谓语的确定应该基于构句的需要
他给我的印象是，态度非常呆板僵硬，仿佛肚子里吞 下了一根拨火棒似的。 He had given me the impression of absolute rigidity, as though he had swallowed a poker. 河边枯柳树下的几株瘦削的一丈红，该是村女种的吧。 The few sparse hollyhocks beneath the withered willows by the stream must have been planted by the country girls.
谓语的确定
首先看谓语表意是否准确、贴切(meaning) 必须关照谓语与主语的语义关联以及主谓词语的搭 配(collacation with subject) 也须考虑谓语与宾语的搭配，包括连系动词与表语 的搭配，以及搭配的修辞效果。 (collacation with object)
首先看谓语表意是否准确、贴切
必须关照谓语与主语的语义关联以及主谓词 语的搭配
世纪之交，中国外交空前活跃。 The turn of the century finds China most active on the diplomatic arena. At the turn of the century, China is very active in its diplomatic activities. 现在，连我们也欠饷啊！ Nowadays even our monthly pay is often in arrears. Nowadays even we aren’t always paid on time.
首先看谓语表意是否准确、贴切
这事到了现在，还是时时记起。 Even now, this remains fresh in my memory. Even now, I still often think about this. 我们大为惊奇的是，那幢经受强烈的地震而幸存下来 的唯一的建筑物竟是砖木结构的。 To our great surprise, the only building that survived the violent earthquake was one of brick and wood structure. To our great surprise, the only building that fortunately existed after the violent earthquake was one of brick and wood structure.
选择谓语要注意时态、人称和数的变化
过去的五十年并不是发明创新的黄金时期。 The past fifty years was not really a golden age for inventions and creations. 实行改革开放以来改变了过去封闭半封闭状态，提高了 我国经济水平。 Since China started to implement the policy of reform and opening up to the outside, its total or semi-closure has been changed and the level of its economy has been raised.
也须考虑谓语与宾语的搭配
我又闲了一个多月啦！ I’ve been idle for another month now. Another month now and I’ve had no work. (颐和园)1900年遭八国联军破坏，（至1903年才得以 恢复）。 The palace was reduced to ruins by the allied forces of the eight foreign powers. The palace suffered ravage in the hands of the allied forces of the eight foreign powers.
谓语的确定应该基于构句的需要
农业搞好了，农民能自给，五亿人口就稳定了。 If agriculture is in good shape and the peasants selfsupporting, then the 500 million people will feel secure. If agriculture is in good shape and the peasants are self-supporting, then the 500 million people will feel secure.
谓语的确定应该基于构句的需要
思想…… 是炉火， 炉火是墙上的树影， 是冬夜的声音。 Thoughts … Are the fire in a stove, The fire in a stove is the tree’s shadow on the wall. And the sound in the winter night.
谓语的确定应该基于构句的需要 (sentence structure)
选择谓语时考虑构句需要，指译文必须遵守英语语法规 范，遵循“主谓一致”的原则，保证谓语和主语的人称 和数一致，谓语动词时态、语态正确，句式连贯顺畅， 表达地道自然。
谓语的确定应该基于构句的需要
一年年，燕子来了去了 一年年，阶前草绿了黄了 Year after year the swallows come and go; Year after year the grass before the terrace grows green, yellows. 九斤老太早已做过八十大寿，仍然不平而且康健。六 斤的双丫角，已经成为一支大辫子了。 Old Mrs. Ninepounder celebrated her eightieth birthday some time ago and is as full of complains, as hale and hearty as ever. Sixpounder’s twin tufts of hair have changed into a thick braid.
常常选择汉语原文的动词谓语作英语译文的 谓语，但是选择谓语需要注意“瞻前顾后”
中国加入世贸组织以后，外商参与中国投资活动的机会 将越来越多，自身发展的空间也越来越大。 After China’s entry into WTO, more opportunities will be created for the participation of foreign entrepreneurs in the investments in China and larger space for their own development. 迄今为止，教育工作还没有找到比考试更有效、更可靠 的方法。 So far, there has been no way which is more effective and reliable than exams in education.
谓语的确定应该基于构句的需要
关于如何改进市民的居住条件问题市政府给予了充分 重视。 Full attention has been paid by the municipal government to the improvement of the housing conditions of the urban inhabitants. The municipal government has paid full attention to the housing conditions of the urban inhabitants.
必须关照谓语与主语的语义关联以及主谓词 语的搭配
在同新闻界谈话的时候，上海人使用越来越多的最高级形容词。 When they talk to the press, the Shanghai citizens use more and more adjectives of the superlative degree. You can hear Shanghai people using more and more adjectives of the superlative degree when they talk to the press. （现在上海人的传统形象开始起了变化，）他们的言语和行动 都充满了信心和自豪。 Their words and actions are filled with confidence and pride. They are confident and proud in their speeches and actions.
谓语是随着容器的变化而变化，因为液体没 有自己的固定形状。换言之，无论你把它放在什么样 的容器中，它的形状总是和容器内壁的形状完全一样。 Since a liquid has no definite shape of its own, it varies in shape from container to container. In other words, in whatever container it is poured, the liquid will take exactly the interior shape of the container.
中央政府不干预香港特别行政区的事务。 The Central Government has refrained from intervening in the affairs of the HKSAR. The Central Government has never intervened in the affairs of the HKSAR. 中国经济将融入世界经济的大潮。 The economy of China will merge into the tide of the world economy. The economy of China will converge with that of the world.