法律文本要求详尽及准确，不能引起任何歧义，这必然导致其句法结构的复杂法律英语已在句法层次上形成了自身的特色：多为长句、完整句，通常是陈述句，常使用被动句和名词化结构而法律汉语有相同之处，也有不同之处，下面会通过对比详尽介绍一） 复杂长句和简短句的结合使用 中文行文忌长句，以短句、分句为主，而法律英语常常使用长句把长句的原语，译为短句、分句的译入语，需要我们认真研究，进行大量的实践才能掌握这方面的翻译技巧 法律条文依靠法律语言包含性来规范多样的社会行为，因此法律语言必须具有高度的概括性这一特点体现在句法上即表现为简短句子的使用 请看下面的例子： 1、中华人民共和国的一切权力属于人民《中华人民共和国宪法》总纲第二条） 2、The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.（The Constitution of United States of America, Article IV, Section 2） 在这类简单句中，汉语法律条款常常是无主语的句子，而在英文法律条款一定是主谓齐全的，因此在翻译英语被动句时，可以将其转换为汉语的无主语句子。
同时，为了确保法律的准确性和严密性，法律语言中多使用结构复杂的长句来避免立法上的漏洞结构复杂的长句所包含的信息量大，在描述复杂事物时可以达到叙事具体，说理严密，层次分明的效果 如：公司、企业或者其他单位的人员，利用职务上的便利，将本单位的财物非法占为己有，数额较大的，处五年以下有期徒刑或者拘役；数额巨大的，处五年以上有期徒刑，可以并处没收财产国有公司、企业或者其他国有单位委派到非国有公司、企业以及其他单位从事公务的人员有前款行为的，依照本法第三百八十二条、第三百八十三条的规定定罪处罚《中华人民共和国刑法》第271条） 这个特点在法律英语中也很突出，如：No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. (The Constitution of the United States of America, Amendment 14) 法律英语的句法特征之一就是长句的使用，往往出现从句套从句的现象，一个长句包含了连环的若干个从句，中间还有插入语。
由于正式的法律文本或条例中，对中心词的限定过多，对某一概念成立的条件限定也多，所以造成长句多，短句少的现象这些长句的运用确保了法律英语的严谨性句子的语法结构很复杂，多为复合长句句中的定语，状语等对其所修饰概念的内涵及外延的界定起了很大作用 翻译好这样的长句，主要采用“切割法”，即在原文句子中的主从句联接处、连词处、关系代词处切断翻译时，首先要着重理解原文，分析长句中各个意群的关系，然后按意群，并按其逻辑关系，译成汉语分句；使得译文能够层次分明，意思连贯，语言通顺，逻辑性强 例1：China shall establish or designate an official journal dedicated to the publication of all laws, regulations and other measures pertaining to or affecting trade in goods，services，TRIPS or the control of foreign exchange and, after publication of its laws, regulations or other measures in such journal ,shall provide a reasonable period of comment to the appropriate authorities before such measures are implemented, except for those laws, regulations and other measures involving other national security, specific measures setting foreign exchange rates or monetary policy and other measures the publication of which would impede law enforcement.(95 words ) [卢敏：42] 参考译文：中国应设立或指定一官方刊物，用于公布所有有关或影响货物贸易、服务贸易、TRIPS或外汇管制的法律、法规及其他措施，并且在其法律、法规或其他措施在该刊物上公布之后，应在此类措施实施之前提供一段可向有关主管机关提出意见的合理时间，但涉及国家安全的法律、法规及其他措施、确定外汇汇率或货币政策的特定措施以及一旦公布则会妨碍法律实施的其他措施除外。
解析：此句是由两个并列动词构成的句子“China shall establish…and…shall provide…”,其中并列连词and之后包含“after publication…”和“before such measure…”两个时间状语从句同时修饰第二个并列句，句子末尾是“except for”介词短语引导的条件状语 例2：We hereby declare that this invoice amounting to USD 4,500 is in all respects correct and contains full and true statement of the particulars of the goods and of the price actually paid or to be paid for the said goods and the actual quantity thereof and that no other invoice has been or to be furnished to anyone else, and that the goods are of Chinese origin, and that on discount or rebate had been or will be allowed other than that shown on this invoice. [卢敏：42] 参考译文：兹声明发票金额4500美元是正确的；发票对本批货物和对所说货物及其实际数量已付或将付的价格的所有详细情况的陈述是全面而真实的；同时我们声明没有其他的发票已经或将提供给其他人；同时声明产品是中国产；除了本发票上所示，我们没有或将会给予折扣。
解析：此句为主从复合句，主体结构是“”后引导四个引导的宾语从句分析好句子结构后，可根据原句顺序来翻译 例3：If the bill of lading contains particulars concerning the general nature, leading marks, number of packages or pieces, weight or quantity of the goods which the carrier or other person issuing the bill of lading on his behalf knows or has reasonable grounds to suspect do not accurately represent the goods actually taken over or, where a “shipped” bill of lading is, issued, loaded, or if he had no reasonable means of checking such particulars, the carrier or such other person must insert in the bill of lading a reservation specifying these inaccuracies, grounds of suspicion or the absence of reasonable means of checking. [卢敏:32] 参考译文：如果承运人或代其签发提单的其他人确知或者有合理的根据怀疑提单所载有关货物的品类、主要标志、包数或件数、重量或数等项目没有标准地表示实际接管的货物，或在签发“已装船”提单的情况下，没有准确地表示实际装船的货物，或者他无适当的方法来核对这些项目，则承运人或其他人必须在提单上做出保留，说明不符之处、怀疑根据或无适当的核对方法。
解析：此句取自《联合国1978年海上货物运输公约》中有关提单的条款该句结构复杂，修饰语多，翻译时要注意分析句子结构，步步为营，以免使译文发生歧义 例4: 被宣告缓刑的犯罪分子，在缓刑考验期间内犯新罪或者发现判决宣告以前还有其他罪没有判决的，应当撤销缓刑，对新犯的罪或者新发现的罪作出判决，把前罪和后罪所判处的刑罚，依照本法第六十九条的规定，决定执行的刑罚 参考译文：If, during the probation period of suspension of sentence, a criminal whose sentence is suspended commits a crime again or it is discovered that before the judgment is pronounced, he has committed another crime for which he is not sentenced, the suspension shall be revoked and another judgment rendered for the newly committed or discovered crime; the punishment to be executed shall be decided o。