公研 Unit 7 -- A Comparison of Passive Sentences 英汉对比与翻译 研究生 教学课件.ppt

Unit 7 Translation of  Passive Sentences 1. Features of the English Passive 2. Features of the Chinese Passives 3. Translation of English Passive into Chinese Passive 1. Features of the English Passive 1.1 Frequent Use of the Passive The passive abounds in English. Generally speaking, when the agent (施动者) is unknown or need not be mentioned, or the object of the action is to be emphasized, the passive may be employed. In the vast majority of cases, the passive is chosen for the following reasons: (1) The logical subject (agent) is known and need not be mentioned. Visitors are requested to wait. 来宾请等候。 (2) The logical subject is unknown or cannot be readily stated. New factories are being built all over the country. 全国到处都在建新厂。 (3) The logical subject is self-evident from the context. Your suggestion has been duly noted. 你的建议已经引起应有的关注。 (4) The logical subject is not mentioned for some reasons. Some things have been said here tonight that ought not to have been spoken. 今晚有人在此讲了些不该讲的话。 (5) The logical subject is less important than the object. A child was run over and killed by a bus. 一个小孩被公交车轧死了。 (6) The logical subject is avoided for coherence. John actually loved her and was loved in return. 约翰真的爱她，她也爱约翰。 1.2 More Varieties of the Passive The passive in English can be expressed in various ways. (1) Passive forms of the finite verbs in 6 tenses and aspects: is done, was done, was being done, has been done, had been done. (2) Passive forms of the non-finite verbs and their perfective aspect: (to) be done, (to) have been done, being done, having been done. A. Passive form of the infinitive: I want the letter (to be) typed at once. 我要这封信马上给打出来。 B. Passive form of the participle: Having been told about the news, she was very excited. 有人告诉她这个消息后，她非常激动。 她得知这个消息后非常激动。 C. Passive form of the gerund: I have the honor of being elected. 我荣幸地当选了。 (3) Passive form of the sentence led by preparatory “it”: It is considered disgraceful to cheat in exams.