禁上的行人全部赶走。
2. Hitler says if the Poles don’t surrender, Warsaw will be leveled.
希特勒说,要是波兰人不投降,就把华沙炸平。
3. For now, it is enough that the issue be postponed, with neither side accepting the status quo but with both sides living with it.
目前双方都不接受但还能容忍他们所处的现状并把问题推迟到以后再说,这就足够了。
4. He was regarded as a Republican by everybody, even though he had always thought of himself as an “Independent”.
所有的人都把他看作共和党人,尽管他一直认为自己是“无党派人士”。
5. The famous hotel had been practically destroyed by the big fire.
这场大火几乎使这个著名的旅馆全部毁灭。
(四)有些以it作形式主语的英语句子,翻译时往往要改成主动句
1.前面加主语的
It is hoped that 人们希望
It is asserted that 有人主张
It is well known that 大家知道
It will be said that 有人会说
2.前面不加主语的
It should be noted that 应当指出
It must be pointed out 必须指出
It is said that 据说
It is reported that 据报
It will be seen from this that 由此可见
四、译成汉语的主谓谓语句
1. This workshop has been mechanized by us.
这个车间我们已使它完全机械化了。
2. Other forms of energy can be changed to electric energy by generators.
其他形式的能量发电机都可以把它们转变成电能。
3. Yet, what we say there will not be long remembered. What we do here can change the world.
不过,我们在这里所讲的话人们不会长久地记住,但我们在这里所做的事却能改变世界。
4. Liars are not believed even when they tell the truth.
爱说谎的人,甚至在他说真话的时候,也没人相信他。
王佐良教授在他所译的《谈读书》中,对被动句的处理就十分完美。例如:
They (studies) perfect nature, and are perfected by experience.
译为:读书补天然之足,经验又补读书之不足。