看了之后明白了很多英文之乎者也所對應(yīng)的現(xiàn)代文，對合同英語的結(jié)構(gòu)和特色也有了大概的了解。值得一看。

Contract 與 Agreement的有無區(qū)別
在英語中，合同一般稱為Contract，協(xié)議一般稱為Agreement。

何謂contract?

1999年中國《合同法》第二條對contract定義為： A contact in this Law refers to an agreement establishing, modifying and terminating the civil rights and obligations between subjects of equal footing, that is, between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations。根據(jù)這一定義，合同平等主體之間設(shè)立的確定民事權(quán)利和義務(wù)的協(xié)議。 ，

Steven H. Gifts編著的Law Dictionary中將contract 定義為contract is a promise, or a set of promises, for breach of which the law gives remedy, or the performance of the which the law in some way recognize as a duty.根據(jù)這一定義，合同是一種承諾，違反承諾可以得到法律救助，某種意義上法律將履行該承諾看做是一種補償。

L.B Curzon 在其編撰的字典A Dictionary of Law給contract的定義：Contract is a legally binding agreement根據(jù)這一定義，合同就是有法律約束力的協(xié)議。

綜合起來，有一個相同點，就是Contract is an agreement，即可將合同說成是An agreement which binds the parties concerned或者說合同說成是An agreement which is enforceable by law， 也可以說：Contracts are promises that the law will enforce。

何謂Agreement?

L.B A consensus of mind, or evidence of such consensus, in spoke or written form, relating to anything done or to be done.

根據(jù)這一定義，協(xié)議是對已經(jīng)做或準備做的相關(guān)事宜，經(jīng)過談判、協(xié)商后取得一致意見，以口頭或書面形式做出的約定。

Black "Law Dictionary"有兩個定義。一個是：A concord of understanding and intention between two or more parties with respect to the effect upon their relative rights and duties, of certain past or future facts or performance根據(jù)這一定義，協(xié)議即雙方或多方京某些過去或?qū)砟承┦聦嵉南嚓P(guān)權(quán)利、義務(wù)或相關(guān)權(quán)利、義務(wù)的履行而達成的一致理解和愿望。

另一個是：The consent of two or more persons concurring respecting the transmission of some property, right or benefits, with the view of contacting an obligation, a mutual obligation.根據(jù)這一定義，協(xié)議即兩個或多個當事人，為了約定單方責任或相互責任，就財產(chǎn)權(quán)利、利益的轉(zhuǎn)移取得的一致同意。

Contract(合同)和Agreement(協(xié)議)是不是可以互換呢？

合同的成立必須具備幾個主要因素。它們（要約和承諾構(gòu)成的）協(xié)議、約因、設(shè)立法律關(guān)系的愿望和締約能力四大部分組成。

L.B Curzon編著的A Diction of Law提到：Contract generally involves

1. offer and absolute and unqualified acceptance (要約和絕對接受) 
2. consensus ad idem (意思表示一致， 也叫meeting of minds) 
3. intention to create legal relations (建立合同關(guān)系的意愿) 
4. genuineness of consent (同意的真實性) 
5. contractual capacity of the parties (合同當事人的締約能力) 
6. legality of object(標的物的合法性) 
7. possibility of performance (履行的可能性)
8. certainty of terms(條款的確定性) 
9. valuable consideration(等價有償)

Black 'Law Dictionary" 中解釋道：Although often used as synonyms with "contract", agreement is a broader term, e.g. an agreement might lack an essential element of a contact."

即協(xié)議和合同經(jīng)常用作同義詞，但協(xié)議這一術(shù)語含義更廣，例如協(xié)議可能缺乏合同的必備條款（essential clauses/provisions）。

實際使用當中，協(xié)議可不受必備條款的限制，而稱為合同的文體肯定少不了必備條款，有的合同將其單列，稱為一般條款（General provisions）。 ，

1999中國《合同法》第十二條規(guī)定了八項一般條款，分別是： 
1. title or name and domicile of the parities(當事人的名稱或姓名和住址) 
2. contract object(標的) 
3. quantity(數(shù)量) 
4. quality(質(zhì)量) 
5. price or remuneration(價款或者報酬) 
6. time limit, place and method of performance (履行期限、地點和方式) 
7. liability for breach of contract(違約責任) 
8. methods to settle disputes (解決爭議的方法)

上述解釋說明，contract(合同)和agreement(協(xié)議)的概念雖然接近，但使用范圍不同，不能互換使用。合同是協(xié)議的重要組成部分，所有合同一定是協(xié)議，而協(xié)議不見得都是合同。可以說具備合同成立要求的具有強制執(zhí)行力的協(xié)議才是合同。

結(jié)構(gòu)特點

合同類法律文件用以規(guī)定當事人的權(quán)利與義務(wù)，是預(yù)防與解決爭議的依據(jù)。合同英語行文慎密而準確，歷史悠久，深含法律文化底蘊。

中文的合同開頭一般先羅列當事人的名稱、姓名、住所或營業(yè)場所，然后是合同正文，結(jié)尾是當事人印章、授權(quán)代表簽字、職務(wù)及簽字日期。而英語合同一般以下面這類句式為開頭：

This agreement/contract is made and entered in to this ____ day of _____(month), _______ (year) by and between Party A (hereinafter called " Party A ")and Party B(hereinafter called " Party B ")

然后是開始陳述：

WHEREASTHEREFORE

It is hereby agreed as follows:

或以：

WITNESSETH, WHEREAS

NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereby covenant and agree as follows:

接著是正文，最后是證明部分：

IN WITNESS WHEREOF，the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands the day and years first above written.

隨后還包括當事人和見證人的簽字。簽字日期一般在英文合同最搬弄是非是找不到的。

下面列出新加坡、美國、香港和日本的合同格式。

A. 新加坡

Agreement

THIS AGREEMENT is made the 9th day of August, 2001 between LUCKY INTERNATIONAL LTD, a company incorporated in Singapore and having its registered office at Telek Blongar Rise, Singapore 19569 (hereinfater called "The Company") of the part and JACK Wong (NRIC No._________ /A) of 108 Orchar Road, Singapore 01688 (hereinafter called "The Mangager") of the other part.

WHEREAS:

1. The company is engaged in IT business and requires a person with the necessary qualifications and experience to manage its business.

2. .

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

1. The company shall employ the Manager and the Manager shall serve the Company as manager of the Company's IT business for a period of two years commencing on 1st day of September

2. .

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hand the day and year first above written.

THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO

Duties of Manger

1. To manage, maintain and promote the business of the Company.

2.

3.

SIGNED by Roger Tan

For and on behalf of LUCKY INTERANTIONAL LTD

In the presence of

SIGNED by TERESA WONG

In the presence of

新加坡的通用合同分五部分：

第一部分：稱為parties, 主要介紹合同各方的姓名或名稱，注冊地國及地址、郵編及各自在合同的簡稱。開頭框架一般為：

THIS AGREEMENT is made the ---------__________ day of _____ （month）,____ (year) between A _______ (hereinafter called "The Company") of the part and B______, (hereinafter called "The Manager") of the other part.

句子開頭THIS AGREEMENT

或CONTRACT和當事人的姓名和名稱，都應(yīng)大寫。當事人是自然人的，用of和其后的住址相連；是法人或非法人單位的，用having its registered office at和其后注冊地址相連。

第二部分：稱為recital。以WHEREAS開頭，進入敘述部分，用陳述正式說明當事人訂立合同的原因。

第三部分：稱為habendum，正文。具體約定當事人的權(quán)利和義務(wù)。正文部分的結(jié)束段為：

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hand the day and year first above written.

這段作用相當于中文合同的雙方簽字蓋章，特此為證。

第四部分：稱為schedule或addendum，附錄。是對前述合同部分條款的必要補充。不是所有合同都有這一項。

第五部分：稱為attestation，證明部分。當事人如果自然人，用SIGNED by __ 英文寫作翻譯；連接后填寫見證姓名的表達部分In the presence of ____；當事人是法人或非法人單位時，授權(quán)代表后接的是SIGNED for and on behalf _____ of____，然后才是In the presence of _______。與中文合同的顯著不同是簽章處除當事人外，多了一個In the presence of _______供證人簽字之處。另一不同的是合同訂立日期沒有放在合同最后，而是出現(xiàn)在開頭段的當事人介紹部分。

第五部分在新加坡還有另一種表達

As Witness our Hands this _____day of _____，in the year of our Lord Tow Thousand and One.

Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above named

In the presence of

Signature

Address

Occupation

上述合同的格式很有代表性，其它英文格式與之相比大同大異，有的合同中不含附錄。

B. 美國

APPOINTMENT AS CONTRACT FULL-TIME SENIOR CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATOR

AN AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES made the 1st day of September, 2000 between ______ of _____ (address)(hereinafter referred to as "the Company") as one part and Mr._______ of _______(address) (hereinafter referred to as the Contractor) of the other part.

WHEREBY IT IS AGREED AND DECLARED AS FOLLOWS:

1. THAT the Company shall

2. This agreement shall commence on .

3.

4.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, both parties set their hands on the date herein mentioned

SIGNED BY

Name :

Designation :

For and on behalf of : (signature)

Contractor :

Designation :

For and on behalf of : (signature)

本合同分為四個大部分（缺附錄，schedule）。與上一合同基本相同，但第一段沒有謂語，不是個完整的句子。個別用詞與前一合同有差別。最后落款處還多了了職務(wù)，即designation(有的合同還慣用position).

C. 香港

CONTRACT

CONTACT NO.

SIGNING DATE/PLACE

THE BUYER: Name

Legal Address

Contact

THE SELLER: Name

Legal Address

Contact

This contract is made by and between the Buyer and the Seller.

Whereby the Buyer agrees o buy and the Seller agrees to sell the under-mentioned commodity according to the terms and conditions.

1. NAME OF COMMODITY AND SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT
2. PRICE 
3. PAYMENT譯
4. PACKING 
5.

IN WITHNESS WHEREOF, this contract has been executed effective as of the date first above written.

THE BUYER THE SELLER

___________ ___________

By:__________ By:__________

Date:------------_________ Date:------------_________

THE END USER

___________

By: __________

Date: --------____-_________

比起前兩個合同，該買賣合同的不同之處于在于，合同開頭出現(xiàn)了合同編號和簽署日期，當事人名稱或姓名采用簡單列舉式。證明部分用完成時被動態(tài)，最后落款處SIGNED BY項目，但增加了最終用戶一項。

D. 日本

SERVICE AGREEMENT

This agreement is made and entered into on March 1st ,2001, by and between______ LTD (hereinafter referred to as "PARTY A"), and ________CO., LTD. ((hereinafter referred to as "PARTY B")

WITNESSTH:

WHEREAS, PARTY B has requested by PARTY A to dispatch its personal for the purpose of _______ to PARTY b; and

WHEREAS, (PARTY A is willing to dispatch its personnel t PARTY B in response to such PARTY B's request)

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained , the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.
2. 
3.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first herinabove written.

______ Ltd. ________ Co., Ltd.

(signature) (signature)

MANAGING DIRECTOR MANAGING DIRECTOR

該合同也由四大部分構(gòu)成，與上述合同最大的不同在于，在敘述部分上端加了一個WITNESSETH（鑒于），最后落款處也沒有SIGNED BY 項目，但授權(quán)簽字代表的職位真接打出來，放在簽字的下一行。別外，當事人的簡稱部分用的都是大寫。

相比之下，英文合同除個別地方外，整個合同的段落排列，句式和用詞大同小異。在草擬英文合同時，只要仿用上述任何一個，都算是地道的英文表達。

用詞特點(formal term)

合同英語的用詞極其考究，具有特定性。要求選詞專業(yè)化（professional）、正式（formal）、準確（accurate）。具體體現(xiàn)在下列方面：

1． May, shall, must ,may not (或shall not) 的使用 ，May, shall , must ,may not (或shall not)對學(xué)過英語的人再熟悉不過，但在合同中用這些詞時要極其謹慎。權(quán)利義務(wù)的約見定部分構(gòu)成了合同的主體。這幾個詞如選用不當，可能會引起糾紛。

may 旨在約定當事人的權(quán)利（可以做什么），Shall約定當事人的義務(wù)（應(yīng)當做什么時候）， must 用于強制性義務(wù)（必須做什么），may not (或shall not)用于禁止性義務(wù)（不得做什么）。May do 不能說成can do， shall do, 不能說成should do 或ought to do， may not do 在美國一些法律文件可以用shall not，但絕不能用can not do或must not ) 例如，在約定解決爭議的途徑時的，可以說
The parties hereto shall, first of all, settle any dispute arising from or in connection with the contract by friendly negotiations.

Should such negotiations fail, such dispute may be referred to the People's Court having jurisdiction on such dispute for settlement in the absence of any arbitration clause in the disputed contract or in default of agreement reached after such dispute occurs.

本句中的shall 和may表達準確。出現(xiàn)爭議后應(yīng)當先行協(xié)商，所以采用了義務(wù)性約定，如果協(xié)商解決不了，作為當事人的權(quán)利，用選擇性約定may也很妥當。如果may和shall調(diào)換位置會怎么樣？ 前半句的shall換用may后，意思變成了當事人可以通過協(xié)商解決，意思上說得過去，但后半句的may換用shall 后，變成了應(yīng)當訴訟解決，好象一出事，就要先見官，這就有些不友好了。

本句可譯：雙方首先應(yīng)通過友好協(xié)商，解決因合同而發(fā)生的或與合同有關(guān)的爭議。如果協(xié)商未果，合同中又無仲裁條款約定或爭議發(fā)生后未就仲裁達成協(xié)方的，可將爭議提交有管轄權(quán)的人民法院解決。

2． 正式用語（formal term）

合同英語有著嚴肅的風(fēng)格，與其它英語作品有很大不同。

例如：

因為的短語多用by virtue of "，遠遠多于due to一般不用because of ； 
財務(wù)年度末一般用at the close of the fiscal year，而不用in the end of the fiscal year； 
在之前一般用prior to，而不用before；

關(guān)于常用as regards， concerning或relating to，而不會用about；

事實上用in effect，而不用in fact；

開始用commencement,而不用start或begin；

停止做用cease to do，而不用stop to do；

何時開會并由某某主持的表述為：The meeting shall be convened and presided by sb.

其中召開不用hold 或call，而用convene； 主持不用chair或be in charge of ，而用preside；

其他事項用miscellaneous, 而不用other matters/events；

理解合同用construe a contract 或comprehend a contract，而不用understand a contract;

認為用deem，用consider少，不用think或believe；

愿意做用intend to do或desire to do，而不用want to do, wish to do。

三、用詞專業(yè)（technical terms）

合同用詞不以大眾是否理解和接受為轉(zhuǎn)移，它是合同語言準確表達的保障。如合同出現(xiàn)的瑕疵、 救濟、 不可抗力、 管轄、損毀、 滅失等就可能讓非行業(yè)人士費解，在英語以上表達分別為defect、remedy、force majuere/Act of God、jurisdiction、damage and/or loss)。另外幾乎每個合同都少不了hereinafter referred to as , whereas, in witness whereof, for and on behalf of , hereby, thereof 等虛詞。這也是合同英語的一大特色。

其它例子還有：

賠償用indemnities，而不用compensation

不動產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓用conveyance，而不用transfer of real estate

房屋出租用tenancy，而財產(chǎn)出租用lease of property

停業(yè)用wind up a business或cease (名詞是cessation) a business,而不用end/stop a business

專利許可中的特許權(quán)使用費只用royalities

還款或?qū)＠暾埖膶捪奁谟⑽膅race,

當事人在破產(chǎn)中的和解用composition

以實物出資為investment in kind

依照合同相關(guān)規(guī)定一般說pursuant to provisions contained herein或as provided herein等，不說according to relevant terms and conditions in the contract

合同任何一方當事人不得轉(zhuǎn)讓本合同英文表述為Neither party hereto may assign this contract，其中hereto表示to the contract，選用Neither party to the contract較少。

3． 同義詞、近義詞、相關(guān)詞的序列

FOR value RECEIVED，the undersigned does hereby sell, transfer, assign and set over to ______ all his right, tile and interest in and to a certain contract dated ______, 19____ by and between the undersigned and ______，a copy of which is annexed hereto.

在這里的同義詞和近義詞并列（如sell, transfer, assign and set over，right和 tile and interest），在英文合同里十分普遍。這是出于嚴謹和杜絕漏洞的考慮，有的也屬于合同用語的固定模式。如：

This agreement is made and entered into by and between Party A and Party B.句中made and entered into和by and between兩組分別屬于同義詞和相關(guān)詞并列。

For and in consideration of mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereby covenant and agree as follows: 句中for and in consideration of ， covenants and agreements三組同義司和近義詞并列。

The parties have agreed to vary the Management on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein. 這里的on the terms和subject to the conditions是一個意思都表示依照本協(xié)議的條款規(guī)定。合同條款的固定模式是terms and conditions

再例如：

Party A wishes to be released and discharged from agreement as from the effective date，一句中的release和discharge意思幾乎相同。

并列的詞還有：

ships and vessels 
support and maintenance 
licenses and permits 
charges, fees, costs and expenses 
any and all
any duties, obligations or liabilities 
the partners, their heirs, successors and assigns 
control and management of the partnership 
applicable laws, regulations, decrees, directives, and rules

5. 拉丁詞

在國外合同中，拉丁詞仍然是很常見：

比例稅率：用pro rate tax rate要比proportional tax rate多

從事慈善性服務(wù)的律師：pro bono lawyer，不怎么用lawyer engaged in charitable legal assistance

委托代理人：多用agent ad litem。