第二,注意英语被动句的翻译。英文的被动句经常用汉语主动句表达,如:You are requested to give a performance 英文的被动句译成汉语的主动句:请你给我们表演一个节目。英文中被动意义也可以用汉语中含有主动意义的句子来表达。常译成“被”、“由”、“受”、“为…所”等等。例如: What is feared as failure in American society is,above all,loneliness.(在美国社会中作为失败而为人们所恐惧的,莫过于孤独了。)
第三,注意长句的翻译。首先不要被长句吓住,即使是很长的句子,也是由最基本的成分组成。分析句子的基本成分,主语、谓语、宾语、状语。抓住主干部分,然后逐次分析各词意思以及相互间的逻辑、语法关系,再进行翻译。值得注意的是关系分句的翻译。关系分句主要功能是作名词(词组)的后置修饰语(即定语),但除作名词修饰语外,关系分句还可起其他作用,比如起状语分句和并列分句的作用,因此译成汉语时要注意,限定性关系分句翻译时因为英文置于名词后,汉语则将其置于先行项(antecedent)的前边,使其译成带有“的”字的定语句子,如:I want a wife who will work and send me to school.(我想要个既能工作又能送我上学的老婆)。有的句子过长,前置会显得累赘,或不符合汉语的习惯,这样我们翻译时将从句后置,把它翻译成跟主句平行的并列句。如:I want a wife who will not trouble me with a wife's duties but a1ways listens to me.(我想要个老婆,她不会以妻子的义务来打搅我,而是始终听命于我。)
The sun warms the earth, which makes it possible for plants to grow.(太阳温暖了大地,这才使植物有可能生长。)也可以完全脱离主句,译成独立句。如:She was very patient towards the children, which her husband seldom was.(她对孩子们很耐心,她丈夫却很少这样。)
Exercises: Put the following into Chinese:
①It is reported that they have found another star.
②It happens that I have my check-book with me.
③It is likely that he will succeed.
④It is a question that we arrive before l0 o'clock.
⑤She was advised to take the medicine。
⑥she told me that a big reservoir was being built in her hometown.
⑦I'll never forget the day when l came to the University.
⑧Yesterday I saw a wonderful film, which was about World War II.