英文合同在标题之后，各式各样的条款出现之前，通常会先有一段「前言」，也称序言、导言、总则等。前言一般不会占去太多的篇幅，目的在于很简略地介绍合同内容之人、事、时、地、物等背景，让阅读合同的人在接触冗长复杂的正文前，先有一个基础的认识与心理准备。

第一部份文字叫做 "Parties" ，也就是合同的「开场白」(Commencement)，内容在说明当事人姓名或名称、国籍或注册地国及住所地或主营业地、订约日期包括各自在合同中的简称等等。

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT (SALES)

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered into on _day of _(month), (year), by and between: _(hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of        , with its registered office located at _ , and _(hereinafter referred to as the "Employee"), an individual, with nationality of (Passport No.         ) residing at .

本聘用协议于_ 年_月_日签订，双方当事人为：

依_州法律组织设立的_公司 (以下简称本公司),主营业地为_，与_国籍的_(护照号码: )(以下简称雇员), 居住于_。

第二部份叫做"Recitals"，是由数个以"Whereas"字样开头的句子所组合而成（这些句子俗称为"Whereas Clauses" 即鉴于条款）。"Whereas"的本义是"When in fact"、"considering that"、或"that being the case"的意思，所以"Whereas Clauses"就表示当事人乃是在基于对这些事实（例如订约的目的、背景、原由等）的共同认识，订立此合同。以下是一个补偿贸易合同（Compensation Trade Contract） 的 Whereas Clauses，很简单明了地表达了双方合作的意愿。

WITNESSETH

Whereas Party B has machines and equipment, which are now used in Party B's manufacturing of steel wire rope, and is willing to sell to Party A the machines and equipment; and

Whereas Party B agrees to buy the products, steel wire rope, made by Party A using the machines and

equipment Party B supplies, in compensation of the price of the machines and equipment, and Whereas Party A agrees to purchase from Party B the machines and equipment, and

Whereas Party A agrees to sell to Party B the products, the steel wire rope, in compensation of the price of Party B's machines and equipment;

Now therefore, in consideration of the premises and covenants described hereinafter, Party A and Party B agree as follows:

兹证明(通常不译)

鉴于乙方拥有用于生产钢丝绳的机械设备，愿向甲方出售该机械设备；

鉴于乙方同意购买甲方用乙方所供应的该机械设备生产的产品，钢丝绳来补偿该机械设备的价款； 鉴于甲方同意从乙方购买该机械设备；

鉴于甲方同意向乙方出售产品钢丝绳以补偿乙方机械设备的价款； 因此，基于上述诸点认识双方特立契约，约定如下：