当一个句子的主语是谓语动词的承受者，同时又是不定式动词的行为对象时，这样的句子结构在英语语法上称为双重被动式(the double passive)。笔者想从它的应用、句型转换和英译汉三方面谈点肤浅见解。

　　一、双重被动式的应用

　　双重被动式与一般被动语态的使用场合差不多，只不过范围要比一般被动句小得多。主要用于：

　　1. 在口语中，出于礼貌、措辞婉转，不愿说出动作的行为者时。例如：

　　① The books are not allowed to be taken out of the library. 不许将书带出图书室外。

　　② No building is allowed to be built here. 这里不许建楼。

　　2. 不知道或不必说出动作执行者时，表示推测或断定，这种用法多见于新闻报道。例如：

　　① More than 500 tons of oranges are expected to be harvested this year in the country. 这个县今年可望收获500多吨柑橘。

　　② He is reported to have been chosen chairman of the trade union. 据说他当选了工会主席。

　　二、双重被动式的句型转换

　　双重被动式实际上可以看作由相应的主动式结构转化而来。二者的转换一般有以下四种情况：

　　1. “谓语动词(believe, wish, expect, advise, allow, permit, announce, enable等)＋宾语＋动词不定式被动式”，可以把这种主动结构的宾语变为被动句的主语，谓语动词由主动语态变为被动语态，不定式的被动式保留不变，就构成了双重被动式。例如：

　　① He ordered the letter to be posted at once. → The letter was ordered to be posted at once.

　　② We believed him to be deeply interested in English. → He was believed to be deeply interested in English.

　　2. “谓语动词＋动词不定式＋宾语”变为被动句时，将不定式的宾语变为主语，谓语由动词主动语态变为被动语态，动词不定式由主动式变为被动式。这种结构变被动句时，更常用it作为形式主语。另外以“动词不定式＋宾语”作句中宾语的动词很多，但能变为双重被动式的常见动词有hope, offer, begin, decide, propose, except, arrange等。例如：

　　① He attempted to form a teaching plan. → A teaching plan was attempted to be formed. ?邛 It was attempted (by him) to form a teaching plan.

　　② They hoped to gain still greater successes. → Still greater successes was hoped to be gained. ?邛 It was hoped (by them) to gain still greater successes.

　　3. 双重被动式也可以由一个含有被动语态的宾语从句的主从复合句转化而来，即将宾语从句的主语变为被动句的主语，从句中的谓语动词变为不定式的被动式，也可以像第二种情况那样用it来改写。例如：

　　① We never expected that the sports meeting should be put off. → The sports meeting was never expected (by us) to be put off. → It was never expected (by us) that the sports meeting should be put off.

　　② We proposed that the boy should be praised for his good deeds. → The boy was proposed (by us) to be praised for his good deeds. → It was proposed (by us) that the boy should be praised for his good deeds.

　　4. 感官动词在主动结构里用过去分词作宾语补足语，在变为被动结构时，仍然保留过去分词的形式。使役动词get, have等只能用过去分词作宾语补足语，不用“to be＋分词形式”，这种结构不能转换为双重被动式。例如：

　　① We heard the folk song sung

　　everywhere.→ The folk song was heard sung everywhere.

　　② We found all the seats occupied. → All the seats were found occupied.

　　③ He got his football shoes mended. 不能改写为：His football shoes were got to be mended.

　　④ I'll have my hair cut. 不能改写为：My hair will be had to be cut.

　　三、双重被动式的英译汉

　　由于汉语中没有相应的双重被动式，因此英译汉时，要根据汉语的习惯，可以采取一些辅助的办法把英语的双重被动式译成汉语的含有被动意义的主动句。常见的译法有：

　　1. 按英语原句的主谓语序，译成汉语含有被动意义的主动句。例如：

　　① The novel is announced to be published. 这部小说将要出版。

　　② The bridge was begun to be built last year. 这座桥是去年开始修建的。

　　2. 译成含有泛指主语的主动句，汉语句前用“有人，人们，大家，我们”等，句中的主语与第二个被动式扩展成为一个分句。例如：

　　① The drawing is believed to have been drawn in the 15th century. 人们(我们)相信这幅画画于十五世纪。

　　② She was proposed to be praised for the fine work. 大家建议她的优异工作应得到表扬。

　　3. 译成汉语省略了主语的主动句，句中的主语与第二个被动句扩展为一个分句。例如：

　　① The result is expected to be announced soon. 估计结果不久就宣布。

　　② The letter was ordered to be posted at once. 命令这信立即发出。

　　4. 根据英语原句的第一个被动式译为“据说……；据报道……”等。例如：

　　① The criminal was reported to have been caught yesterday. 据说昨天已抓到了罪犯。

　　② He is known to be devoted to his work. 据了解他专心于自己的工作。

　　③ They were said to have been sent to the countryside. 据说他们已被派往农村。

　　(文/刘成玲 孟 杰；英语辅导报初中教师版04~05学年第09期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)