商务英语追求内容的客观公正以及准确无误，而被动语态的最大一个特点就是不带个人主观性，强调客观性和事实，重在表达动作本身而不在动作执行者，恰恰符合商务英语客观庄重的文体特点，因此大量出现在商务文本中。如：

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Contract shall be settled through friendly consultation.

双方应通过友好协商解决因本合同产生的或与本合同有关的任何争议。

It is mutually agreed that the certificates of quality and quantity or weight issued by the Manufacturer shall be part of the document to be presented to the paying bank for negotiation of payments.

双方同意以制造厂出具之品质及数量或重量检验证明书作为卖方向付款银行议付货款单据之一。

这两句例句摘自商务合同文本，其旨在对人们的行为做出规定，规范各方的权利和义务，因此文字叙述客观公正，措辞严谨，译文也应注意保留这些文体特征。

被动语态在金融英语中也比较常用，以体现金融语体的客观性和正式性。凡是不必、不愿或无从说出动作发出者的时候，往往都使用被动语态。译者在翻译这些被动句时要灵活处理，或译成主动句，或借助汉语中的“被”“为”等词，保留原文的被动形式。如：

It is said that our bilateral deficit with Japan stubbornly refuses to shrink because their market are closed.

据说，我们和日本的双边贸易逆差很难缩小是因为日本关闭其国内市场。

Deposits at banks and other financial institutions are also money because they can be converted into currency and because they are used to settle debts.

在银行和其他金融机构的存款也是货币，因为它们可以变为现金和用于结清债务。

Though commissions in the over-the-counter securities market are unfettered by legal restraints, brokerages have agreed to charge the same fees in order to keep profit margins up.

场外证券交易市场上的回扣不受法律限制的约束，尽管如此，为了提高利润率，各经纪公司仍然决定收取同样数额的费用。(www.daowen.com)

被动语态除了不带个人主观性，强调客观事实之外，还具有较高的礼貌性，使语气更加委婉。Ashley 指出，在商务信函中，为了使得请求听起来比较温和，从而更加礼貌得体，可以选择被动语态作为适当的语言形式。因此，被动语态在外贸函电、合同中也有较高的使用频率。如：

Full information as to prices, quality, quantity available and other relative particulars would be appreciated.

请详告价格、质量、可供数量和其他有关情况。

So far, all our purchases from you have been paid by confirmed, irrevocable letter of credit.

迄今为止，我方向贵方订购的全部货物都是采用保兑的、不可撤销信用证付款。

After a check-up by our staff, it was found that the packing bags of some 30 bags were not strong enough, thus resulting in the breakage during the transit, for which we render our apologies.

经我方人员检查，大约30袋化肥的包装不够牢固，结果导致运输途中发生破损，对此我方深表歉意。

Unless otherwise specified in writing herein, all Confidential Information must be returned to the disclosing Party or destroyed on the expiration of the period of the receiving Party’s using such Confidential Information.

除非本协议另有书面规定，所有机密信息在接收方使用期限届满时必须退还给披露方或者销毁。

Where the disputes arising out of or in relation to this Contract can not be resolved within fifteen(15)days after any Party hereto requesting in writing the other Party to commencing a consultation on said disputes, either Party may submit it to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration(CIETAC).

如果在合同任何一方向对方发出就因本合同引起的或与之有关的任何争议进行协商的书面请求后15天内，争议仍未得到解决，则任何一方可以将该争议提交中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会仲裁。