2018-11-16
【語言偽術】卸膊都有技巧！必學被動語氣「委婉地」逃避責任
Situation 3：當主語無關緊要時
Email 3A：
To: garginer@techtrade.com
From: emily@finefur.com
Subject: We received your letter
Ms. Garginer,
In answer to your question, a courier delivered the letter this afternoon. Thank you for sending the letter so quickly. We greatly appreciate it.
關於您的詢問，快遞今天早上已經將信件送達。謝謝您這麼快就寄出信件，我方非常感激。
Regards,
Emily Hammond
＊ Email 3A使用了主動式語氣， 易使讀者誤判重點＊
Email 3B：
To: garginer@techtrade.com
From: emily@finefur.com
Subject: We received your letter
Ms. Garginer,
In answer to your question, the letter was delivered this morning. Thank you for sending the letter so quickly. We greatly appreciate it.
關於您的詢問，信件已於今早送達。感謝您這麼快就寄出，我們非常感激。
Regards,
Emily Hammond
＊ Email 3A使用了被動式語氣， 不強調主詞。當原主語無關緊要時，甚至可完全不加以描述。＊
電郵所描述的信函(letter)雖然是快遞員(courier)送來的，但對說話者而言，是誰把信送來的並不重要，重要的是說話者要向對方說明有沒有收到信。因此也可以以直截了當的主動式語氣表達「我們收到信了」(we received the letter this morning ) 。
Read more: 【電器剋星】又剋死電子器材！必學英文字句搵人救機 hyperlink to
More Examples:
1a. 因為一個電腦錯誤，我們損失了所有存在資料庫裡的檔案。
Due to a computer error, we lost all the files saved on our database.
1b. 因為一個電腦錯誤，存在資料庫裡的所有檔案都損失了。
Due to a computer error, all the files saved on our database have been lost.
2a.我們還沒有找到引起錯誤的原因。
We have not found the cause of the error.
2b.引起錯誤的原因還沒被找出來。
The cause of the error has not been found.
3a.我們很感謝您對這個狀況的耐心等候。
We appreciate your patience in this situation.
3b.很感謝您對這個狀況的耐心等候。
Your patience in this situation is appreciated.
《經濟通》所刊的署名及／或不署名文章，相關內容屬作者個人意見，並不代表《經濟通》立場，《經濟通》所扮演的角色是提供一個自由言論平台。
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