医学翻译中作主语的非生物名词往往可以翻译成各种状语意义的情况。这种方法如能准确运用，必能为译文增彩添色，但使用这种方法的前提必须是忠实于原文，切忌牵强附会。
举例如下：
1. The diagnosis of the disease requires meticulous care on the part of the clinician.
[原译]此病的诊断要求医生非常细心。
[改译]医生在诊断时要非常细心。
[说明]主语含有时间意义。

2. Mental work causes onJy a slight increase in the energy needs of the body.
[原译]脑力劳动只引起身体能量需要的稍许增加。
[改译]脑力劳动时身体对能量的需要增加甚微。
[说明]主语含有时间意义。

3. A study of the various organs has led to successful methods of struggle with very many diseases, which were formerly considered incurable.
[原译] 对各个器宫的研宄导致有效的方法来防治许多过去的不治之症。
[改译] 由于对各个器宫进行了研究，我们才找到有效的方法来防治许多过去的不治之症。
[说明] 主语含有原因意义，

4. The slow onset of this disease frequently hinders its early diagnosis.
[原译]此病发病缓慢,妨碍早期诊断。
[改译]此病因发病缓慢,常常难以早期诊断.
[说明]主语含有原因意义。

5. A bit of knowledge in this field kept him from making a big mistake when an important question was to be decided.
[原译]有一点这方面的知识使他在决定重要问题时没有犯大错误。
[改译]因为稍具这方面的知识，所以他在决定重要问题时没有犯大销误。
[说明]主语含有原因意义。

6. Careful comparison of them will show you the difference.
[原译]仔细比较它们，将会给你显示出差别。