Inanimate Subject Sentences in English and Their Translation Strategies

Abstract

This paper first clarifies the concept of inanimate subject sentences in English, and points out that inanimate subject sentences refer to sentences that use verbs expressing material or psychological processes as predicates instead of living entities. Then the causes of inanimate tendencies of English subjects are explained from the perspective of Chinese and Western thinking. According to the different attributes of subjects, inanimate subject sentences can be divided into the following six categories: abstract concepts as subjects, nouns expressing psychological feelings as subjects，nouns indicating specific actions and action meanings are used as subjects, natural phenomena as subjects, concrete things as subjects and time and place nouns as subjects. Four examples are listed in each category. Then, the paper elaborates the linguistic effect of English inanimate subject sentences. Finally, according to the six categories of inanimate subject, it explores the translation strategies of English inanimate subject sentences, and defines the exceptional phenomena, with a view to helping readers in their English language learning.