英语中被动语态使用范围很广，凡是在不必或不愿说出或无从说出施动者以及为了便于连贯上下文或者为了强调动作的承受者等场合，往往都用被动语态。英语被动句的翻译主要有以下几种情况：
　　一、译成汉语主动旬。
　　1．原句中的主语、谓语不变，译文中没有表示被动的标志，如“被、把”字等，形式上是主动句，表达被动意义。例如：
　　On Practice has been translated into many foreign languages.
　　《实践论》已译成许多国家的文字。
　　The whole country was armed in a few days.
　　几天以内，全国就武装起来了。
　　2．原句中的主语移到谓语之后，译作宾语。
　　Another middle school has been set up in our district．
　　我们区又办了一所中学。
　　1，200 people had been saved soldiers in the earthquake.
　　在地震中，战士们已救出1200人。
　　3．译成带表语的主动句。
　　The decision to attack was not taken lightly.
　　进攻的决定不是轻易作出的。
　　In the old society，women were looked down upon.
　　在旧社会，妇女们是受歧视的。
　　4．含主语从句的被动句型译为主动句。
　　以it作形式主语的英语句子，翻译时常要转为主动形式，有时可加上“有人”、“大家”、“我们”等不确定主语。例如：
　　It is reported that the enemy has been breeding new strains of killer viruses．
　　据报道敌人正在培育新的杀人病毒。
　　It is suggested that meeting be put off tillnext Monday。
　　有人建议会议推迟到下星期一举行。
　　It is well known that natural light is actually made up of many colours．
　　众所周知，自然光其实是由许多种颜色构成的。
　　这类句型还有：
　　It is said that...
　　It is supposed that...
　　It must be pointed out that...
　　It is asserted that...
　　It is generally considered that...