2024年5月28日发(作者:)

英汉被动意义表达方式比较 

梁小明 

英汉两种语言中都有被动含义的表达法。英语中的被动语态使 

用范围广泛,尤其是在科技英语中,凡是在不必、不愿说出或不知道 

动作执行者的情况下均可使用被动语态。相比之下,汉语中被动表 

达法的使用范围要小得多。在被动含义的表达方式上,英汉两种语 

言有相同之处,也有不同之处。 

1.一般说来,被动句指的是具有被动形式标记的句子,英语的 

被动标记比较单一,主要通过“助动词be+及物动词的过去分词”及 

其变化形式来表示。汉语的被动句式使用较少,但其被动标记要繁 

杂得多,其表达被动意义的语言手段主要是通过使用表示被动的助 

词“被”或与“被”意义相同的“受”、“遭”、“让”、“给”、“挨”、“由”、 

“叫”、“得到”、“受到”等构成。例如: 

他被选为大会的主席。He was elected chairman of the meeting. 

我时常受邀去作演讲。l am constantly asked to give speeches. 

这个观点受到一些工人的质疑。This view has been challenged 

by a number of workers. 

他得到了老师的表扬。He was praised by the teacher. 

几乎可以肯定他已遭到谋杀。It’S almost certain that he has 

been murdered. 

那些工人被迫每天工作l2个小时。The workers were made to 

work twelve hours a day. 

那个男孩昨天挨了老师的批评。The boy was criticized by the 

teacher yesterday. 

他们由工厂的托儿所照看。They are taken care of by the factory’S 

nursery. 

那个杯子被我妹妹打碎了。The cup was broken by my sister. 

她的态度令我震惊。1 was shocked by her attitude. 

汉语中另有一些被动句用“加以”、“予以”等加谓语动词的形式 

来表达被动意义,此类句子用英语表达时一般要用被动句。例如: 

这个问题必须以适当的方式予以处理。This problem must be 

dealt with by appropriate means. 

对其它问题将简单地加以讨论。Other questions will be discussed 

_啪 

briefly. 

2.英语和汉语在主语的应用上有很大的不同。英语是一种主 

语突出型的语言,按照英语语法规则要求,每个句子都要有主语,没 

有主语是例外。在汉语中,当主语显然可知时常可略去不用。所谓 

“显然可知”的主语,多指主语是“我”、“我们”或“你”、“你们”。在语 

言环境能暗示或说话人双方都能意会或不需要出现施动者时,就不 

必说出主语。汉语中这种无主句在英语中通常都要用被动句。例如: 

课堂上一定要用英语回答问题。In class questions must be 

answered in English. 

首先要保证质量。Quality must be guaranteed first. 

我们的城市又修建了一所医院。Another hospital has been built 

in our city. 

已经采取措施来防止这种流行病迅速蔓延。Measures have 

been taken to prevent the epidemic from spreading quickly. 

已经开发了一座新油田。A new oilfield has been opened up. 

那个部门在几年前撤销了。That department was done away 

with several years ago. 

在过去几年中,在恢复我国国民经济方面做了大量的工作。In 

the past few years a lot of work has been done in the restoration of 

our national economy. 

3.汉语中凡着重说明一件事是由谁做的,或在什么时候、什么 

地点做的,常用“是……的”结构。这种结构的句子带有一种解释的 

语气和被动的含义,相应的英语句子常用被动语态。例如: 

这本书是狄更斯写的。This book was written by Charles Dickens. 

历史是人民创造的。History is made by the people. 

这首歌是我的一个朋友谱写的。The song was composed by a 

friend of mine. 

印刷术是从中国传人欧洲的。Printing was introduced into Europe 

from China. 

美国的学分制是1872年在哈佛大学首先实施的。The credit 

system in America was first adopted by Harvard University in 1872. 

这艘轮船是中国制造的。The ship was made in China. 

4.汉语中有些句子的主语不是谓语动词所表示的动作的执行 

者,而是动作的承受者,结构上句子是主动的,但含义却是被动的。 

这种被动句的特点是:1)aq含有表示被动的词语;2)不含施动者;3) 

受动者多为物,问或也可以是人。这类句子在英语中一般要用被动 

2009年第11期 

总第347期 

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语态来表达。例如: 

这本书已经译成了多种语言。This book has already been trans— 

lated into many languages. 

会议延期到下周一举行。The meeting has been postponed till 

next Monday. 

这个问题明天上午讨论。 question will be discussed tomorrow 

她的房间总是保持得很干净。Her room is always kept clean. 

这座桥将在今年年底建成。The construction of the bridge will 

be completed by the end of this year. 

英国、美国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰和其他一些国家使用英 

语。English is spoken in England,the USA,Canada,Australia, 

New Zealand and some other countries. 

他们学校也教英语。English is also taught in their schoo1. 

全世界都踢足球。Football is played all over the world. 

5.汉语中有些句子通常以泛指的“有人”,“人们”,“大家”作主 

语,有些带有“据说”,“据报道”,“必须承认”,“由此可见”等,这类句 

子在英语中通常用以it为形式主语的被动句来表达。例如: 

据说他有一大笔财产。It is said that he has a large fortune. 

有人在会议上建议采取有效的措施来解决这个问题。It was 

suggested at the meeting that effective measures be taken to solve 

the problem. 

大家都知道水是一种非常重要的自然资源。It is well known 

that water is a very important natural resource, 

有人主张要采取严厉的措施来防止污染。It is asserted that 

strict measures should be taken to prevent pollution. 

人们普遍认为,孩子的早年经历会在很大程度上决定他的性格及 

其日后的个性。It is generally accepted that the experiences of the child 

in his first years largely determine his character and later personality. 

6.一些英语动词以主动语态表被动含义,汉语中也有类似情 

况。例如: 

我的新钢笔很好使。My new pen writes wel1. 

伞在雨季最好卖。Umbrellas sell best in the rainy season. 

这篇散文读起来很流畅。The essay reads smoothly. 

这门锁不上。The door won’t lock.■ 

(作者单位:湖北省武汉电力职业技术学院) 

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