在英文合同中,引导条件的从句表示“如果、假如”,常用in the event that(in the enent of),in case (in case of),providinng(that),provided (that),on condition that,if(if and whenever),where,in so far as (insofar sa),should,suppose/supposing(that)等引导词。
例如下面这个中文合同条款内容:
如果在信用证(或保函)开出后,合同总价或合同其他条款发生变化,所有者应尽快对信用证(或保函)进行相应的修改。
英文合同翻译内容是:
In the event that the Contract Price or any other terms of the Contract changes after the issuance of the Letter of Credit (or Letter of Guarantee), the Owner shall arrange for such Letter to be amended accordingly as soon as possible after any such changes.
下面这种常见的英文合同内容,在中文翻译时如下:
In case part of or all know-how of the abovementioned technical contents have been published by Party B or Third Parties and A obtains evidence of such publication, then Party A shall no longer be responsible for keeping secret and confidential the part already published.
如上述专有技术的一部分或全部已由乙方或第三方公布,而甲方也掌握了已公布的证据,则甲方不再承担保密义务。
15% of the above contract price, e.g. US $ 21, 000. 00 shall be paid by Party A to Party B by MD within 30 days afer Party A has received from Party B the following technical documentations and documents, providing that they are in conformity with the contract:
甲方从乙方处收到以下技术资料和文件后30天内应信汇乙方上述合同总价的15%,也就是21000美元,但该技术资料和文件应符合本合同要求。
Either party may at anytime replace the chairman, deputy chairman or director(s) it has appointed, provided that it gives written notice to the Joint Venture Company and the other party. 任何一方可随时更换自己委派的董事长、副董事长或董事,但必须书面通知合资公司和合资的另方。
需要注意的是,provided thay通常语气上有转折的含义,不太适合用于表达“假如,如果”;而用于表达但是,则较为过渡自然,符合汉语表达的规范。
Should the seller make delivery on time as stipulated in the Contract with the exception ofForce Majeure specified in Clausel8 to this contract, the Buyer shall agree to postpone the delivery on condition that the Seller agree to pay a penalty which shall be deducted by the paying bank from the payment under negotiation
如果卖庄非9本合同第18条规定的不可抗力事件而未按合同规定的期限交货,那么,只要卖方同意支付罚金,并由付款行从这付款中扣除, 买方便同意卖方延期交货。
句中出现两处条件从句,should引导的从句属于非真实条件句,即虚拟语气,表示该条件发生的可能性很小,也就是说是当事人不希望出现的不利情况,而on condition that引导的条件从句,往往表示只要某情况出现,就如何。