例4 人們采用各種措施來防止腐蝕。

　　譯文：All kinds of measures are taken to prevent corrosion.

　　簡評：這句話可以按原文譯成主動態(tài)，即：People have taken all kinds of measures to prevent corrosion。也可以用被動語態(tài)來翻譯--All kinds of measures are taken to prevent corrosion。兩者比較而言，被動態(tài)譯文更突出表明所有、種種措施已經付諸實施，all kinds of measures得到強調，而主動態(tài)譯法只是平鋪直敘，重點不突出。

　　此外，漢語句子中有"據(jù)說"、"據(jù)了解"、"據(jù)報道"、"據(jù)估計"、"據(jù)傳言"等詞語時，可以酌情譯成相應的英語被動句，如：It is supposed that(據(jù)推測......)，It is said that(據(jù)說......)，It is estimated that(據(jù)估計......)，It is calculated that(預計......)，It is reported that(據(jù)報道......)，It is suggested that(有人建議)，It is stressed that(有人強調......)，It is thought that(有人認為......)，It is considered that(有人認為......)，It is expected that(據(jù)期望......)，It is well known that(眾所周知......)，It must be admitted that(必須承認......)，It must be pointed out that(必須指出......)，It is understood that(誰都知道......)，It may be safety said that(可以有把握地說......)等。

　　例5 據(jù)了解，這個地區(qū)有豐富的自然資源。

　　譯文：The area is known to be rich in natural resources.