【从句】
一、定语从句
定语从句分为限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句。引导定语从句的关系代词有that,which,who,whom,whose(of which),but(who/that…not),as等,关系副词有when,where,why,how等。大多数定语从句都对所修饰的名词或代词加以限制,去掉该从句后先行词将意义不全或失去意义。而非限制性定语从句的作用在于补充,翻译时常常另起一个句子,与主句构成并列句。
(一)关系代词引导的定语从句
1。关系代词that引导的定语从句,that指人或指物,在从句中可以作主语、宾语。多数情况下,可与which互换。
【真题例句】In a significant tightening of legal controls over the press, Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor, will introduce a draft bill that will propose making payments to witnesses illegal and will strictly control the amount of publicity that can be given to a case before a trial begins。(2001完形)
【结构分析】本句主干为Lord Irvine will introduce a draft bill…;其中bill由that引导的定语从句that will propose making payments to witnesses illegal and will strictly control the amount of publicity…修饰,在从句中,that指代先行词bill作主语。观察连词and,可确定此从句中并列两个谓语will propose和will control。其中control的宾语the amount of publicity后又跟一个that引导的定语从句that can be given to a case before a trial begins,使用了被动语态,that指代先行词publicity作主语。句首的介词短语In a significant tightening of legal controls over the press作全句的状语。
【参考译文】为了有效地加强对新闻界的法律监控,大法官欧文勋爵将引入一项草案。这项草案将提出付款给证人是非法的,并且要严格控制审判前对案件的曝光。
【真题例句】The overall result has been to make entrance to professional geological journals harder for amateurs, a result that has been reinforced by the widespread introduction of refereeing, first by national journals in the 19th century and then by several local geological journals in the 20th century. (2001阅读1)
【结构分析】本句的主干是一个完成时的主系表结构The overall result has been… for amateurs,表语由不定式短语to make…harder(使……更难)充当。名词短语a result that…是主干中主语result的同位语,作用是对其进行补充说明。在此名词短语中,关系代词that引导定语从句that has been reinforced by…修饰先行词result,that在从句中代替result作主语,从句的谓语使用了被动语态。
【参考译文】总体结果是,业余人员在专业地质学刊物上发表论文更难了,这种结果又由于审稿的广泛引入而变得更糟——19世纪由国家级杂志评审, 20世纪由一些地方地质学杂志评审。
【真题例句】There will be television chat shows hosted by robots, and cars with pollution monitors that will disable them when they offend. (2001-71)
【结构分析】本句为there be句型。主干为There will be television chat shows…,and cars…其中shows后由过去分词结构hosted by robots(作定语)修饰,cars后的介宾短语with pollution monitors作后置定语,该定语中monitors后跟一个that引导的定语从句that will disable them…,关系代词that指代monitors在从句中作主语。句末的when they offend作从句中的时间状语。
【参考译文】未来将出现机器人主持的谈话节目以及装有污染监控器的汽车,当汽车污染超标时,监控器就会让其停止。
【真题例句】And thanks to the continual miniaturization of electronics and micro mechanics, there are already robot systems that can perform some kinds of brain and bone surgery with submillimeter accuracy—far greater precision than highly skilled physicians can achieve with their hands alone. (2002阅读2)
【结构分析】本句与上句同,主干there be句型there are already robot systems…中,systems由that引导的定语从句that can perform…(直到句末)修饰,关系代词that指代先行词systems在从句中作主语。破折号之后的部分far greater precision than…是submillimeter accuracy的同位语,起补充说明作用,这里使用了比较级。句首的And thanks to the continual miniaturization of electronics and micro mechanics作全句的状语。
【参考译文】由于电子技术的不断微型化和微型机械学的发展,已经出现了能够完成某些脑部和骨科手术的机器人系统,其精确程度已达到亚毫米级,这一精确程度大大超出了技术娴熟的医生光凭双手所能达到的水平。
【真题例句】For example, changes in the economy that lead to fewer job opportunities for youth and rising unemployment in general make gainful employment increasingly difficult to obtain。(2004完形)
【结构分析】本句主干的结构为“主+谓+宾+宾补”,即changes make gainful employment increasingly difficult to obtain。主语changes后有两个修饰语,其一是介词短语in the economy作的后置定语,其二是that引导的定语从句that lead to fewer job opportunities for youth and rising unemployment in general。该定语从句中,关系代词指代先行词changes作主语,谓语lead to有两个宾语,分别为job opportunities 和 unemployment,由and并列。
【参考译文】举例来说,经济改革导致了年轻人就业机会的减少和普遍上升的失业率,这些都使得有酬工作越来越难找。
注意:只能用that作为定语从句的关系代词的情况:
(1)在there be 句型中,只用that,不用which;
(2)不定代词如anything, nothing, the one, all, much, few, any, little等作先行词时,只用that,不用which;
(3) 先行词有the only, the very修饰时,只用that;
(4) 先行词为序数词、形容词最高级时,只用that;
(5) 先行词既有人,又有物时。
【真题例句】To paraphrase 18th-century statesman Edmund Burke, “all that is needed for the triumph of a misguided cause is that good people do nothing。”(2003阅读2)
【结构分析】本句的直接引语中,主干为一个主系表结构all is that…,其中主语all由that引导的定语从句that is needed for the triumph of a misguided cause修饰,关系代词that指代先行词all在从句中作主语。表语由that引导的名词性从句that good people do nothing充当。
【参考译文】用18世纪政治家埃德蒙·柏克的话说:“一个被误导的事业如果能成功,它唯一需要的就是好人无所作为”。
2。关系代词which引导的定语从句,which指物,在从句中可以作主语、宾语等。多数情况下,可与that互换。
【真题例句】用If you are part of the group which you are addressing, you will be in a position to know the experiences and problems which are common to all of you and it’ll be appropriate for you to make a passing remark about the inedible canteen food or the chairman’s notorious bad taste in ties。(2002阅读1)
【结构分析】本句包含两个并列分句,由and连接。第一个分句为you will be in a position to know the experiences and problems which are common to all of you,这里包含一个定语从句,由which引导,关系代词which指代先行词the experiences and problems,在从句中作主语。第二个分句为it’ll be appropriate for you to make a passing remark about the inedible canteen food or the chairman’s notorious bad taste in ties,其中使用了it作形式主语,真正的主语为不定式to make a passing remark about…。句首的if引导条件状语从句,其中group由which引导的定语从句which you are addressing修饰,which在从句中指代先行词groups,作address的宾语。
【参考译文】如果你是你谈话听众中的一员,你就能够了解你们所共有的经历和问题,而且你也可对餐厅极难吃的食物或者领导在选择领带方面差劲的品味进行评头论足。
【真题例句】Thus, the anthropological concept of “culture”, like the concept of “set” in mathematics, is an abstract concept which makes possible immense amounts of concrete research and understanding. (2003-65)
【结构分析】本句的主干是一个主系表结构,主语和系动词被介宾短语like the concept of “set” in mathematics所作的状语分隔,连接后为the anthropological concept of “culture” is an abstract concept…,其中表语abstract concept由which引导的定语从句which makes possible immense amounts of concrete research and understanding修饰,在从句中,which代替concept作主语。
【参考译文】因此,就像数学中“集合”的概念一样,人类学中“文化”的概念是一个抽象概念。它使大量的具体研究和认识成为可能。
【真题例句】He adds humbly that perhaps he was “superior to the common run of men in noticing things which easily escape attention, and in observing them carefully。” (2008-49)
【结构分析】本句为复合句。主句为He adds humbly that…,其中adds的宾语部分由that引导的宾语从句充当。在此宾语从句中,两个介宾短语in noticing things 和 in observing them carefully都作状语,关系代词which引导的定语从句which easily escape attention修饰先行词things,which在从句指代things作主语。
【参考译文】他谦卑地补充道,或许他“和普通人比起来,更能够注意到那些别人不容易注意到的细节,并对此加以详细地观察”。
3。关系代词与介词一起用,介词提前时,只用which。
(1)从句中谓语部分成分提前
【真题例句】With regard to Futurist poetry, however, the case is rather difficult, for whatever Futurist poetry may be—even admitting that the theory on which it is based may be right—it can hardly be classed as Literature。(2000阅读3)
【结构分析】本句包含两个并列分句。前一分句为the case is rather difficult,后一分句whatever Futurist poetry may be…(直到句末)由for连接,表示原因。在此分句中,whatever引导让步状语从句,两个破折号之间的插入部分,为分词结构所作的让步状语。admitting后的宾语由从句that the theory…may be right充当,该宾语从句的主语theory由which引导的定语从句修饰,which指代先行词theory在从句中作谓语部分be based on(以……为基础,根据)的宾语,表现为介词on提前。句首的介宾短语With regard to Futurist poetry作全句的状语。
【参考译文】但是,就未来派诗歌而言,情况却相当不同了,因为无论未来派诗歌为何物——即使承认其理论根据可能是正确的,也很难称其为文学作品。
【真题例句】Most journalists learn to see the world through a set of standard templates (patterns) into which they plug each day’s events。(2001阅读3)
【结构分析】本句为主从复合句,主句为Most journalists learn to see the world through a set of standard templates (patterns)。关系代词which引导定语从句into which they plug each day’s events修饰先行词a set of standard templates,which在定语从句中指代先行词作into的宾语(into提前),我们可将其还原为plug each day’s events into(a set of standard templates)。
【参考译文】多数新闻记者都学着用一套标准的模式去看待世界,并把每天发生的事件纳入这种模式。
【真题例句】What is needed is a technology of behavior, but we have been slow to develop the science from which such a technology might be drawn。(2002英译汉)
【结构分析】本句包含由but连接的两个并列分句。前一分句是一个主系表结构,其中主语由what引导的主语从句充当。后一分句中包含which引导的定语从句which such a technology might be drawn修饰先行词science,关系代词which指代science在从句中作be drawn from的宾语,本句表现为from提前,我们可还原从句部分为such a technology might be drawn from (science)。
【参考译文】我们需要的是一种行为技术,但是目前产生这种技术的科学进展缓慢。
【真题例句】It’s theory to which many economists subscribe, but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail。(2003阅读3)
【结构分析】本句与上句也同,也包含两个并列分句,由but连接,体现转折关系。前一分句的表语theory由关系代词which引导的定语从句to which many economists subscribe修饰。在该定语从句中,which作subscribe to的宾语,本句体现为介词to提前的形式,我们可还原其为many economists subscribe to (the theory)。后一分句中,determining的宾语由两个which引导的名词性从句充当,分别为which companies will flourish 和which will fail。
【参考译文】这种理论是多数经济学家都赞同的,但在实际操作中,它常常使铁路公司获得了决定哪家公司兴盛哪家公司倒闭的权力。
(2)代替先行词与介词构成介宾结构在从句中作状语
【真题例句】They are the possessions of the autonomous (self-governing) man of traditional theory, and they are essential to practices in which a person is held responsible for this conduct and given credit for his achievements。(2002-64)
【结构分析】本句包含两个并列分句。在and后的并列分句中,practices由一个which引导的定语从句in which a person is held responsible for this conduct and given credit for his achievements修饰。关系代词which在从句中指代practices与in构成介宾结构,翻译为“在个人行为中”作整个从句的状语。
【参考译文】自由和尊严(参见原题)是传统理论中自主人所拥有的,并且是个人行为中必不可少的——人要对自己的这种品行负责并且因其成就被给予奖励。
【真题例句】Television is one of the means by which these feelings are created and conveyed—and perhaps never before has it served so much so connect different peoples and nations as the recent events in Europe. (200546)
【结构分析】本句与上句同,也包含and连接的两个并列分句。前一分句中,表语部分means由定语从句by which these feelings are created and conveyed修饰。关系which指代means与介词by相连,翻译为“通过这种方式”,在从句中作状语。后一分句提前了never构成倒装(参见倒装章节),并使用了so much…as的比较结构(参见比较章节)。
【参考译文】电视是产生和表达这些感受的手段之一——在欧洲近来发生的事件中,它把不同的民族和国家连到一起,其作用之大,前所未有。
4。非限制性定语从句只用which,并多译为并列句结构。
【真题例句】The more foreign capital you have helping you build your Third Wave infrastructure, which today is an electronic infrastructure, the better off you’re going to be。(2001阅读2)
【结构分析】本句主干是the more…the more…(越来越)结构。关系代词which引导的非限制性定语从句作分隔结构,其中,关系代词which指代先行词infrastructure作从句中的主语。
【参考译文】你拥有的去建造第三次浪潮基础设施(今天主要指电子基础设施)的外国资金越多,那么你的情况就越好。
【真题例句】Here is an example, which I heard at a nurses’ convention, of a story which works well because the audience all shared the same view of doctors. (2002阅读1)
【结构分析】本句的主干为提前here的倒装Here is an example。 which引导的非限制性定语从句which I heard at a nurses’ convention修饰先行词example,在整个句子中起分隔的作用。关系代词which在从句中指代先行词作heard的宾语。介词of a story…也修饰example,作定语。story后又有一个which定语从句,关系代词which在从句中作主语。在此从句中,还包含一个because引导的原因状语从句。
【参考译文】下面是一个例子,是我在一次护士会议上听到的,这个故事很不错因为听众对医生都有相同的看法。
【真题例句】These days the Net, which has already remade pastimes as buying books and sending mail, is reshaping Donovan’s vocation as well。(2003阅读1)
【结构分析】本句的主干是一个主系表结构These days the Net is reshaping Donovan’s vocation as well,两个逗号之间的非限制性定语从句which has already remade pastimes as buying books and sending mail作分隔结构,关系代词 which在从句中代替net作主语。
【参考译文】如今,互联网已经改变了诸如买书、发邮件这样的日常消遣,同时它也正在重塑着多诺汶所从事的这个职业。
【真题例句】Dr. Myers and Dr. Worm argue that their work gives a correct baseline, which future management efforts must take into account。(2006阅读3)
【结构分析】本句的主干在逗号前Dr. Myers and Dr. Worm argue that…,其中argue的宾语由that引导的宾语从句充当。在该宾语从句中,包含关系代词which引导的非限制性定语从句修饰先行词a correct baseline。 在此定语从句中,which代替先行词baseline作从句中谓语take into account的宾语。
【参考译文】麦尔斯博士和沃姆博士指出,他们的工作确定了一个准确的(捕捞数量)底线,未来的(海洋)管理必须将其考虑进去。
5。指代上文一整句话时,只用which。
【真题例句】The Greeks assumed that the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought, which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse languages could be。(2004-61)
【结构分析】本句主句为The Greeks assumed that…,其中assumed的宾语由that引导的名词性从句充当。在该宾语从句中,关系代词which引导非限制性定语从句which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse languages could be翻译为“早在人们认识到各种语言的千差万别之前,(which)就已经扎根于欧洲”,不难发现,which只有指代前文整个句子,即这种观点,句子才是完整无误地表达。
【参考译文】希腊人认为语言结构同思维过程之间存在着某种关系。早在人们认识到各种语言的千差万别之前,这种看法就已经扎根于欧洲。
【真题例句】But a study by Sarah Brosnan and Frans de Waal of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, which has just been published in Nature, suggests that it is all too monkey, as well。(2005阅读1)
【结构分析】本句主句为主谓宾结构But a study suggests that…,其中suggest的宾语部分为that引导的名词性从句that it is all too monkey, as well充当。两个逗号间为which引导的非限制性定语从句which has just been published in Nature译为“(which)刚刚发表在《自然》期刊上”,在本句中起分隔作用。关系代词which在从句中作主语,通过分析全句,不难看出which同时指代上文完整的主句内容。
【参考译文】但是由佐治亚州亚特兰大埃默里大学的萨拉·布鲁斯南和弗兰斯·德瓦尔进行的一项研究表明,猴子也有类似的情绪表达,这项研究成果刚刚发表在《自然》期刊上。
【真题例句】He asserted, also, that his power to follow a long and purely abstract train of thought was very limited, for which reason he felt certain that he never could have succeeded with mathematics。(2008-47)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。主句为He asserted that…,其中assert的宾语为that引导的名词性从句充当,其中主语power后由不定式结构to follow a long and purely abstract train of thought作后置定语。 句末是非限制性定语从句for which reason he felt certain that…,关系代词which修饰reason指代前面整句的内容his power to follow a long and purely abstract train of thought was very limited,与for连接使用,在从句中表示原因。注意he felt certain that…是主系表结构中的一类特殊分支:主+系+adj.+that从句。
【参考译文】达尔文同时声称,对于冗长而且纯抽象的思想,自己的理解能力并不强。因为这个原因,他相信自己在数学方面根本不会成功。
6。关系代词如果在限制性定语从句中作宾语可以被省略。
【真题例句】Nothing could persuade me to return to the kind of life Kelsey used to advocate and I once enjoyed: 12 hour working days, pressured deadlines, the fearful strain of office politics and the limitations of being a parent on “quality time”。(2001阅读5)
【结构分析】本句主干在句首,Nothing could persuade me to return to the kind of life…,life由两个定语从句修饰,分别为Kelsey used to advocate和I once enjoyed。由于在从句中,关系代词指代先行词the kind of life分别作两个从句中各自谓语used to advocate和enjoyed的宾语,因此关系代词被省略。冒号后为the kind of life 的具体内容,是由四个并列短语构成的。
【参考译文】没有什么能说服我回到那种凯尔茜曾倡导、我也曾钟爱的生活中去:每天12小时的工作日,压得人喘不过气来的最后期限,可怕而紧张的办公室权力斗争,为人父母的“最佳时间”的限制。
【真题例句】Large numbers of physicians seem unconcerned with the pain their patients are needlessly and predictably suffering, to the extent that it constitutes “systematic patient abuse”。(2002阅读4)
【结构分析】本句主干为Large numbers of physicians seem unconcerned with the pain,其中pain后的定语从句“their patients are needlessly and predictably suffering”中省略了关系代词“that/which”(该关系代词指代先行词pain,在从句中作be suffering 的宾语)。句末的不定式to the extent that…作目的状语,其中that引导同位语从句(参见同位语从句),解释说明extent。
【参考译文】不少医生似乎对病人所遭受的毫无必要的、可预见的痛苦无动于衷,甚至达到了“蓄意虐待病人”的程度。
【真题例句】Bolivar had received aid from Haiti and had promise in return to abolish slavery in the areas he liberated. (2007完形)
【结构分析】本句的两个谓语had received aid…和had promise in return to…由and并列。在第二个谓语中,地点状语 in the areas…后跟省略了关系代词that/which的定语从句he liberated,关系代词在从句中指代areas作liberated的宾语。
【参考译文】玻利瓦尔得到海地的援助,作为回报,他承诺在自己解放的地区废除奴隶制。
【真题例句】Plenty of other species are able to learn, and one of the things they’ve apparently learned is when to stop。(2009完形)
【结构分析】本句包含and并列的两个分句。在第二个分句中,主干为one of the things is when to stop。主语things由省略了关系代词that/which的定语从句they’ve apparently learned所修饰,关系代词指代things在从句中作learn的宾语。注意is后的表语使用了when+to+do形式。
【参考译文】许多其他的物种也有学习能力,很显然他们学到的东西之一就是知道何时停止。
【真题例句】Instead of casting a wistful glance backward at all the species we’ve left in the dust I.Q.wise, it implicitly asks what the real costs of our own intelligence might be。(2009完形)
【结构分析】本句主干在逗号后,为it implicitly asks what the real costs of our own intelligence might be,其中宾语部分由what引导的名词性从句充当,what在从句中作表语。句首部分是介宾短语所作的状语,其中包含省略了关系代词that/which的定语从句we’ve left in the dust I.Q.wise,修饰先行词species,关系代词指代先行词在从句中作left的宾语。
【参考译文】这个试验不是去回顾那些被我们划为低智商的物种,而是含蓄在问我们自己智力的真正代价是什么。
7.who/whom和whose引导的定语从句
(1)关系代词who引导的定语从句,该关系代词指人,可以在定语从句中作主语、宾语等。
【真题例句】Hofstader says our country’s educational system is in the grips of people who “joyfully and militantly proclaim their hostility to intellect and their eagerness to identify with children who show the least intellectual promise。”(2004阅读4)
【结构分析】本句主干为Hofstader says…,其中says后的宾语由省略了that的宾语从句our country’s educational system is in the grips of people…充当,这是一个主系表结构,其中表语中people后跟一个who引导的定语从句who joyfully and militantly proclaim their hostility to intellect and their eagerness to identify with children…,关系代词who指代先行词people,在从句中作主语。这里我们注意到此从句的谓语动词proclaim后的宾语由and并列,分别为their hostility to intellect和 their eagerness to identify with children。前一个to为介词,与名词intellect构成介词短语后置作定语,后一个to是不定式短语,对eagerness进行修饰,也是后置作定语,句末的定语从句who show the least intellectual promise 修饰先行词children,在从句中,关系代词who指代children在从句中作主语。
【参考译文】霍夫斯塔说我们国家的教育体系控制在这样一些人手中——他们“得意并挑衅地宣称他们对智商的敌视,以及他们认同那些在智商方面最没有希望的孩子们。”
【真题例句】I shall define him as an individual who has elected as his primary duty and pleasure in life the activity of thinking in Socratic(苏格拉底) way about moral problems。(2006-46)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。主句为I shall define him as an individual…。定语从句who has elected as…(直到句末)用来修饰先行词individual,关系代词who在从句中指代先行词作主语。在该定语从句中,我们注意到构成“elect…as…”的结构,在此句中翻译为“选择……作为……”。
【参考译文】我将他(知识分子)定义为这种个体:用苏格拉底式的方式思考道德问题,并将此作为自己人生的首要责任和乐趣。
【真题例句】His function is analogous to that of a judge, who must accept the obligation of revealing in as obvious a manner as possible the course of reasoning which led him to his decision. (2006-47)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。主干为一个系表结构His function is analogous to that of a judge,逗号后who引导的非限制性定语从句who must accept the obligation of revealing in as obvious a manner as possible the course of reasoning…修饰先行词judge。在此从句中,宾语obligation后的定语由介宾结构of revealing in as obvious a matter as possible the course of reasoning…充当。此介宾短语比较复杂,正常语序应为revealing the course of reasoning in a manner as obvious as possible,这里as obvious as possible作状语,在原句中以分隔结构出现。句末reasoning 由which引导的定语从句which led him to his decision修饰,which在从句中指代reasoning作主语。
【参考译文】知识分子(参见前文)的作用与法官相似,他必须尽义务用尽可能清楚的方式解释自己作出结论的推理过程。
【真题例句】Washington, who had begun to believe that all men were created equal after observing the bravery of the black soldiers during the Revolutionary War, overcame the strong opposition of his relatives to grant his slaves their freedom in his will。(2008阅读4)
【结构分析】本句主干为Washington overcame the strong opposition…。两个逗号间为who引导的非限制性定语从句,以分隔结构出现,修饰主语Washington。该从句中,believe的宾语由名词性从句that all men were created equal after…充当,句末的不定式结构 to grant his slaves their freedom in his will作整个句子的状语。
【参考译文】在看到独立战争中黑人士兵的英勇表现并开始相信人人生而平等后,华盛顿克服了亲属的强烈反对,按照自己的意愿,让他的奴隶们获得了自由。
(2)关系代词指人并构成介词短语,介词提前时,只用whom。
【真题例句】On another level, many in the medical community acknowledge that the assistedsuicide debate has been fueled in part by the despair of patients for whom modern medicine has prolonged the physical agony of dying。(2002阅读4)
【结构分析】去掉句首介宾,本句主干为many acknowledge that…,其中acknowledge的宾语由宾语从句that the assistedsuicide debate has been fueled in part by the despair of patients充当。在此宾语从句中,定语从句for whom modern medicine has prolonged the physical agony of dying修饰先行词patients,由于介词for提前,关系代词使用宾格whom,指代patients与for连接使用作从句中的状语,翻译为“对……而言”。
【参考译文】在另一层面,很多医学界的人承认,协助自杀争议部分是由于病人极度绝望引起的,对他们而言,现代医学延长了他们死亡前的肉体痛苦。
(3)关系代词whose引导的定语从句,该关系代词在从句中表示“某人(先行词)的”。
【真题例句】As a result, the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos whose presence we barely notice but whose universal existence has removed much human labor。(2002阅读2)
【结构分析】本句主干是一个被动语态the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos,以but连接的两个由whose引导的限制性定语从句,都修饰先行词gizmos。在第一个定语从句whose presence we barely notice中,whose指代先行词gizmos作presence的定语,二者连用作barely notice的宾语;第二个定语从句whose universal existence has removed much human labor中,whose指代先行词gizmos作universal existence的定语,二者连用作从句的主语。句首的as a result为介词短语作状语。
【参考译文】结果是,现代世界充满了越来越智能化的小玩意,这些小玩意的出现是我们几乎注意不到的,但它们的普遍存在却节省了很多劳动力。
【真题例句】Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates, whose arguments are confusing the public and thereby threatening advances in health knowledge and care。(2003阅读2)
【结构分析】该句子中,主干为Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates。关系代词whose引导非限制性定语从句whose arguments are confusing the public and thereby threatening advances in health knowledge and care修饰先行词scientists,关系代词whose作arguments的定语,指代先行词scientists。从句中的谓语使用了现在进行时,由and并列,分别为are confusing和(are)threatening。
【参考译文】科学家需要对动物权利的倡导者作出有力的反击,因为他们的观点正在迷惑公众,阻碍了健康医疗的发展。
【真题例句】This entails reducing our dependence on the North American market, whose programs relate to experiences and cultural traditions which are different from our own。(2005英译汉)
【结构分析】本句主干清晰,是一个主谓宾结构This entails reducing our dependence…,其中介词短语on the North American作dependence的后置定语。逗号后whose引导非限制性定语从句whose programs relate to experiences and cultural traditions,修饰先行词North American market,whose作programs的定语,同时指代先行词“North American market”。在该定语中,relate to的宾语experiences and cultural traditions由定语从句which are different from our own修饰,关系代词which在从句中指代先行词experiences and cultural traditions作主语。
【参考译文】这就意味着要减少对北美市场的依赖,因为他们的节目里包含不同于我们的经历和文化传统。
8。关系代词as引导的定语从句,译为“像……那样”。
【真题例句】Meanwhile, many settles had slighter religious commitments than Dane’s, as one clergyman learned in confronting folk along the coast who mocked that they had not come to the New world for religion. (2009阅读4)
【结构分析】本句主干在两个逗号之间,为一个比较结构many settles had slighter religious commitments than Dane’s。as引导非限制性定语从句as one clergyman learned…as在从句中作learned的宾语,后又包含一个who引导的定语从句who mocked that…修饰clergyman,关系代词who在从句中作主语,谓语动词mocked后的宾语从句由that引导的从句充当。
【参考译文】与此同时,与戴恩相比,许多定居者并没有那么虔诚,就像一位牧师在遇到海边的人时听到的那样,那些人嘲弄说他们不是为了宗教来到新大陆的。
9。长难句中经常同时包含多个定语从句
【真题例句】Social science is that branch of intellectual enquiry which seeks to study humans and their endeavors in the same reasoned, orderly, systematic, and dispassioned manner that natural scientists use for the study of natural phenomena. (2003-62)
【结构分析】我们先注意到第一个that,只是branch前的修饰语,不引导从句。得到主干,一个主系表结构——Social science is that branch of intellectual enquiry。关系代词which引导定语从句which seeks to study humans and their endeavors…,which指代先行词enquiry在从句中作主语。介词短语in the same reasoned, orderly, systematic, and dispassioned manner that…作方式状语,其中定语从句that natural scientists use for the study of natural phenomena修饰先行词manner,关系代词that在从句中指代先行词作use的宾语。在翻译时,为避免定语部分过长,我们将which从句转译为并列结构,将that从句转译为状语。
【参考译文】自然科学是知识探索的一个分支,它力图像自然学家研究自然科学现象一样,用理性、有序、系统以及冷静客观的方式研究人类及其行为。
【真题例句】Instead, we are treated to fine hypocritical spectacles, which now more than ever seem in ample supply: the critic of American materialism with a Southampton summer home; the publisher of radical books who takes his meals in threestar restaurants; the journalist advocating participatory democracy in all phases of life, whose own children are enrolled in private schools。(2000阅读5)
【结构分析】本句的主干是we are treated to fine hypocritical spectacles。其后的which引导非限定性定语从句which now more than ever seem in ample supply,修饰先行词spectacles,关系代词which指代先行词在从句中作主语。冒号后是spectacles的同位语,对其进行解释说明,由三个并列平行结构构成。其中第二个平行结构中包括一个who引导的定语从句who takes his meals in threestar restaurants,关系代词who在从句中作主语,指代先行词publisher;最后一个平行结构中whose引导非限制性定语从句whose own children are enrolled in private schools,whose作own children的定语,指代先行词journalist。注意本题中spectacles具有贬义,泛指虚伪的事物。
【参考译文】相反,人们以美好的虚伪景象款待我们(这些虚伪景象似乎比以往任何时候都多):批判美国式物质主义的人却在南安普顿拥有消夏别墅;出版激进书籍的人却在三星饭店用餐;倡导在人生各个阶段实行参与民主制的记者,却让自己的子女在私立学校上学。
(二)关系副词引导的定语从句
1。关系副词when引导的定语从句,该关系副词在定语从句中作时间状语。
【真题例句】Pearson has pieced together the work of hundreds of researchers around the world to produce a unique millennium technology calendar that gives the latest dates when we can expect hundreds of key breakthroughs and discoveries to take place. (2001-73)
【结构分析】本句的主干是Pearson has pieced together the work…to produce…,不定式结构to produce a unique millennium technology calendar作目的状语。calendar后为由that引导的定语从句that gives the latest dates…,that在从句中代替calendar作主语。此定语从句中又包含关系副词when引导的定语从句when we can expect hundreds of key breakthroughs and discoveries to take place修饰先行词dates,关系代词when在从句中作状语,理解为“在那些时期”。
【参考译文】皮尔森汇集世界各地数百位研究人员的成果,编制了一个独特的技术千年历,它列出了人们有望看见数百项重大突破和发现的最近日期。
【真题例句】Despite a spell of initial optimism in the 1960s and 1970s when it appeared that transistor circuits and microprocessors might be able to copy the action of the human brain by the year 2010, researchers lately have begun to extend that forecast by decades if not centuries。(2002阅读2)
【结构分析】逗号后为本句主句researchers lately have begun to extend that forecast by decades if not centuries,句首部分介宾短语Despite a spell of initial optimism in the 1960s and 1970s所作的让步状语,其中关系副词 when引导定语从句when it appeared that transistor circuits and microprocessors might be able to copy the action of the human brain by the year 2010修饰1960s and 1970s, when在从句中作状语,理解为在60年代和70年代。在此定语从句中,it作形式主语,真正的主语为that引导的主语从句transistor circuits and microprocessors might be able to copy the action of the human brain by the year 2010。注意it appeared翻译为“看起来”。
【参考译文】尽管在20世纪60年代和70年代情况很乐观,因为在那时看起来晶体管电路和微处理器或许可以在2010年前就能够复制人脑的活动,但是,研究人员最近已开始把这一预言推迟了不是几个世纪就是几十年。
2。关系副词where引导的定语从句,该关系副词在定语从句中作地点状语。
【真题例句】“Schools have always been in a society where practical is more important than intellectual,” says education writer Diane Ravitch。(2004阅读4)
【结构分析】本句为直接引语,主干为Schools have always been in a society。关系副词where引导定语从句where practical is more important than intellectual修饰先行词society,where在定语从句中作地点状语,我们理解为in this society,并且该从句使用了比较级,注意practical与intellectual均翻译成名词。
【参考译文】“学校一直处于重视实用甚于学识的社会之中”,教育作家黛安·莱维西说。
【真题例句】Finally, there are openaccess archives, where originations such as universities of international laboratories support institutional repositories。(2008阅读2)
【结构分析】本句主句由there be句型构成。关系副词where引导非限制性定语从句where originations…support institutional repositories修饰先行词openaccess,where在定语从句中作状语,我们可以理解为“in openaccess archives”, 翻译为“在开放档案室中,……”。
【参考译文】最后是开放档案室,在这里大学或国际实验室一类的组织支持机构储备文章。
3。关系副词whereby引导的定语从句,该关系副词在定语从句中作方式状语。
【真题例句】Straitford’s briefs don’t sound like the usual Washington back-and-forthing, whereby agencies avoid dramatic declarations on the chance they might be wrong. (2003阅读1)
【结构分析】本句的主干为Straitford’s briefs don’t sound like…,其中sound like理解为系表结构,表语部分backandforthing(动名词)后接一个whereby引导的定语从句whereby agencies avoid dramatic declarations…,whereby指代by + 先行词back-and-forthing,在从句中作方式状语,译为“借这种反反复复……”。句末的on the chance they might be wrong作状语表示原因。
【参考译文】斯特福德公司的简报不同于华盛顿通常的反反复复——政府各部门借这种反反复复来避免作出激动人心的声明,因为他们这些声明可能会出错。
【真题例句】The definition also excludes the majority of teachers, despite the fact that teaching has traditionally been the method whereby many intellectuals earn their living。(2006英译汉)
【结构分析】本句的主干在句首,为The definition also excludes the majority of teachers,逗号后为介词despite构成的短语作状语。其中that引导同位语从句that teaching has traditionally been the method…解释说明fact的具体内容。在此同位语从句中,whereby引导定语从句whereby many intellectuals earn their living,相当于by + 先行词method,在从句中作方式状语,我们理解为“借此手段”。
【参考译文】这一定义也把大多数教师排除在外,尽管事实是——按传统看来,教学一直是许多知识分子谋生的手段。
二、名词性从句
在句子中起名词作用的句子叫名词性从句。名词性从句的功能相当于名词词组, 它在复合句中可能担任主语、宾语(包括介词宾语)、表语、同位语等,根据它在句中不同的语法功能,名词从句可分为主语从句、宾语从句、表语从句和同位语从句。引导名词性从句的连接词包括连词如that,whether/ if,as if /as though等;连接代词如what, who, whom, whose, which等;连接副词如when, where, how, why等。
(一)名词性that从句
由that引导,在从句中可充当主语、宾语、表语、同位语和形容词宾语等,that在从句中不作成分,翻译时不译出来。
1.that引导主语从句,经常用it作形式主语。
【真题例句】Further more,it is obvious that the strength of a country’s economy is directly bound up with the efficiency of its agriculture and industry, and that this in turn rests upon the efforts of scientists and technologists of all kinds. (2000-72)
【结构分析】本句主干在第一个逗号后,it is obvious that…,其中it是形式主语,真正的主语为and连接的两个that引导的名词性从句that the strength of a country’s economy is…和that this in turn rests…。第一个主语从句中,代词its指代 country’s;第二个主语从句中,this指代 efficiency of its agriculture and industry。
【参考译文】再者,显而易见的是一个国家的经济实力与其工业生产效率密切相关,而效率的提高又有赖于各种科技人员的努力。
【真题例句】But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future, and it is critical that our nation and the world base important policies on the best judgments that science can provide concerning the future consequences of present actions。(2005阅读2)
【结构分析】以逗号and为切入点,本句为两个并列分句,其中第一个分句中does表示强调;第二个分句it为形式主语,critical后面的that引导的名词性从句that our nation and the world base important policies on the best judgments…为真正的主语,在此主语分句中,又包含一个that引导的定语从句修饰judgments,关系代词that在从句中作provide的宾语,分词结构concerning the future consequences of present actions为后置定语修饰judgments。
【参考译文】但是科学确实为我们的未来提供了最好的指导,关键是我们的国家和其他各国在作重要决策时,应该以科学能够提供给我们的对于人类现在的行为对未来影响的最好的判断为依据。
2.that引导表语从句
【真题例句】One difficulty is that almost all of what is called behavioral science continues to trace behavior to states of mind,feelings,traits of character,human nature,and so on. (2002英译汉)
【结构分析】本句的主干是一个主系表结构One difficulty is that…,其中表语由that引导的表语从句充当。在此表语从句中,主语部分all of what is called behavioral science包含what引导的名词性从句,what在从句中作主语。
【参考译文】困难之一在于几乎所有所谓的行为科学仍从心态、情感、性格特征、人性等方面寻找行为的依据。
【真题例句】If good people do nothing, there is a real possibility that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress. (2003阅读2)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。逗号前为if引导的条件状语从句,主句由there be句型充当。possibility后that引导同位语从句that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress,说明possibility的具体内容。
【参考译文】如果好人袖手旁观,有可能真让无知的人们扑灭医学进步中珍贵的火种。
【真题例句】The explanation for insensitivity to smell seems to be that the brain finds it inefficient to keep all smell receptors working all the time but can create new receptors if necessary。(2005完形)
【结构分析】本句的主干为主系表结构The explanation…seems to be…,表语部分由that引导的表语从句充当。在此从句中,使用了find it +adj.+to do 结构,it是形式宾语,真正的宾语由不定式短语充当。but并列了the brain后的两个谓语finds it inefficient to keep…和 can create new receptors if necessary。
【参考译文】对气味的不敏感似乎可以这样解释,大脑发现让所有的气味感觉器官一直工作效率会很低,但在需要的时候仍可以创造新的感觉器官。
【真题例句】The notion is that people have failed to detect the massive changes which have happened in the ocean because they have been looking back only a relatively short time into the past。(2006阅读3)
【结构分析】本句的主干为主系表结构The notion is that…,其中be动词后的表语由that引导的名词性从句充当。在此从句中,宾语部分changes后面是which引导的限制性定语从句which have happened…,which在从句中指代changes作主语,在此从句中,又包含一个because引导的原因状语从句。
【参考译文】这一观点指出人们没有察觉发生在海洋中的巨大变化是因为他们在审视与现在作对比的过去时,用来衡量这个变化的时间段相对较短。
【真题例句】Part of the problem is that many homeless adults are addicted to alcohol or drugs. (2006完形)
【结构分析】本句主干为主系表结构Part of the problem is that…,表语部分由that引导的名词性从句that many homeless adults are addicted to alcohol or drugs充当,注意be addicted to…翻译为“对……成瘾”。
【参考译文】部分问题在于许多无家可归的成年人都是酒鬼或者是瘾君子。
3.that引导宾语从句
【真题例句】This does not mean that ambition is at an end, that people no longer feel its stirrings and promptings, but only that, no longer openly honored, it is less openly professed。(2000阅读4)
【结构分析】本句主干为This does not mean that…,that…,but only that…这三个that引导的名词性从句都作mean的宾语,第三个that引导的宾语从句中,分词no longer openly honored作原因状语。
【参考译文】但这并不意味着雄心抱负已经走到了尽头,也不意味着人们不再感觉到它的鼓舞和激励了,而是指由于人们不再以有雄心抱负为荣,所以也很少公开了。
【真题例句】Replies show that compared with other Americans, journalists are more likely to live in upscale neighborhoods, have maids, own Mercedeses, and trade stocks, and they’re less likely to go to church, do volunteer work, or put down roots in a community。(2001阅读3)
【结构分析】本句主干在逗号前,Replies show that…,宾语部分是that引导的宾语从句。在此从句中,compared with other Americans为分词所作的状语,主要部分为and并列的两个分句journalists are more likely to live…和they’re less likely to go to…。
【参考译文】对问题的回答表明,与其他美国人相比,记者往往住高档社区、雇有佣人、拥有奔驰车、做股票交易、较少上教堂、做志愿者工作或在一个社区扎根。
【真题例句】The OECD estimates in its latest Economic Outlook that, if oil prices averaged $22 a barrel for a full year, compared with $13 in 1998, this would increase the oil import bill in rich economies by only 0.25—0.5% of GDP. (2002阅读3)
【结构分析】本句主干为The OECD estimates that…,介词短语in its latest Economic Outlook作分隔结构。在that引导的宾语从句中,包含一个if引导的与现在相反的虚拟条件状语从句。
【参考译文】OECD在其最近的《经济瞭望》中估计,如果石油价格与1998年的每桶13美元相比在一年中平均为每桶22美元,这也只会给富裕的经济体的石油进口账单上增加GDP的0.25%到0.5%。
【真题例句】He reasoned that because it is easier to formulate certain concepts and not others in a given language, the speakers of that language think along one track and not along another。(200464)
【结构分析】本句主干很清晰,是一个主谓宾结构。宾语从句由that引导的宾语从句充当。在宾语从句中,包含一个because引导的原因状语从句,在此原因状语从句中,我们注意到it是形式主语,真正的主语是不定式结构to formulate…,and后面的not others 与it is easier to formulate相连,翻译成汉语时,我们转译为“阐述其他概念就比较难”,逗号后是reasoned that宾语从句的主要部分he speakers of that language think along one track and not along another。
【参考译文】他推断,因为在某种特定的语言环境下阐述某些概念比较容易,而阐述其他就比较难,因此,那种语言的使用者们就沿着一种思路思考而不是另一种思路。
【真题例句】Just as on smoking,voices now come from many quarters insisting that the science about global warming is incomplete, that it’s OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure。(2005阅读2)
【结构分析】本句的主干在逗号之间,voices now come from…,现在分词短语insisting…作voice的后置定语,这里面包含两个that引导的名词性从句,分别为that the science about global warming is incomplete和that it’s OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure,第二个that从句中,it是形式主语,真正的主语由不定式短语充当,until we know for sure为时间状语从句。
【参考译文】就像吸烟问题一样,来自不同领域的声音坚持认为有关全球气候变暖的科学资料还不完整。在我们证实这件事之前可以向大气中不断地排放气体。
【真题例句】And one leading authority says that these intensely powerful mental events can be not only harnessed but actually brought under conscious control, to help us sleep and feel better。(2005阅读3)
【结构分析】根据时态变形的says直接定位主干在句首:一名学术权威说……,后面均为says后的宾语。在宾语从句中,转折连词not only…but连接两个并列harnessed 和 brought 与前面be 构成被动的小谓语,介宾作联系紧密的be brought的状语,不定式to由逗号隔开,作整个从句的目的状语。
【参考译文】一名学术权威说,这些强烈紧张的精神活动不仅能被驾驭,实际上也能被有意识地控制,以帮助我们睡得更好,并感觉更好。
【真题例句】As a linguist, he acknowledges that all varieties of human language, including nonstandard ones like Black English, can be powerfully expressive—there exists no language or dialect in the world that cannot convey complex ideas。(2005阅读4)
【结构分析】本句的主干是he acknowledges that…,其中that引导名词性从句作宾语。在此从句中,去掉插入语including nonstandard ones like Black English,得到主干为all varieties of human language can be powerfully expressive,破折号后是前句的同位语成分,进行递进说明,表现为一个there提前的全部倒装。在此部分中,that引导定语从句that cannot convey complex ideas修饰language or dialect。
【参考译文】作为语言学家,他声称所有类型的人类语言其中包括黑人英语这样的非标准语言都有强大的表现力,在世界上不存在任何不能够表达复杂思想的语言或方言。
【真题例句】This alone demonstrates that the television business is not an easy world to survive in,a fact underlined by statistics that show that out of eighty European television networks no less than 50% took a loss in 1989. (2005-48)
【结构分析】本句的主干在句首,This alone demonstrates that…,that引导宾语从句the television business is not an easy world to survive in,不定式短语to survive in 为后置定语修饰world。逗号后a fact为宾语从句的同位语,过去分词underlined by statistics作fact的后置定语。在此部分中,statistics的修饰语由that引导的定语从句that show…,关系代词that在从句中作主语。在此定语从句中,show的宾语由从句that out of eighty European television networks no less than 50% took a loss in 1989充当。
【参考译文】这一点就足以表明,要在电视行业里生存下来并非易事。统计数字尤其说明了这一事实。数据表明,在80多个欧洲电视网中,多达一半在1989年遭受亏损。
【真题例句】He believes that this very difficulty may have had the compensating advantage of forcing him to think long and intently about every sentence, and thus enabling him to detect errors in reasoning and in his own observations。(2008-46)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。He believes that…是主句部分。名词性从句that this very difficulty may have had the compensating advantage…作believes的宾语。其中of连接的介宾短语作advantage的后置定语,宾语的部分由动名词短语forcing him to think long and intently about every sentence与and thus enabling him to detect errors in reasoning and in his own observations充当。
【参考译文】他认为,正是这个困难起了弥补能力欠缺的作用,迫使他长时间专注地考虑每一个句子,从而在推理和自己的观察中发现错误。
【真题例句】Darvin was convinced that the loss of these tastes was not only a loss of happiness, but might possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character。(2008-50)
【结构分析】本句主干是Darvin was convinced that…。其中宾语部分由that引导的名词性从句充当,从句的结构是the loss of these tastes was not only…, but…be injurious to…, and more probably to…,是一个主系表结构,表语部分由三个并列平行结构充当。
【参考译文】达尔文认为,对(音乐和绘画方面)兴趣的丧失,失去的不仅仅是一种乐趣,而且可能会伤害到智力,更有甚者还可能伤害到道德。
【真题例句】This suggests that dimmer bulbs burn longer, that there is an advantage in not being too terrifically bright。(2009完形)
【结构分析】本句主干为This suggests…,后跟两个that引导的名词性从句that dimmer bulbs burn longer, that there is an advantage in not being too terrifically bright作宾语。注意suggest翻译为“表明”。
【参考译文】这表明暗淡的灯泡使用时间更长,也表明暗淡是灯泡的一个优势。
【真题例句】We believe that if animals ran the labs, they would test us to determine the limits of our patience, our faithfulness, our memory for terrain。(2009完形)
【结构分析】本句中We believe that…是句子的主干部分,其中believe的宾语由that引导的名词性从句充当。在从句中,包含if引导的条件状语从句。注意使用了与现在相反的虚拟语气。
【参考译文】我们认为如果动物也能进行试验的话,他们会测定我们的忍耐度、忠诚度以及对地形的记忆力。
注意:宾语从句成分完整时,that有时可以省略。
【真题例句】Straifford president George Friedman says he sees the online world as a kind of mutually reinforcing tool for both information collection and distribution, a spymaster’s dream。(2003阅读1)
【结构分析】本句主干为Straifford president George Friedman says…,其中says后是省略了that的宾语从句,词组see…as…译为“把……看成……”,逗号后面a spymaster’s dream是同位语,对宾语从句进行补充说明。
【参考译文】斯特福德公司的总裁乔治·弗莱德曼说,网络世界是一个收集情报和发送情报的工具,两者之间还能相互强化,是间谍头子梦寐以求的场所。
【真题例句】Ralph Waldo Emerson and other Transcendentalist philosophers thought schooling and rigorous book learning put unnatural restraints on children: “We are shut up in schools and college recitation rooms for 10 or 15 years and come out at last with a bellyful of words and do not know a thing。”(2004阅读4)
【结构分析】本句主干为Ralph Waldo Emerson and other Transcendentalist philosophers thought…,thought后为省略了that的宾语从句,(that)schooling and rigorous book learning put unnatural restraints on children。分号内为直接引语。
【参考译文】拉尔夫·瓦尔多·爱默生以及其他一些超验主义哲学家认为,学校教育和僵化的书本学习会抑制孩子们的天性:“我们被关入学校和大学的背书室里10到15年,出来时满腹经纶却什么也不懂。”
4.that引导同位语从句,说明先行名词的内容。
【真题例句】Governments throughout the world act on the assumption that the welfare of their people depends largely on the economic strength and wealth of the community。(2000英译汉)
【结构分析】本句主干Governments throughout the world act on the assumption…,that引导同位语从句that the welfare of their people depends largely on…,对assumption 的内容进行具体说明。that在从句中不作成分,不翻译出来。
【参考译文】各国政府行使其职能都基于这样一个前提,即人民的福利很大程度上取决于本国的经济实力和社会财富。
【真题例句】Large numbers of physicians seem unconcerned with the pain their patients are needlessly and predictably suffering, to the extent that it constitutes “systematic patient abuse”。(2002阅读4)
【结构分析】逗号前为本句主干,Large numbers of physicians seem unconcerned with the pain…,其中pain后为省略了关系代词that的定语从句,(关系代词在从句中作suffering的宾语),逗号后介词短语为本句的状语,包含that引导的同位语从句,说明extent的具体内容。
【参考译文】许多医生似乎对病人们正在遭受的并且不必要的痛苦无动于衷,甚至达到了构成“系统地虐待病人”的程度。
【真题例句】If good people do nothing, there is a real possibility that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress. (2003阅读2)
【结构分析】逗号后为本句主干,一个there be句型。其中possibility后面为that引导的同位语从句,解释说明possibility的具体内容。句首部分为if引导的条件状语从句。
【参考译文】如果好人无所作为,一群不明真相的公众真的有可能扑灭医学进步的珍贵火种。
【真题例句】Therefore, it is important to study humans in all their richness and diversity in a calm and systematic manner, with the hope that the knowledge resulting from such studies can lead humans to a more harmonious way of living with themselves and with all other life forms on this planet Earth。(2003英译汉)
【结构分析】本句为it作形式主语,不定式短语作真正主语的主系表结构。逗号后with所作伴随状语,其中包含一个同位语从句that the knowledge resulting from such studies can lead humans to…说明hope的具体内容。
【参考译文】因此,冷静而系统地研究人类的丰富性和多样性是十分重要的,其目的是希望通过这些研究的成果使人类自身,也与其他的生命形式,在地球上更和谐地生存。
【真题例句】One such cause now seeks to end biomedical research because of the theory that animals have rights ruling out their use in research。(2003阅读2)
【结构分析】该句子中,介宾because of…所作的状语部分包含that引导的同位语从句,补充说明先行词“the theory”的内容。
【参考译文】现在就有这样一场正在寻求终止生物医学研究的运动,他们的理论基础是动物有权拒绝被用于实验。
【真题例句】These leaders are living proof that prevention works and that we can manage the health problems that come naturally with age。(2003阅读4)
【结构分析】本句主干的表语proof后接由and并列两个that引导的同位语从句,补充说明先行词“living proof”的内容prevention works“预防是可行的”和we can manage the health problems that come naturally with age“人们能处理随年龄增长而产生的健康问题”。
【参考译文】这些领导人就是活生生的证据,证明预防是可行的,同时表明人们能处理随年龄增长而产生的健康问题。
【真题例句】Being interested in the relationship of language and thought, Whorf developed the idea that the structure of language determines the structure of habitual thought in a society。(200464)
【结构分析】本句的主干在逗号后,Whorf developed the idea…,that引导的同位语从句that the structure of language determines the structure of habitual thought in a society解释说明idea的具体内容。句首部分being interested…作全句的状语。
【参考译文】处于对语言和思维关系的兴趣,沃夫形成一种思想——语言结构决定一个社会习惯思维模式。
【真题例句】Such behavior is regarded as “all too human”, with the underlying assumption that other animals would not be capable of this finely developed sense of grievance. (2005阅读1)
【结构分析】逗号前为主干。伴随状语with the underlying assumption…中包含一个同位语从句that other animals would not be capable of this finely developed sense of grievance,解释前面的名词assumption。
【参考译文】这种表现被认为是“再符合人性不过了”,也就是假定其他动物没有这样高度发达的不满意识。
【真题例句】Generally there was a belief that the new nations should be sovereign and independent states, large enough to be economically viable and integrated by a common set of laws(2007完形)
【结构分析】本句的主干由there be句型充当。belief后为that引导的同位语从句,说明其具体内容。逗号后的large enough to…和integrated 分别均为states的后置定语。
【参考译文】一般来说,都认为新建立的国家必须是主权独立国家,面积够大可以维持经济上的独立生存,并且由一套共同的法律连接为一体。
【真题例句】Egalitarian sentiments were often tempered by fears that the mass of the population was unprepared for selfrule and democracy. (2007完形)
【结构分析】本句主句为Egalitarian sentiments were often tempered…,介宾by fears…作为状语表示原因,fears后的that引导的名词性从句用作同位语,表示担心的具体内容。
【参考译文】平等主义的情绪因为担心大众没有准备好自治和民主经常得到缓和。
【真题例句】But the idea that the journalist must understand the law more profoundly than an ordinary citizen rests on an understanding of the established conventions and special responsibilities of the new media. (2007-48)
【结构分析】本句的主干为But the idea that…rests on…,idea后面接that引导的同位语从句that the journalist must understand…,说明idea的具体内容。在此同位语从句中,我们注意到使用了比较结构。
【参考译文】新闻记者必须比普通公民更深刻地理解法律,这种观点基于他们对新闻媒体已确立的规约和特殊责任的理解。
【真题例句】The idea that some groups of people may be more intelligent than others is one of those hypotheses that dare not speak its name. (2008完形)
【结构分析】本句的主干为一个主系表结构充当The idea…is…主语idea后跟一个that引导的同位语从句,说明其具体内容。句末hypotheses后的that引导定语从句that dare not speak its name,that在从句中作主语指代先行词hypotheses。
【参考译文】一群人可能比其他人更聪明这一看法,是众多不敢公开名称的假设之一。
【真题例句】He helped popularize the idea that some diseases not previously thought to have a bacterial cause were actually infections, which aroused much controversy when it was first suggested。(2008完形)
【结构分析】句首部分为本句的主干He helped popularize the idea,同位语从句that some diseases not previously thought to…说明idea的具体内容。从句中的主干为some diseases were actually infections,过去分词结构not previously thought to have a bacterial cause为后置定语,修饰diseases,逗号后为which引导的非限制性定语从句,修饰限定前面的idea,关系代词which在从句中作主语。在此定语从句中,又包含一个when引导的时间状语从句,代词it也指代前文的idea。
【参考译文】他帮助普及了一个概念:过去认为不是由细菌造成的一些疾病实际上是传染病。这种看法在最初提出时引起了很大争议。
(二)名词性wh-从句
由wh-词引导,包括who, whom, whose, whoever, what, whatever, which, whichever等连接代词和where, when, how, why等连接副词。Wh-从句的语法功能除了和that从句一样外,还可充当介词宾语、宾语补语和间接宾语等。
1.Wh-引导主语从句
【真题例句】What has happened is that people cannot confess fully to their dreams, as easily and openly as once they could, lest they be thought pushing, acquisitive and vulgar. (2000阅读5)
【结构分析】本句逗号前为既包含主语从句,又包含表语从句的主句。其中主语部分由what引导的名词性从句充当,表语部分由that引导的名词性从句充当。中间插入的部分as easily and openly as once they could使用了比较结构作状语,修饰前面的动词短语confess fully to their dreams。句末的lest引导了一个虚拟的从句,构成形式是should+do,should被省略。此从句中使用了被动语态be thought,并列的三个形容词pushing, acquisitive and vulgar作补语。
【参考译文】事实上,人们不能像从前那么轻松公开地坦承自己的梦想,以免被人看作是爱出风头、贪婪和庸俗。
【真题例句】What is odd is that they have perhaps most benefited from ambition if not always their own then that of their parents and grandparents。(2000阅读5)
【结构分析】本句是一个主系表结构。what引导主语从句What is odd,在主语从句中充当主语,that they have perhaps most benefited from ambition if not always their own then that of their parents and grandparents是表语从句,注意从句中代词that指代ambition。
【参考译文】奇怪的是也许已经从雄心壮志中获益最多的正是他们——如果不是他们自己的雄心,那么就是他们父母的和祖父母的。
【真题例句】What was less visible then, however, were the new, positive forces that work against the digital divide。(2001阅读2)
【结构分析】该句子中,what引导主语从句What was less visible then,并在主语从句中充当主语。主干表语部分包含由that引导的定语从句that work against the digital divide修饰forces,关系代词that指代forces在从句中作主语。
【参考译文】然而,一些新的可以防止这种信息差距出现的积极因素在当时并不如现在这样明显。
【真题例句】What they found, in attempting to model thought, is that the human brain’s roughly one hundred billion nerve cells are much more talented—and human perception far more complicated—than previously imagined。(2002阅读2)
【结构分析】本句的主干What they found is that…被分隔结构in attempting to model thought所作的状语隔开。主语为what引导的名词性从句充当,what在从句中充当宾语。表语为that引导的名词性从句充当,在此从句中,使用了比较结构,破折号之间的部分为对前文he human brain’s roughly one hundred billion nerve cells are much more talented的补充说明。
【参考译文】在试图模仿人类思维的过程中,研究人员发现人类大脑的约一千亿个神经细胞比以前想象得要聪明的多,人类的知觉活动也比以前想象得复杂。
【真题例句】What we forget—what our economy depends on us forgetting—is that happiness is more than pleasure without pain。(2006阅读4)
【结构分析】本句子主干为what…—what…—is that…两个what引导主语从句,在主语从句中分别充当宾语,that引导的表语从句happiness is more than…中包含一个比较结构。
【参考译文】但是我们所忘记的——我们的经济指望我们忘却的——是幸福而不仅仅是没有痛苦的快乐。
2.Wh-引导宾语从句
【真题例句】Ten years ago young people were hardworking and saw their jobs as their primary reason for being, but now Japan has largely fulfilled its economic needs, and young people don’t know where they should go next。(2000阅读4)
【结构分析】本句为由but并列的转折关系两个分句。but后是由and并列的两个分句,在第二个分句中,know的宾语部分由where引导的从句充当。
【参考译文】10年前,日本人工作勤奋,将工作视为他们存在的主要理由,但现在日本大体上已经满足了其经济需求,年轻人却不知道他们下一步的目标在哪里。
【真题例句】When a new movement in art attains a certain fashion, it is advisable to find out what its advocates are aiming at, for, however farfetched and unreasonable their principles may seem today, it is possible that in years to come they may be regarded as normal。(2000阅读5)
【结构分析】本句句首为when引导的时间状语从句,主句为it is advisable to find out…,其中it是形式主语,后面的不定式结构是真正的主语。在不定式结构中,find out的宾语由what引导的名词性从句充当,what在从句中作be aiming at的宾语。for直到句末表示原因,包含一个however引导的让步状语从句,however farfetched and unreasonable their principles may seem today,真正的主句是it is possible that in years to come they may be regarded as normal,仍然是it作形式主语,真正的主语为that引导的名词性从句。
【参考译文】当一种新的艺术运动开始流行时,一种明智的做法是弄清楚它的倡议者们的真正意图。因为,无论他们的创作原则在今天看来是多么牵强和荒谬,在未来这些理论很可能被认为是正常的东西。
【真题例句】However,there are still no forecasts for when faster-that-light travel will be available,or when human cloning will be perfected,or when time travel will be possible。(2001英译汉)
【结构分析】本句主干是一个there be 句型there are still no forecasts for…,for连接的介宾短语后置作forecasts的定语。其中宾语的部分由三个when引导的名词性从句充当,when在从句中作状语,这三个从句由连词or并列。
【参考译文】然而,对于何时能够进行超光速旅行,何时人类克隆技术得到完善,何时时间旅行成为可能,仍未作出预测。
【真题例句】It’s theory to which many economists subscribe, but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail。(2003阅读3)
【结构分析】本句是个复合句,由but连接两个并列分句。句首部分包含which引导的定语从句修饰theory,从句中动词短语subscribe to 部分提前,造成to which形式,which指代theory作从句subscribe to的宾语,逗号后两个which都引导宾语从句作determining的宾语,在从句中修饰“companies”,翻译为“哪家公司兴盛哪家公司倒闭。”
【参考译文】这种理论得到了多数经济学家的赞同,但在实际操作中,它使铁路公司获得了决定哪家公司兴盛哪家公司倒闭的权力。
【真题例句】“By linking directly to our nervous system, computers could pick up what we feel and, hopefully, simulate feeling too so that we can start to develop full sensory environments, rather like the holidays in Total Recall or the Star Trek holodeck”, he says. (2001英译汉)
【结构分析】句首部分为介宾所作的方式状语,去掉主句中的分隔结构hopefully,得到computers could pick up…and simulate feeling too so that…,其中第一个动词短语pick up的宾语由what引导的名词性从句充当。so that引导的目的状语从句中,rather like the holidays in Total Recall or the Star Trek holodeck,可以理解为一种特殊比较,翻译为“就像……一样”。
【参考译文】他说:“通过直接与我们的神经系统的连接,计算机可以捕捉到我们的感受,并且,我们希望,它还可以模拟我们的感受。那样我们就能够开发全方位的虚拟环境,就像电影《完全回忆》中的虚拟假期或《星际旅行》中的全息甲板一样。”
【真题例句】It signals a change in what has, until now, been a key element of scientific behavior. (2009阅读2)
【结构分析】去掉中间的分隔部分,得到主干为It signals a change in what has been a key element of scientific behavior。介词结构in…作前面change的后置定语。在此结构中,介宾的宾语部分由what引导的名词性从句充当,what在从句中作主语。
【参考译文】这表明了到目前为止科学行为中的一个很重要因素的变化。
【真题例句】Yet there are limits to what a society can spend in this pursuit。(2003阅读4)
【结构分析】本句为复合句,主干there are limits后介词to的宾语由what引导的名词性从句充当,介词结构充当limits的后置定语。What在其引导的从句中充当动词spend的宾语。
【参考译文】然而对于这样的追求,一个社会能够承担的费用是有限的。
【真题例句】This may also explain why we are not usually sensitive to our own smells—we simply do not need to be. (2005完形)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。主干This may also explain…的宾语部分为why引导的名词性从句充当,why在从句中作状语,破折号后为原因的具体内容,be后省略了sensitive to our own smells。
【参考译文】这也可以解释为什么我们通常对自身的各种气味不敏感——只不过我们不需要这样做。
【真题例句】They would try to decide what intelligence in humans is really for, not merely how much of it there is. (2009完形)
【结构分析】本句使用了一个虚拟would do(参见原题前文)decide后有两个宾语,第一个由what引导的名词性从句充当,what在从句中作for的宾语,第二个宾语为how much引导的宾语从句,是what从句的并列部分。
【参考译文】他们也将尝试去决定人类智慧的作用,而不是仅限于存在着多少智慧。
【真题例句】Research on animal intelligence also makes me wonder what experiments animals would perform on humans if they had the chance。(2009完形)
【结构分析】本句是主谓宾结构。主语research后由介宾短语后置作定语,谓语部分使用了make sb. do的形式,wonder后面的宾语由what引导的名词性从句充当,what在从句中作宾语,其中,又包含了if引导的条件状语从句。注意,本句使用了与现在相反的虚拟语气。
【参考译文】对动物智力的研究也让我想知道,如果动物有机会的话,他们会对人类做什么样的实验。
3.Wh-引导表语从句
【真题例句】This, in brief, is what the futurist says: for a century, past conditions of life have been conditionally speeding up, till now we live in a world of noise and violence and speed。(2000阅读3)
【结构分析】本句主干This is what…,介词短语in brief作插入语。表语部分为what引导的名词性从句,what在从句中作宾语。冒号后为复合句,具体说明(话的)内容。
【参考译文】下面简单介绍一下未来主义诗人的观点:一个世纪以来,人类的生活状况一直在有条件地加速,到了现在,我们已经生活在一个喧嚣、暴力和快速的时代。
【真题例句】Open-source spying does have its risks, of course, since it can be difficult to tell good information from bad. That’s where Straitford earns its keep。(2003阅读1)
【结构分析】该句子为主从复合句,主句在逗号前,since引导原因状语从句,由it充当形式主语,真正主语在不定式后to tell good information from bad,翻译为“因为很难区分信息的真伪”。代词that指前,where引导表语从句,在从句中作状语,理解为“在这种情况下”。
【参考译文】当然这种公开渠道的谍报活动也有其风险,因为很难区分信息的真伪。而这正是斯特福德公司谋生之所在。
【真题例句】Even our schools are where we send our children to get a practical education—not to pursue knowledge for the sake of knowledge。(2004阅读4)
【结构分析】该句子中,where引导表语从句,并且在从句中充当地点状语,破折号后not to pursue knowledge与前面的to get a practical education为并列平行结构,均作目的状语。介词for连接的介宾短语作原因状语。注意for the sake of为常考词组,译为“为了……”。
【参考译文】甚至学校也成了让孩子接受实用教育的场所,而不是为了知识而追求知识。
【真题例句】And that is why America’s Second Wave infrastructure—including roads, harbors, highways, ports and so on were built with foreign investment。(2001阅读2)
【结构分析】该句子中,why引导表语从句why America’s…were built…,并且在从句中充当原因状语。从句中谓语动词由被动语态be built充当。
【参考译文】因此美国的第二次浪潮基础设施—包括公路、港口、高速公路、港口城市等等——都是用国外资金建造的。
(三)if, whether引导的名词性从句
if(…or ), whether(…or not)引导的名词从句是由一般疑问句或选择疑问句转化而来的,其功能和wh从句的功能相同。翻译时,译为“是否”,采用顺译法,如:
【真题例句】However, whether such a sense of fairness evolved independently in capuchins and humans, or whether it stems from the common ancestor that the species had 35 million years ago, is, as yet, an unanswered question。(2005阅读1)
【结构分析】该句子为主系表结构。whether引导由or并列的两个主语从句whether such a sense of fairness evolved independently in capuchins and humans和whether it stems from the common ancestor that the species had 35 million years ago,译为“是……,还是……”
【参考译文】但是这种公平感是在卷尾猴和人类身上各自独立演化而成,还是来自于三千五百万年前他们共同的祖先,这还是一个悬而未决的问题。
【真题例句】Since our chief business with them is to enable them to share in a common life we cannot help considering whether or not we are forming the powers which will secure this ability。(2009-49)
【结构分析】本句句首部分为since引导的原因状语从句,主句部分为we cannot help直到末尾,其中谓语部分help considering宾语部分由whether or not引导的名词性从句whether or not we are forming the powers which will secure this ability充当,其中又包含一个限制性定语从句which will secure this ability修饰先行词powers。
【参考译文】既然我们的主要任务在于使年轻人参与共同生活,我们禁不住考虑我们是否在形成获得这种能力的力量。
注意:whether与if 均为“是否”的意思。 但在下列情况下,whether 不能被if 取代:
1. whether引导主语从句并在句首;
2. 引导表语从句;
3. whether从句作介词宾语;
4. 从句后有“or not”。
(四)how引导的名词性从句
1.how引导主语从句
【真题例句】It’s not obvious how the capacity to visualize objects and to figure out numerical patterns suits one to answer questions that have eluded some of the best poets and philosophers。(2007阅读2)
【结构分析】本句中It为形式主语,真正主语是其后how引导的主语从句,how the capacity suits one to answer questions,两个不定式结构to…作capacity的后置定语, questions后面的that引导定语从句,关系代词that在从句中作主语。
【参考译文】人们非常不清楚的是:(智商考试)这种在心里想象物体的形状或数字模式的能力,怎么能回答一些已经困惑了最优秀的诗人和哲学家多年的问题呢?
2.how引导宾语从句
【真题例句】The Greeks assumed that the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought, which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse language could be. (2004-61)
【结构分析】逗号前为本句主干The Greeks assumed that…,宾语部分由that引导的宾语从句充当。that在从句中不作成分,翻译时不译出来。逗号后的which引导的定语从句修饰限定前文的thought,关系代词which在从句中作主语。在此定语从句中,又包含一个before引导的时间状语从句。在这个从句中,宾语部分由how引导的从句充当,how+adj。在从句中作表语。
【参考译文】希腊人认为,语言的结构与思维的过程之间有某种联系。这一观点在人们尚未认识到语言的千差万别以前就早已在欧洲扎下了根。
【真题例句】In fact, it is difficult to see how journalists who do not have a clear grasp of the basic features of the Canadian Constitution can do a competent job on political stories。(2007-49)
【结构分析】本句的主干为it is difficult to see…,it用作形式主语,不定式结构为真正的主语。在不定式中,how引导的从句(直到句末)作see的宾语。how在这里用作连词,译为“如何”。在此从句中,主语journalists的修饰语用一个who引导的限制性定语从句充当,关系代词who在从句中作主语。
【参考译文】事实上,要想明白那些没有清晰领会加拿大宪法的基本特征的新闻记者如何能够胜任政治新闻报道工作非常困难。
【真题例句】In other words,whatever inborn differences two people may exhibit in their abilities to memorize,those differences are swamped by how well each person “encodes” the information。(2007阅读1)
【结构分析】本句为主从复合句。whatever引导一个让步状语从句,逗号后为主句,是一个被动语态,其中by构成的介宾为how引导的从句充当,how+adv。在从句中作状语。
【参考译文】换句话说,无论两个人所表现出的记忆力有什么先天差别,这些差别都会被每个人给信息进行编码的能力强弱所掩盖。
【真题例句】Research on animal intelligence always makes me wonder just how smart humans are。(2009完形)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。主语Research 后跟介词短语on animal intelligence作的后置定语,谓语部分 makes me wonder的宾语由how引导的名词性从句Just how smart humans are充当,翻译为“人类到底有多聪明”。
【参考译文】对动物智力的研究总是让我们思考人类到底有多聪明。
(五)其他名词性从句
1.as if,as though引导表语从句
【真题例句】For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors, which America had invented and which sat at the heart of the new computer age, was going to be the next casualty. (2000阅读1)
【结构分析】本句主干为For a while it looked…,其中look是系动词用法,译为“看起来……”,表语部分由as though引导的从句as though the making of semiconductors was going to be the next casualty。充当。在此从句中,主语the making of semiconductors后有两个which引导的定语从句,修饰先行词the making of semiconductors。在第一个从句中,关系代词which作宾语,在第二个从句中,关系代词which 作主语。
【参考译文】一段时间内,半导体制造业——美国是半导体的发明者,而且半导体又处于新的电脑时代的核心位置——看起来像要成为下一个受害者。
【真题例句】But it’s not as if earlier times didn’t know perpetual war, disaster and the massacre of innocents。(2006阅读4)
【结构分析】本句主干是主系表结构But it’s not…其中表语部分由as if 引导的从句充当,译为“好像……”。
【参考译文】但这不是说以前的时代没有经历过连续不断的战争、灾难和滥杀无辜。
2.because引导表语从句
【真题例句】This may be because some people do not have the genes necessary to generate particular smell receptors in the nose. (2005完形)
【结构分析】本句主干是主系表结构This may be…,其中表语部分由because引导的名词性从句充当。
【参考译文】这可能是因为有些人缺少某种基因,这种基因正好用于产生鼻子里对某种味道的感受器。
三、状语从句
状语从句指句子用作状语时,起副词作用的句子。它可以修饰谓语、非谓语动词、定语、状语或整个句子。根据其作用可分为时间、地点、原因、条件、目的、结果、让步、方式和比较等从句。状语从句一般由连词(从属连词)引导,也可以由词组引起。从句位于句首或句中时通常用逗号与主句隔开,位于句尾时可以不用逗号隔开。
(一)时间状语从句
由while, when, as, before, after, until以及表示“一……就……”的结构hardly/scarcely…when/before, no sooner…than 和as soon as等引导(如果hardly, scarcely 或no sooner置于句首,句子要用倒装,请参见倒装章节),如:
【真题例句】When a new movement in art attains a certain fashion, it is advisable to find out what its advocates are aiming at, for, however farfetched and unreasonable their principles may seem today, it is possible that in years to come they may be regarded as normal。(2000阅读3)
【结构分析】本句句首部分为when引导的时间状语从句,译为“当……的”时候。(后半部分分析请参照what引导的宾语从句部分)
【参考译文】当艺术上的一项新运动达到一定流行程度时,最好先弄清倡导者的目的,因为,无论他们的创作原则在今天看来多么牵强和不切实际,在未来这些理论有可能会被视为正常的东西。
【真题例句】Publication of the letter came two days after Lord Irvine caused a storm of media protest when he said the interpretation of privacy controls contained in European legislation would be left to judges rather than to Parliament. (2001完形)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。句首部分为主干Publication of the letter came,two days…为时间状语,其中after引导了一个时间状语从句after Lord Irvine caused a storm of media protest…。在此从句中,又包含了一个when引导的时间状语从句when he said…,修饰前面的Lord Irvine caused a storm of media protest。在when从句中,said后为一个省略了关系代词that的宾语从句the interpretation of privacy controls contained in European legislation would be left to…,分词结构contained in European legislation为后置定语。注意rather than的使用,译为“而不是”。
【参考译文】欧文勋爵说对于欧洲立法中包含的隐私控制的解释权将交给法官而不是议会时,引起了媒体的一片抗议。两天后,这封信便发表了。
【真题例句】Just as bosses and boards have finally sorted out their worst accounting and compliance troubles, and improved their feeble corporation governance,a new problem threatens to earn them—especially in America—the sort of nasty headlines that inevitably lead to heads rolling in the executive suite:data insecurity。(2007阅读4)
【结构分析】本句的句首部分,即为as引导的时间状语从句as bosses and boards have finally sorted out…and improved…,as在这里翻译成“正当……”,主语部分在第二个逗号后,a new problem threatens to earn them。第一个破折号后为插入语作地点状语,第二个破折号与前面相连,构成a new problem threatens to earn them the sort of nasty headlines…译为“一个新的问题可能让他们登上讨厌的报纸头条”。Headlines后是that引导的限制性定语从句,修饰先行词headlines。关系代词that在从句中作主语。最后一个冒号之后为强调,概括总结new problem的内容。
【参考译文】当老板和董事会刚刚解决了最糟糕的财务和规章问题,加强了薄弱的公司机制之后,新的问题正威胁着他们,让他们特别是在美国成为报纸恶毒的头版头条,就导致执行官们的换任。这个新的问题就是——数据不安全。
【真题例句】Alvarez’s experience demonstrates the importance of finding ways to diffuse stress before it threatens your health and your ability to function. (2008阅读1)
【结构分析】本句是主从复合句,连词before引导时间状语从句,译为“在……之前”。it指代前文的diffuse stress。句末的function是动词用法,是不定式短语后置作ability的定语,译为“工作和生活的能力”。
【参考译文】爱尔沃瑞茨的经历表明,要在压力威胁到你的健康和工作生活的能力之前找到方法疏导它,这一点很重要。
【真题例句】Until these issues are resolved, a technology of behavior will continue to be rejected, and with it possibly the only way to solve our problems。(2002-65)
【结构分析】本句为主从复合句。句首until引导时间状语从句,使用了被动语态。主句中,逗号后and with it possibly the only way to solve our problems采用了省略(省略了谓语will continue to be rejected)。
【参考译文】在这些问题得到解决之前,研究行为的技术手段将继续受到排斥,而解决问题的唯一方式可能也随之继续受到排斥。
【真题例句】But as diet and health improved, children and adolescents have, on average, increased in height by about an inch and a half every 20 years, a pattern known as the secular trend in height。(2008阅读3)
【结构分析】句首as引导伴随情况状语从句,译为“随着……”,介词短语on average作分隔结构,分离了主句的主语和谓语,连接后为children and adolescents have increased in height by about an inch and a half every 20 years…,句末的名词短语a pattern known as the secular trend in height作前文an inch and a half every 20 years的同位语,其中known as the secular trend in height为分词结构所作的后置定语,修饰pattern。
【参考译文】但是随着饮食和健康状况提高,儿童及青少年每20年就普遍增高差不多1.5英寸,这已成了众所周知的身高增长上的一个长期趋势。
(二)地点状语从句
由where引导,如you can put it where children can’t reach it。但在考研英语中,where多指处境,如:
【真题例句】The attacks on ambition are many and come from various angles; its public defenders are few and unimpressive, where they are not extremely unattractive. (2000阅读5)
【结构分析】以分号为切入点,前一部分and并列了两个分句,后一部分为主系表结构,逗号后where引导的状语从句,指在前面的主语its public defenders are few and unimpressive出现的情况下。
【参考译文】对雄心的批评比比皆是,而且来自于不同角度。它的捍卫者虽然很少,也毫无吸引力,在这种处境下,他们并未给人们留下多深的印象。
(三)让步状语从句
由though, although,even as,even if, even though,while,whereas,whether…or…,“no matter +疑问词” 或“疑问词+后缀ever” 引导,如:
【真题例句】A lateral move that hurt my pride and blocked my professional progress prompted me to abandon my relatively high profile career although, in the manner of a disgraced government minister, I covered my exit by claiming “I wanted to spend more time with my family”。(2001阅读5)
【结构分析】本句主语为A lateral move(一次平级调动,move作名词),that引导限制性定语从句that hurt my pride and blocked my professional progress修饰先行词move。谓语部分从prompted开始直到最后。其中包含了although引导的让步状语从句,并被方式状语in the manner of a disgraced government minister分隔。句末的by claiming “I wanted to spend more time with my family”也作covered的状语,说明covered的方式。
【参考译文】一次平级的人事调动伤了我的自尊心,并阻断了我的事业发展,这促使我放弃自己相对高调的职业,当然,就像出丑的政府部长那样,我借口“我想有更多的时间与家人待在一起”来掩饰我的离职。
【真题例句】Although the figure may vary, analysts do agree on another matter: that the number of the homeless is increasing。(2006完形)
【结构分析】本句主干在逗号后,analysts do agree on another matter,冒号后为具体的解释说明。句首部分为although引导的让步状语从句。
【参考译文】尽管人们估计的数字可能各不相同,分析家们对另外一个问题的意见却是一致的:无家可归者的人数正在增长。
【真题例句】Consumers seem only concerned, not panicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economy’s long-term prospects, even as they do some modest belt tightening。(2004阅读3)
【结构分析】该句为并列句。审题时,迅速注意到and前后都有主语出现,为两个并列分句,抓住主干“消费者似乎只是有些担心,而不是恐慌;而且许多人说……”,再观察say后的宾语从句,包含一个由even as 引导的让步状语从句。翻译此从句时,我们仍然可以由小到大,“许多人表示尽管他们在缩减开支,但对于经济的长期前景,仍然是乐观的。”还原全句,翻译如下:
【参考译文】消费者似乎只是稍微有些担心,而不是恐慌;而且许多人表示尽管他们在缩减开支,但对于经济的长期前景,仍然是乐观的。
【真题例句】The world’s three top central bankers (Greenspan, Duisenberg and Hayami) are all close to the top of the alphabet, even if one of them really uses Japanese characters。(2004阅读2)
【结构分析】该句子为主从复合句,主句为主系表结构The world’s three top central bankers…are all close to the top of the alphabet,逗号后even if引导让步状语从句,them指代the three top central bankers。翻译为“即使其中一位用的是日本名字。”
【参考译文】世界三大央行行长(格林斯潘、杜伊森伯格、速水优)的名字都排列靠近字母顺序的前列,即使其中一位用的是日本名字。
【真题例句】In fact,though,we are extremely sensitive to smells,even if we do not generally realize it。(2005完形)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。去掉句首的介宾in fact所作的状语,再去掉副词though(译为“然而”),得到主句we are extremely sensitive to smells…,包含一个even if引导的让步状语从句。
【参考译文】然而,事实上,我们对气味极其敏感,虽然我们通常并未意识到这一点。
【真题例句】In other words,whatever inborn differences two people may exhibit in their abilities to memorize,those differences are swamped by how well each person “encodes” the information。(2007阅读1)
【结构分析】本句为主从复合句。whatever引导一个让步状语从句,逗号后those differences are swamped…为主句,由一个被动语态构成。其中by后的宾语是一个how+adj。引导的从句。
【参考译文】换句话说,无论两个人所表现出的记忆力有什么先天差别,这些差别都会被每个人给信息进行编码的能力强弱所掩盖。
【真题例句】Anyone who has toiled through SAT will testify that test—taking skill also matters, whether it’s knowing when to guess or what questions to skip. (2007阅读2)
【结构分析】本句的主干为Anyone…will testify that…。主语anyone后为who引导的定语从句,谓语动词testify后的宾语由that引导的宾语从句充当。在此从句中,包含一个whether…or…引导的让步状语从句whether it’s knowing…or…,其中宾语部分分别由关系副词“when+不定式”及关系代词“which+不定式充当”。
【参考译文】任何为SAT苦战过的人都能作证:无论是知道何时去猜还是知道要跳过什么问题,应试技巧都是起作用的。
【真题例句】I have excluded him because, while his accomplishments may contribute to the solution of moral problems, he has not been charged with the task of approaching any but the factual aspects of those problems。(2006-48)
【结构分析】本句的主干在句首,I have excluded him…,后面的because引导一个原因状语从句,在此从句中,又包含一个while引导的让步状语从句while his accomplishments may contribute to the solution of moral problems。
【参考译文】我将一般科学家排除在外是因为,虽然他的成就也许有助于道德问题的解决,但却仅仅限于这些问题的事实方面。
【真题例句】While comment and reaction from lawyers may enhance stories, it is preferable for journalists to rely on their own notions of significance and make their own judgments。(2007-50)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。句首部分是while引导的让步状语从句,与主句it is preferable for journalists to rely on their own notions of significance and make their own judgments构成让步关系。在主句中,it作形式主语,真正主语部分为后面的不定式to rely on…。
【参考译文】尽管律师提供的评论和反馈可能会增加报道的深度,但记者最好还是依靠自己的理解,并作出自己的判断。
【真题例句】While it is easy to ignore in our contact with them the effect of our acts upon their disposition, it is not so easy as in dealing with adults。(2009-48)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。While it is easy to ignore in our contact with them the effect of our acts upon their disposition是让步状语从句,其中it作形式主语,真正的主语是不定式to ignore…,ignore的宾语部分,由状语in our contact with them分隔,连接后应为to ignore the effect of our acts upon their disposition,主句部分在逗号后,包含了一个比较结构。
【参考译文】在和他们接触的时候,虽然容易忽略我们的行动对他们的性格的影响,但是也不像与成年人打交道那么简单。
【真题例句】For example, in the early industrialized countries of Europe the process of industrialization—with all the far-reaching changes in social patterns that followed—was spread over nearly a century, whereas nowadays a developing nation may undergo the same process in a decade or so。(2000-74)
【结构分析】本句的主干是the process of industrialization…was spread over nearly a century。前面是地点状语in the early industrialized countries of Europe,第一个破折号后是介词结构表伴随,其中that followed是定语从句修饰先行词changes,第二个破折号后为被动语态构成的谓语,句末部分whereas引导了一个表示对比关系的从句,whereas nowadays a developing nation may undergo the same process in a decade or so,在这里译为“然而”,相当与while。
【参考译文】在先期实现工业化的欧洲国家里,其工业化进程以及随之而来的各种深刻的社会结构变革持续了大约一个世纪,而如今一个发展中国家在十年左右的时间内就可以完成同样的过程。
【真题例句】A rather similar process of differentiation has led to professional geologists coming together nationally within one or two specific societies, whereas the amateurs have tended either to remain in local societies or to come together nationally in a different way。(2001阅读1)
【结构分析】逗号前是本句的主句A rather similar process of differentiation has led to professional geologists…,现在分词结构coming together nationally within one or two specific societies作professional geologists的后置定语。whereas引导让步状语从句,翻译为“然而”。
【参考译文】类似的分化过程也导致专业地质学家聚集起来,形成一两个全国性的团体,而业余地质学家则要么留在地方性团体中,要么以不同方式组成全国性的团体。
(四)原因状语从句
由because, since, as引导,如:
【真题例句】Because they are adjusting to their new bodies and a whole host of new intellectual and emotional challenges, teenagers are especially self-conscious and need the confidence that comes from achieving success and knowing that their accomplishments are admired by others。(2003完形)
【结构分析】句首即是一个because引导的原因状语从句Because they are adjusting to…,主句部分主语为teenagers,and并列主系表和主谓宾结构。在宾语中,confidence后是that引导的定语从句,关系代词that在从句中作主语,谓语部分comes from achieving success and knowing…后是一个that引导的宾语从句,由一个被动语态构成。
【参考译文】因为这些青少年正在适应他们变化的身体和大量新的智力和情感方面的挑战,他们的自我意识特别强烈,他们需要自信,这种自信来自于取得成动,来自知道自己的成绩受人羡慕。
【真题例句】Open-source spying does have its risks, of course, since it can be difficult to tell good information from bad。(That’s where Straitford earns its keep。)(2003阅读1)
【结构分析】该句子为主从复合句,主句在逗号前,since引导原因状语从句,由it充当形式主语,真正主语在不定式后to tell good information from bad,翻译为“因为很难区分信息的真伪”。
【参考译文】当然这种公开渠道的谍报活动也有其风险,因为很难区分信息的真伪。(而这正是斯特福德公司谋生之所在。)
【真题例句】The behavioral sciences have been slow to change partly because the explanatory items often seem to be directly observed and partly because other kinds of explanations have been hard to find。(2002-62)
【结构分析】本句的主语在句首The behavioral sciences have been slow to change,后面由and并列的两个because均引起原因状语从句。第一个从句中,使用了被动语态be directly observed。
【参考译文】行为科学之所以发展缓慢,部分原因是用来解释行为的依据似乎往往是直接观察到的,部分原因是其他的解释方式一直难以找到。
【真题例句】We are obliged to them because some of these languages have since vanished, as the peoples who spoke them died out or became assimilated and lost their native languages. (2004英译汉)
【结构分析】该句是复合句。 逗号前为主要成分,包含一个由because引导的原因状语从句;as后为次主要成分,也引导一个状语从句,补充说明some of these languages have since vanished 的原因。who 引导定语从句who spoke them修饰peoples,them直接指代these languages。在as从句中,谓语became assimilated和die out由or并列。在翻译时,我们只需注意在汉语中,说话重心一般后置的原则,从小到大依次排列,将此句译为:
【参考译文】由于使用这些语言的民族已经消亡或被同化,失去了他们自己的母语,因此这些语言也就不复存在了,而这也正是我们要感谢两位先驱(请参考原题Two anthropologist—linguists, Franz Boas Edward Sapir)的原因。
【真题例句】Since our chief business with them is to enable them to share in a common life we cannot help considering whether or not we are forming the powers which will secure this ability。(2009-49)
【结构分析】本句句首部分即为Since引导的原因状语从句,since our chief business with them is to…,其中表语部分由不定式短语充当。主句部分为we cannot help considering…,consider的宾语部分由whether or not引导的名词性从句充当,其中又包含一个which引导的限制性定语从句which will secure this ability修饰先行词powers。
【参考译文】既然我们的主要任务在于使年轻人参与共同生活,我们禁不住考虑我们是否在形成获得这种能力的力量。
注意:for作为连词,后面的句子为并列分句,不是从句。在其前面经常出现逗号,对上文的情况加以解释(参见并列平行结构章节)。
(五)条件状语从句
该类从句连接词主要有 if, unless, as/so long as, on condition that 等。
1.if引导真实条件句
【真题例句】And if one received a grape without having to provide her token in exchange at all, the other either tossed her own token at the researcher or out of the chamber, or refused to accept the slice of cucumber。(2005阅读1)
【结构分析】此句为复合句。逗号前为if引导的条件状语从句,主句中第二个or并列两个谓语refused to accept 和 tossed 构成的主干the other either tossed her own token, or refused to accept the slice of cucumber。
【参考译文】如果一只猴子完全不需要用她的代币交换就可以得到葡萄的话,那么另一只猴子就会将代币扔向研究人员或扔出房间外,或者拒绝接受黄瓜片。
2.if引导非真实条件句
【真题例句】If it did, it would open up its diversity program, now focused narrowly on race and gender, and look for reporters who differ broadly by outlook, values, education, and class。(2001阅读3)
【结构分析】if引导非真实条件句,从句采用if+did,与现在相反,主句为would do形式。其中now focused narrowly on race and gender我们可以理解为分词后置作定语,全句主干部分为it would open up its diversity program…and look for reporters…,其中reporters后又跟who引导的定语从句,修饰先行词reporter,关系代词who在从句中作主语。
【参考译文】假如新闻界注意到了这一问题(参见前文),就应该开办多样化项目——现在项目狭隘地局限于种族和性别,并且寻找世界观、价值观、教育程度和社会阶层大不相同的各类记者。
【真题例句】If railroads charged all customers the same average rate, they argue, shippers who have the option of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so, leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line。(2003阅读3)
【结构分析】if引导非真实条件句,从句采用if+did,与现在相反,主句为would do形式。they argue为插入语,分隔了从句与主句。主句中,主语shippers后又who引导的定语从句,关系代词who在从句中作主语。句子末尾leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line为分词结构所作的伴随状语。
【参考译文】他们辩称,如果铁路公司向所有客户收取同样的均价,一些即可以选择通过卡车又可以选择其他运输方式的人就会选择卡车或其他的运输方式运货,而由剩余的客户来承担铁路正常运作的开销。
【真题例句】In dealing with a challenge on such a scale, it is no exaggeration to say “United we stand, divided we fall”—and if I had to choose a slogan it would be “Unity in our diversity”。(2005-50)
【结构分析】句首部分为介宾所作的状语,主句为it作形式主语,不定式作真正主语的it is no exaggeration to say “United we stand, divided we fall”。破折号后if引导非真实条件句,从句采用if+did,与现在相反,主句为would do形式,对前部分补充说明。
【参考译文】在迎接这样一种规模的挑战时,这样说毫不夸张:“团结则生存,分裂则灭亡”——假如我们必须选择一句表语的话,那将是“在个性中保持共性”。
【真题例句】If you were to examine the birth certificates of every soccer player in 2006’s World Cup tournament, you would most likely find a noteworthy quirk: elite soccer players are more likely to have been born in the earlier months of the year than in the later months。(2007英译汉)
【结构分析】冒号前为本句主要部分,句首为if引导的非真实条件句,从句采用if + were to,与将来相反,主句为would do形式。冒号后为解释说明,使用了比较结构。
【参考译文】假如你审查2006年世界杯锦标赛每位足球运动员的出生证明,很可能发现一个引人注目的奇怪现象:优秀足球运动员更有可能生在上半年,而不是下半年。
3.lest引导虚拟结果
【真题例句】They should be quick to respond to letters to the editor, lest animal rights misinformation go unchallenged and acquire a deceptive appearance of truth。(2003阅读2)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。逗号前为主句,后面是lest引导的状语从句,多采用虚拟语气,lest+should do(should可省略)。
【参考译文】他们应该对报刊的读者来信及时作出反应,以免动物权利的误导言论在毫无质疑的情况下横行,从而获得一副虚假的真理的外衣。
【真题例句】What has happened is that people cannot confess fully to their dreams, as easily and openly as once they could, lest they be thought pushing, acquisitive and vulgar。(2000阅读5)
【结构分析】本句是复合句。逗号前为主句,由what引导的名词性从句作主语,由that引导的名词性从句作表语。两个逗号之间为插入语,是比较结构的一种特殊用法。句末是lest引导的状语从句,省略了should。
【参考译文】现在的情况是人们不能像以前那样轻易地、公开地坦陈自己的梦想和雄心,唯恐别人认为自己爱出风头、贪婪和庸俗不堪。
(六)目的状语从句
由that, so that, in order that等词引导,如:
【真题例句】“By linking directly to our nervous system, computers could pick up what we feel and, hopefully, simulate feeling too so that we can start to develop full sensory environments, rather like the holidays in Total Recall or the Star Trek holodeck,” he says。(2001英译汉)
【结构分析】本句是一个直接引语,句首部分为介宾作的方式状语,主句为computers could pick up what we feel…and stimulate feeling too…,其中so that引导结果状语从句。