看了之后明白了很多英文“之乎者也”所對(duì)應(yīng)的現(xiàn)代文，對(duì)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”?北京報(bào)關(guān)員考試

　1999年中國(guó)《合同法》第二條對(duì)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(bǔ)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(gè)相同點(diǎn)，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(duì)已經(jīng)做或準(zhǔn)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(gè)定義。一個(gè)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?shí)的相關(guān)權(quán)利、義務(wù)或相關(guān)權(quán)利、義務(wù)的履行而達(dá)成的一致理解和愿望。

　另一個(gè)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(gè)或多個(gè)當(dāng)事人，為了約定單方責(zé)任或相互責(zé)任，就財(cái)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(gè)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(duì)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(shí)性)

　5. contractual capacity of the parties (合同當(dāng)事人的締約能力)

　6. legality of object(標(biāo)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(jià)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(shí)際使用當(dāng)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(guó)《合同法》第十二條規(guī)定了八項(xiàng)一般條款，分別是：

　1. title or name and domicile of the parities(當(dāng)事人的名稱或姓名和住址)

　2. contract object(標(biāo)的)

　3. quantity(數(shù)量)

　4. quality(質(zhì)量)

　5. price or remuneration(價(jià)款或者報(bào)酬)

　6. time limit, place and method of performance (履行期限、地點(diǎn)和方式)

　7. liability for breach of contract(違約責(zé)任)

　8. methods to settle disputes (解決爭(zhēng)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?？梢哉f具備合同成立要求的具有強(qiáng)制執(zhí)行力的協(xié)議才是合同。

　結(jié)構(gòu)特點(diǎn)

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

　中文的合同開頭一般先羅列當(dāng)事人的名稱、姓名、住所或營(yíng)業(yè)場(chǎng)所，然后是合同正文，結(jié)尾是當(dāng)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：

　WHEREAS…THEREFORE

　… 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(dāng)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(guó)、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