英语形态标定手段丰富，所以英译汉时要善于发现原文形态表意的特征，并在译文中将意义词汇化。例如：

① He succeeded in finishing his task, in spite of difficulties.

尽管困难重重，他还是成功地完成了任务。

② She tried to go through the first pages.

她翻了翻开头几页。

英语名词复数的概念只需加个“s”就可表达，而汉语则需使用词汇才能体现出来。

③ He left the White House a wiser but sadder man.

他离开白宫时，比他刚进白宫时聪明了一些，但也比当初更郁郁寡欢了。

英语形容词的比较级靠形容词自身形态变化体现，而汉语的比较级靠词汇表达。例如：

④ With the big Bull Market gone and prosperity going American were soon to find themselves living in an altered world.

股票大牛市已无影无踪，经济繁荣的景象正在逐渐消失，与此同时，美国人发现他们生活的世界巳经改变了。

通过译文我们可以清楚地看到英语动词“go”的两个形态“gone”与“going”，虽然形式简单，但是表达的意义却是非常丰富的。

⑤ The kitchen was in a great bustle with preparations… There were dishes to prepared, silver and gold vessels to be cleaned and scoured, floors to be polished.

厨房的准备工作极为忙乱紧张….要准备菜肴， 要洗擦金银器皿，要擦洗地板。

原文中有三个动词不定式结构， to+动词也是英语动词的一种形态标定，“be prepared”“to be cleaned and scoured”，"to be polished”都是不定式的一般式被动语态。这种形态表示该做尚未做的事。“to”这个符号形态的意义，在译文中是由词汇“要”或用“应该”来表达的，这是形态表意向词汇表意的转化。再分析几例：

⑥ After she had paid her bus fare, she had only two pesos left. She had made three Sandwiches with corned beef and they should last her till she reached home.

买了汽车票，身上只剩下两个比索了。不过她已用腌牛肉做了三个三明治，该够她在路上吃了。