状语从句的译法

英语状语从句包括表示时间、原原因、条件，让步，目的等等各种从句。我们在谈到句序以及省略从属连接词时都已涉及英语状语从句的一些译法。现在就一些比较常见的处理方法再进一步说明如下：

一、表时间的状语从句

(一)译成相应的表示时间的状语

1.While she spoke, the tears were running down.

她说话时，泪水直流。

2.When the history of the Nixon Administration is finally written, the chances are that his Chinese policy will stand out as a model of common sense and good diplomacy.

当最后撰写尼克松政府的历史时，他的对华政策可能成为理智行事和外交有方的杰出典范。

以上两例译文中表示时间的状语置于句首，与原文一致。

3.Please turn off the light when you leave the room.

离屋时请关电灯。

上句原文中表示时间的从句后置，译文中前置。

(二)译成“刚（一）…就…”的句式

1.He had hardly rushed into the room when he shouted, " Fire! Fire!”

他刚跑进屋里就大声喊：“着火了！着火了！”

2.Hardly had we arrived when it began to rain.

我们一到就下雨了。

3.When I reached the beach, I collapsed.

我一游到海滩，就昏倒了。

4.He had scarcely handed me the letter when he asked me to read it.

他把信一交给我，就叫我念给他听。

(三)译成并列的分句

1.He shouted as he ran.

他一边跑，一边喊。

2.They set him free when his ransom had not yet been paid.

他还没有交赎金，他们就把他释放了。

在上面两例的原文里，表时间的从句后置，在译文中提前。

3.I was about to speak, when Mr. Smith cut in.

我正想讲，斯密斯先生就插嘴了。

4.Mrs. Acland gazed at him, her eyes darkening with a curious expression of dislike and distrust as he silently turned away.

阿克菜太太死瞪着他，眼神越来越阴沉，显出一种对他又厌恶又怀疑的难难以形容的表情，这时他只好默不作声地把脸转了过去。

在第3.4.两例的原文里表时间的从句后置，在译文中不提前。

二、表示原因的状语从句

(一)译成表“因”的分句

1.The crops failed because the season was dry.

因为气候干旱，作物歉收。

2.Because we are both prepared to proceed on the basis of equality and mutual respect, we meet at a moment when we can make peaceful cooperation a reality.

由于我们双方都准备在平等互敬的基础上行事，所以我们在这个时刻会晤就能够使和平合作成为现实。

3.The policies open to developing countries are more limited than for industrialized nations because the poorer economies respond less to changing conditions and administrative control.

由于贫穷国家的经济对形势变化的适应能力差一些，政府对这种经济的控制作用也小一些，所以发展中国家所能采取的政策比起工业化国家来就更有局限性。

“由于”、“因为”是汉语中常常用来表“因”的关联词。一般说来，汉语表“因”分句在表“果”分句之前，英语则比较灵活。但在现代汉语中，受西方语言的影响，也有放在后面的，如：

4.She could get away with anything, because she looked such a baby.

她怎么捣蛋都没事，因为她看上去简直还像是个娃娃模样。

5.The strike leaders were alarmed when I told them what had happened as the reporter was unfriendly.

当我把发生的事情讲讲给罢工领导人听时，他们吓了一跳，因为这记者是不友好的。

(二)译成因果偏正复句中的主句

1.Because he was convinced of the accuracy of this fact, he stuck to his opinion.

他深信这件事正确可靠，因此坚持己见。

2.Pure iron is not used in industry because it is too soft.

纯铁太软，所以不用在工业上。

3.The perspiration embarrasses him slightly because the dampness on his brow and chin makes him look more tense than he really is.

额头和下巴上出的汗使他看起来比他实际上更加紧张些，因而出汗常使他感到有点困窘。

(三)译成不用关联词而因果关系内含的并列分句

1.You took me because I was useful. There is no question of gratitude between us," said Rebecca.

“我有用，你才收留我。咱咱们之间谈不到感恩不感恩。”丽贝卡说。

2.After all, it did not matter much, because in 24 hours, they were going to be free.

反正关系不大，二十四小时以后他们就要自由了。

3.He was not only surprised but, to start with, extremely suspicious, as he had every reason to be.

他不但惊讶而且首先是十分怀疑，他这样感觉是完全有理由的。

三、表示条件的状语从句

(一)译成表“条件”的分句

1."Sure, there's jobs. There is even Egbert’s job if you want it.”

“当然，工作是有的。只要你肯干，甚至就可以顶埃格伯特的空缺。”

2.It was better in case they were captured.

要是把他们捉到了，那就更好了。

3.They can't go through any city! If they lay over, it's got to be in a special garage.

他们不能穿过任何城市！如果途中要停留，就得进专门的车库。

4.Once the men had been accepted by the Comet organization, they were brought to Brussels.

他们一旦被彗星组织收下了，就被带到布鲁塞尔去。

“只要”、“要是”、“如果”、“一旦”等等都是汉语表示“条件”的常用关联词，在语气上，“只要”（“只有”）最强，“如果”最弱，“如果”也用来表示假设。英语中表示“条件”的从句前置后置比较灵活，汉语中表示“条件”的分句一般前置

(二)译成表示“假设”的分句

1.If one of them collapsed, as they often did, the guide used to carry him over the mountains.

如果其中一个人垮了，象时常在他们中间发生的那样，向导就会背着他过山。

2.If the government survives the confidence vote, its next crucial test will come in a direct Bundestag vote on the treaties May 4.

假使政府经过信任投票而保全下来的话，它的下一个决定性的考验将是五月四日在在联邦议院就条约举行的直接投票

3.If the negotiations between the rich northerly nations and the poor southerly nations make headway, it is intended that a ministerial session in December should be arranged.

要是北方富国和南方穷国之间的谈判获得进展的话，就打算在十二月份安排召开部长级会议。

“如果”、“要是”、“假如”等都是汉语中用来表示“假设”的常用关联词。汉语中表示“假设”的分句一般前置，但作为补充说明情况的分句则往往后置。

(三)译成补充说明情况的分句

1."He's dead on the job, Jesse. Last night if you want to know.”

“他是在干活时死的，杰西。就是昨晚的事，如果你想知道的话。”

2."You’ll have some money by then, -that is, if you last the week out, you fool．”

“到那时你该有点钱了一一就是说，如果你能度过这星期的话，你这傻瓜。”

3.You can drive tonight if you are ready.

你今晚就可以出车，如果你愿意的话。

四、表示让步的状语从句

(一)译成表示“让步”的分句

1.Although he seems hearty and outgoing in public, Mr. Cooks is a withdrawn, introverted man.

虽然库克新先生在公共场合中是热情而开朗的，但他却是一个孤僻的、性格内向的人。

在上例中，两个分句的主语易位。

2.At Paris, they were sheltered by the French members, because, although the Comet Line started in Belgium, it was very much a combined Belgium-French effort.

在巴黎，就由法国成员来掩护他们；因为，尽管彗星路线是在比利时开创的，但在很大程度上它是比利时人和和法国人的共同事业。

3.The threat of death does not depress him, even though he has become the No.1 villain to them.

即使他在他们心目中成了第一号坏蛋，死亡的威胁也不会使他消沉。

4.While this is true of some, it is not true of all.

虽有一部分是如此，但不见得全部是如此

5.While I grant his honesty, I suspect his memory.

虽然我对他的诚实没有异议，但我对他的记忆力却感到怀疑。

6.I still think that you made a mistake while I admit what you say.

就算你说得对，我仍认为你做错了。

“虽然”“尽管”、“即使”、“就算”等等是汉语中表示“让步”的常用关联词。汉语中表示“让步”的分句一般前置（但现在也逐渐出现后置现象），英语中则比较灵活。

(二)译成表“无条件”的条件分句

1.Whatever combination of military and diplomatic action is taken, it is evident that he is having to tread an extremely delicate tight-rope.

不管他怎样同时采取军事和外交行动，显然他将不得不走一条极其脆弱的钢丝。

2.No matter what misfortune befell him, he always squared his shoulders and said: "Never mind. I'll work harder.”

不管他遭受什么不幸事儿，他总是把胸一挺，说：“没关系，我再加把劲儿。”

3.Plugged into the intercommunication system, the man can now communicate with the rest of the crew no matter that noise is going on about him.

不管周周围是多么喧闹，插头一接上机内通话系统，他就能和同机其余的人通话。

汉语里有一种复句，前一分句排除某一方面的一切条件，后一分句说出在任何条件下都会产生同样的结果，也就是说结果的产生没有什么条件限制。这样的复句里的前一分句，称之为“无条件”的条件分句。通常以“不论”、“不管”、“无论”“管”、“随”等作为关联词。

五、表示目的的状语从句

(一)译成表示“目的”的前置分句

1.They stepped into a helicopter and flew high in the sky in order that they might have a bird’s-eye view of the city.

为了对这个城市作一鸟瞰，他们跨进直升机，凌空飞行。

2.He pushed open the door gently and stole out of the room for fear that he should awake her.

为了不惊醒她，他轻轻推开房门，悄悄地溜了出去。

3.We should start early so that we might get there before noon.

为了正午以前赶到那里，我们很早就动身了。

汉语里表“目的”的分句所常用的关联词有“为了”、“省（免）得”、“以免”、“以便”、“生怕”等等，“为了”往往用于前置分句，“省（免）得”、“以免”、“以便”、“使得”、“生怕”等一般用于后置分句。

(二)译成表示“目的”的后置分句

1.The murderer ran away as fast as he could, so that he might not be caught red-handed.

凶手尽可能快地跑开了，以免被人当场抓住。

2.Brackett groaned aloud, "You came from Kansas City in two weeks so that I could give you a job?

布雷克特唉声叹气地说：“你从堪萨斯城走了两个星期到这里，就是要我给你个工作吗？”

3.Wouldn’t it be better if we were somehow to organize an escape route so that these men could get back to Britain into the war again?

要是我们有点什么办法来安排一条可供安全逃脱的路线，使这些人能回到英国重新投入战争，这不更好吗？