摘要:状语从句在句中作状语,修饰主句中的动词、形容词或副词等,状语从句都由从属连词引导,与主句相连,状语从句放在句首时,其后通常用逗号,放在句尾时,其前一般不用逗号。状语从句可以分为时间状语、地点状语、原因状语、条件状语、让步状语、目的状语、结果状语、比较状语和方式
状语从句在句中作状语,修饰主句中的动词、形容词或副词等,状语从句都由从属连词引导,与主句相连,状语从句放在句首时,其后通常用逗号,放在句尾时,其前一般不用逗号。状语从句可以分为时间状语、地点状语、原因状语、条件状语、让步状语、目的状语、结果状语、比较状语和方式状语等。
(一)时间状语
在英语中能够引导时间状语从句的连接词和短语很多,如when,while,as,before, after, since, till, until, as soon as, so long as, no sooner... than,scarcely(hardly)...when,once,each time,every time等。在专利文献中,时间状语从句可能在主句前,也可能在主句后,但译者应尽量考虑汉语的习惯,把时间状语放在句首。
【例句】The current stops as soon as the light is intercepted.
【译文】光被截断,电流就立刻停止。
(二)地点状语
在英语中,引导地点状语的连接词不多,仅有where,wherever等。在翻译的时候,汉语的地点状语既可放在句首,也可放在句尾。
【例句】Where there have been tubes there can now be tiny transistors.
【译文】过去用电子管的地方,现在可用很小的晶体管。
(三)原因状语
英语中引导原因状语从句的连接词有:because,as,since,now that,seeing(that),considering that等。在汉语中,原因状语一般放在主句前,但有时也可以采用顺译法,将从句保留在主句后面。
【例句】As the neutron is uncharged, it is not affected by the charged electrons and pro-tons of the target atom.
【译文】中子不带电荷,它不受靶原子中带电的电子和质子的影响。
【例句】A diode can be used as rectifier because its current flows in one direction.
【译1】在二极管中电流只朝一个方向流动,所以可用做整流器
【译2】二极管可用做整流器,因为电流在二极管中只朝一个方向流动。
(四)条件状语
在英语中,条件状语的引导词有:if,unless,as long as,in case,as far as,should,suppose(supposing)that, provided(providing)that, assume (assuming)that,on condition that, in the event that等。在汉语中,条件状语通常放在句首,并加上一些关联词,如“如果”、“如果……就”、“只要……就”、“除非……才”、“当……时”。当然,在个别情况下,条件状语从句也可译在主句后面。
【例句】An electric current does not flow if there is no potential difference between the two ends of a conductor.
【译文】如果导体两端没有电位差,电流就不会流动。
【例句】Iron or steel parts will rust, if they are unprotected.
【译1】如果对铁件和钢件不加保护,它们就会生锈
【译2】铁件和钢件是会生锈的,如果不加保护的话。
(五)让步状语
英语中的让步状语从句的引导词有:though(although),even though,even if,however, no matter (how, what, where, which, when), whatever, as, while, if,whether,notwithstanding等。让步从句在汉语中常放在句首,但有时也可放在句中或句尾。如可译为“虽然”、、“即使”、“尽管”
【例】While polyacetylene may be persuaded to conduct current as well as many metals do, this material is unfortunately no good for practical use.
【译文】虽然聚乙炔能够像许多金属一样导电,遗憾的是在实际中无法加以应用。
(六)目的状语
在英语中,目的状语从句常用的引导词有:that,so that,in order that,for thepurpose that,to the end that等。在译成汉语时,目的状语可放在句首或句尾,如译为“为了”、“要使”、“以”、“以便”等。
【例句】The end of the wires are soldered so as not to fray during vibration.
【译1】为了避免震动时松动,线头要焊牢。
【译2】线头要焊牢,以免震动时松动。
(七)结果状语
英语中结果状语从句常用的引导词有:so that,so...that,that,such...that,to the extent that, in so much as, in such a way that, with the result that等。无论是英语还是汉语,这类状语从句一般都习惯放在主句后。
【例句】All the laser light waves are so nearly parallel that they can travel for miles in a straight line without spreading apart significantly.
【译文】所有的激光光波几乎互相平行,因此它们能直线传播好几英里而无明显的散射
现象。
(八)比较状语英语的比较状语从句常用的引导词有:then,as...as,not so...as,the...the more...than,no more than,not more...than等。英语的比较状语从句中省略句较多翻译时译者要根据具体情况补充适当的内容。
【例句】A polished surface reflects more heat than a dull surface, which absorbs more than a polished one.
【译1】光滑表面反射的热比粗糙表面反射多,粗糙表面吸收的热比光滑表面多。
【译2】光滑表面与粗糙表面相比,反射的热量多,而吸收的热量少。
(九)方式状语
方式状语从句常用的引导词有:(just)as, as if, as though, in a manner that, in this way that, in such a way, to the extent that, in degree as, according as, in the same as等。翻译时,方式状语从句既可单独译为一句,也可与主句合译为一个单句。
【例句】The resonators are integrated into the combustion chamber wall in such a way that they each have respective partial flows of the air flow passing there through.
来源:星空教育