（3）用复句来翻译

所谓复句，英文叫作Complex Sentence，是由两个或两个以上的独立子句所构成的。构成合句的子句一定是对立的，而构成复句的子句，其中只有一个是主要子句（Principal Clause），其余的都是附属子句（Dependent Clause）。在复句中所用的连词，不是对等连词，而是不对等连词（Subordinate Conjunction）。这种不对等连词，多半是放在附属子句前面的。

依照外形分类，不对等连词可分为下列四种：

（一）单纯连词（Simple Conjunction）：as，if，than，that，though，lest，when，since，while，etc.

（二）复合连词（Compound Conjunction）：although，because，unless，whereas，etc.

（三）关联连词（Correlative Conjunction）：as……as，as……so，so……as，so……that，whether……or，etc.

（四）片语连词（Phrase Conjunction）：as soon as，as（or so）long as，as if，as though，in case，in order that，in that，for fear（that），the moment，etc.

英文连词常用其他词类来充任，如：

1. 名词：Next time I see you，I will lend you the book.（下次我看见你的时候，我就把那本书借给你。）

I’ll tell him the moment he gets in.（他一来我就告诉他。）

2. 代名词：Whichever you choose，I’ll give it to you.（随便你选择哪一个，我都可以给你。）

3. 动词：Suppose I were going away，should you be sorry？（我如离去，你会觉得难过吗？）

4. 副词：Now（that）you are here，you’d better stay.（既来之，则安之。）

5. 介词：You will not have better health without you take better care of yourself.（你要是不更加讲究卫生，你就不会有更好的健康。）

For all（that）you say，I still like him.（不管你怎样说，我还是喜欢他。）

用介词without作连词，是古文或方言的用法，现代英文，多用unless.

依照内容分类，不对等连词可分为下列三种：

（一）用于形容词子句的：who，whose，whom，that，which，when，where，why，etc.

（二）用于副词子句的：

1. 时间：before，after，as，since，till，until，when，while，as soon as，as（or so）long as，no sooner……than，scarcely（or hardly）……when，etc.

2. 地点：where，whence，whither，wherever，etc.

3. 方式：as，as if，as though，etc.

4. 比较：as，when，the，than，etc.

5. 原因：as，because，since，etc.

6. 目的：that，so that，in order that，lest，for fear，etc.

7. 结果：that，so that，so（or such）……that，so……but that，etc.

8. 条件：if，unless，provided（that），in case（that），on condition（that），in the event（that），supposing（that），suppose（that），etc.

9. 让步：although，though，as，if，even if，notwithstanding（that），whether，etc.

（三）用于名词子句的that，whether，if，who，which，how，when，where，why，etc.

（一）用于形容词子句的译例

敬人者人恒敬之。

He who respects others is constantly respected.

昨天我们在戏院里遇见的那人是我的老师。

The man whom we met in the theatre yesterday is my teacher.

作品获奖的女孩是全班中年纪最小的。

The girl whose work got the prize is the youngest in the class.

我现在写的这封信是一封英文信。

The letter that I am writing is an English letter.

这就是我所选定的书。

This is the book which I chose.

礼拜天是我最清闲的时候。

Sunday is the day when I am least busy.

我不知道你到底要到哪里去。

I don’t know the exact place where you want to go.

那就是我喜欢读中文的理由。

That is the reason why I like to study Chinese.

他在英国时，专门从事古堡的研究。

While he was staying in England，he made a study of old castles.

三尺童子无不识之。

There is no child but knows him（ = who does not know him）.

人孰无过。

No man but errs（ = who does not err）.

彼纵下愚，犹能知此。

He is not such a fool but that he knows it.

彼虽下愚，尚不至认敌为友。

He is not such a fool but what（ = but that）he can tell a friend from a foe.

（二）用于副词子句的译例

1. 时间：

你买东西，非钱不可。

When you buy things，you must have money.

你不肯听我怎能对你说明呢？

How can I explain it to you when you won’t listen？

有生命就有希望。

While there is life，there is hope.

当我生病的时候，他代替了我的位置。

He took my place while I was ill.

在我写这个的时候，你可以做点别的事情。

While I am writing this，you can be doing something else.

他还没有到我就离开了。

I left before he arrived.

我离开了以后他才到来。

He arrived after I left.

我没等待好久他就来了。

I had not waited long before he arrived.

等雨停了再说。

Let’s wait until（or till）the rain stops.

我到新加坡差不多五年了。

It is almost five years since I came to Singapore.

我正要走的时候他回家来了。

He returned home as I was leaving.

一息尚存，奋斗到底。

So long as I live，I must fight it out.

你现在已经很大了，应该学点礼貌。

Now（that）（ = As）you are a big boy，you must behave better.

我一做完就发现错了。

Immediately（或Directly或The moment）（ = As soon as）I had done it，I knew I had made a mistake.

他一见到那个，就动身回家去了。

He started back home as soon as he saw it.

He had no sooner seen it than he started back home.

He had scarcely seen it when he started back home.

He had hardly seen it before he started back home.

2. 地点：

精神一到，何事不成。（有志竟成。）

Where there is a will，there is a way.

谁也不去的地方，他也不喜欢去。

He does not like to go where nobody is going.（Lynd）

谁也不晓得她是从何处来的。

No one knows whence she came.

他随遇而安。

He will be happy wherever he lives.

无论何处有口角，总有他在场。

Wherever there is a quarrel，there he is sure to be.

3. 方式：

入乡问俗。

When in Rome，do as the Romans do.

他说英语好像他父亲一样。

He speaks English as his father does.

我就是这样去（不换衣服）。

I’ll go just as I am.

他的行动好像很怕的样子。

He acted just as if（or as though）he were afraid.

他对待我好像对待下属一样。

He treats me as if I were his subordinate.

种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。（因果报应，丝毫不爽）。

As yon sow，so you shall reap.（Proverb）

有其父必有其子。

As is the father，so is the son.

珊瑚非树，犹鲸非鱼。

Just as a coral grove is not a tree，so a whale is not a fish.

4. 比较：

那太太和她丈夫一样高。

The wife is as tall as the husband（is）.

太太没有丈夫高。

The wife is not so tall as the husband（is）.

她比她丈夫高。

She is taller than her husband（is）.

他像他妹妹一样亲切。

He is as kind as his sister（is）.

他又诚实又亲切。

He is as kind as（he is）honest.

他妹妹诚实，而他就亲切。

He is as kind as his sister is honest.

他像死人一样。

He is as good as dead.

她与其说是漂亮，不如说是可爱。

She is more attractive than pretty.

与其说他不好交际，不如说他羞怯。

He is more shy than unsocial.（ = He is shy rather than unsocial.）

与其说他是活着，不如说他是死了。

He was more dead than alive.

我们登得越高，气候越冷。

The higher up we go，the colder it becomes.

多多益善。

The more，the better.

越近骨头的肉，味道越美。

The nearer the bone，the sweeter the meat.

欲速则不达。

More haste，worse speed.

他半闭着眼睛，好像在回想什么。

He half-closed his eyes as though trying to recall something.

他说英语好像说自己的母语一样地熟练。

He can speak English with the same ease as if it were his mother tongue.

我现在确信眼下这个样子最好。

I am now quite certain that things are for the best as they are.

她聪明的程度远不及他的邪恶。

She was not nearly so clever as he was wicked.

你说你只有几本书，但你这儿的书就比我的要多上五倍。

You said you had a few books；but there must be five times as many here as I have.（Gissing）

我们必须接受事物的现状。

We must take things as we find them in the world.

他有一点过分爱好杯中物，正如水手们常有的现象。

As is often the case with sailors，he was a little too fond of liquors.

有急流一般的大的澎湃的声音。

There was a loud roaring as of rushing waters.

5. 原因：

因为我们没有钱，所以用不着去想度假的事。

Since we have no money，it is no good thinking about a holiday.

既然你要去，我就陪你去吧。

Since（或As）you are going，I will accompany you.

因为他诚实，所以大家都喜欢他。

He is beloved of all because he is honest.（原因）

Cf. He must be honest，for he is beloved of all.（理由）

合句用for，复句用because，但for不用于会话体（conversational style），例如：“They ate their food uncooked，for the use of fire was unknown.”一句，到会话中则变成“Why did they eat their food uncooked？”“Because the use of fire was unknown.”不可用for.

因为下雨，我就没有出门。

I did not go out because it rained.

在否定后接用的because如作though解，翻译时绝无问题，如You should not despise a man because he is poor. 译为“虽则他穷，你也不要轻蔑他。”或译为“不要因别人穷就轻蔑他。”都是一样，错不了的。但如遇到不作though解的否定后接的because，就得特别当心了。因为它可能有两种解释，例如：I didn’t go because I was afraid. = （1）I didn’t go，and the reason was fear.（我怕所以我没有去。） = （2）I went，but the reason was not fear.（我不是因为怕才去的。）一义说“去了”，另一义说“没有去”，竟发生完全相反的含义了。

因为他成绩好，所以薪水高。

He was well paid，as he had done the work well.

你疲倦了，最好去休息吧。

As you are tired，you had better rest.

6. 目的：

他们因为怕赶不上火车，急急忙忙地走了。

They hurried that（或so that，in order that）they might not（说话时美国常用wouldn’t）miss the train.

要想动手搞另外的，你就得先把这个做完。

Finish this that（或so that，in order that）you can start another.

当心以免从树上掉下来。

Be careful lest（或for fear 〔that〕）you should fall from the tree.（lest用于写作，说话时则用for fear）。

为着要去早晨的新鲜空气中把那问题仔细考虑一番，所以我出外散步了。

I went out for a walk，so that I might think the matter over in the fresh morning air.

为节省时间，队长亲自装上了马鞍。

The captain，in order that there might be no time lost，saddled his horse himself.

我们通常只是为求得别人的称赞而称赞别人。

We usually praise others only that we may be praised.

7. 结果：

我太疲倦，随即上床去睡了。

I was so tired that I went to bed at once.

那使他大为震惊，登时脸都白了。

It gave him such a shock that his face turned white.

他是那样的一个撒谎者，所以没有人喜欢他。

He is such a liar that no one likes him.

那是一个非常愚笨的计划，谁也不赞成。

It was a plan so stupid that no one approved of it.

我们经过长时间一直走得很快，所以十分疲倦了。

We walked very fast for a long time，so that we got quite tired.

他去得很早，所以占了一个好位子。

He went early so he got a good seat.

他说得那般清楚，我们每个字都听得见。

He spoke so clearly that we could hear every word.

你站近些使我可以看清楚你的面孔。

Draw nearer so that I can see your face.

她说的话那般有趣，使我既不知道也未注意时间的流逝。

She interested me so much that I neither knew nor heeled how time passed.（Caskell，Cranford）

我微不足道，无可效劳。

I am such a tiny thing that I am little use to you.

没有一个人老得不能学的。

No man is so old but that he may learn.（However old a man may be，he may learn.）

无论怎样的难事久练自易。

Nothing is so hard but that it becomes easy by practice.

不雨则已，雨必滂沱。（重重不幸，祸每两临。）

It never rains but it pours.（ = It never rains without pouring.）

裁判虽属公平，仍然有人不服。

Justice is never done but some people will be found to complain.

一定有事要发生的。

It can not be but that something will happen.（ = Something must happen.）

人谁能免于过失。

It is impossible but that a man will make some mistakes.

8. 条件：

你如果明天有空，请来我家坐坐。

If（you are）free tomorrow，please come to see me.

只要你一年内还我，我是可以把那笔钱借给你的。

I don’t mind lending you the money provided（that）you pay it back within a year.

你要不是一个完全的笨蛋，你就不会那样对待你叔叔的。

Unless you are a perfect fool you will behave properly to your uncle.

只要有二十个人肯捐一百元，我也就照捐不误。

I will subscribe a hundred provided twenty others will do the same.

即令发生最坏的情形，至少她也就有一个安全的地方可作退步的。

At least there will be a retreat secured for her in case the worst should ensue.（Thackeray，Vanity Fair）

非我喝酒，他不罢休。

Nothing will content him but I must drink.

若非贫穷，我是决意要出洋去的。

I would go abroad but that（ = but for the fact that）I am poor.（but for my poverty.）

无论如何必须达到我的目的。（不达目的，事必棘手。）

It shall go hard but（ = unless）I will accomplish my purpose.

9. 让步：

虽则天气很冷，他并没有升火。

（Al）though it was cold，he did not light the fire.

不问他成败如何，我们都要尽力帮忙。

Whether he succeed（s）or fail（s），we should have to do our best.

即令他穷，他看去很快乐。

If he is poor，he looks happy.（if = even if）

哪怕我有钱，我也要工作。

Even if I were rich，I would work.

姑认这是真的，又将怎样？

Granting（或Granted）that this is true，what follows？

天虽则黑了，我们还是找到了回家的路。

Dark as it was（ = Though it was so dark），we found our way back.（注意as前如用名词，也要将冠词略去，如Poor piper as I am. = Though I am a poor piper.）

他虽然吓坏了，但并没有倒下。

Startled though he was，he did not lose his balance.

糖虽是一种主要的食料，我们却不能以之为生。

Important as sugar is as an article of food，we cannot live upon it.

哪怕牺牲性命，他也要干到底的。

He will go through with it if it costs him his life.

即令你向他提出，他也不会接受的。

Even if you offer it to him，he won’t accept it.

他虽有时感受风寒，然其身体极为强健。

He is extremely strong—not but that（ = though）he will catch a cold at times.

（三）用于名词子句的译例

他曾到此是确实的。

That he was here is true.

Cf. It is true that he was here.（副词子句）

我想他在城里。

I think（that）he is in town.

他说他要来的。

He said（that）he would come.

你不能来使我感到遗憾。

I am sorry（that）you can’t come.

不晓得他在不在家。

I wonder if（或whether）he is at home（or not）.

我相信他说的不错，而到现在为止谁也没有讲过这岛上的状况。

I believe（that）he was really right，and that nobody had told the situation of the island.（Stevenson）

我不知道我能不能进大学。

I don’t know whether I shall be able to go to college or not.

问他是不是到动身的时候了。

Ask him if it is time to start.

我不清楚是他要打梅先生呢，还是梅先生要打他。

I am not clear whether he was going to strike Mr. Mell，or Mr. Mell was going to strike him.（Dickens，David Copperfield）

他问我是不是有什么要他做的事情。

He asked me if I had any business he could arrange for me.

他一再地问我在那里我是不是有什么事情要办。

He repeated the inquiry if I had any business there.

他做出这样的愚行来真是遗憾。

It is to be regretted that he should have committed this foolish act.

他完全相信他父亲会替他还债的。

He had a perfect belief that his father would pay his debt for him.

谁是下届美国总统尚未决定。

Who will be the president of the U. S. A. next time is undecided.

我问你在这三者之中最喜欢哪一个。

I ask you which of the three you like best.

我要用你所喜欢的名字来叫你。

I will name you what you like.

我不知道他怎样完成那工作的。

I know nothing as to how he has finished his work.

他要何时回家，连他太太都不知道。

When he will come home is not known to his wife.

我要把这个送给任何需要它的人。

I will give this to whoever wants it.

听说他要来，我们都高兴。

The news，that he will come，gives us much pleasure.

我确信他必成功。

I do not doubt（but）that he will succeed.（这个来自法兰西语的否定后的but是无意义的，下同。）

我不否认他是勤快的。

I do not deny（but）that he is diligent.

他的年轻并不妨碍他教书。

His youth hinders not but that he may teach.（ = His youth does not hinder him from teaching.）

没有什么事可以妨碍我完成目的的。

Nothing shall hinder but that I will accomplish my purpose.（ = Nothing shall hinder me from accomplishing my purpose.）

或者如此，亦未可知。

Who knows but it may be so？

习题8

试用英文复句译出下列各句：

1. 我们都晓得时间就是金钱。

2. 我不知道这是真的还是假的。

3. 这就是昨天对我狂吠的那条狗。

4. 我亟想知道他这个时候在不在家。

5. 自从他去年离开这里以来我还没有见到过他。

6. 他说话的神气就好像什么都懂得似的。

7. 你越用功，进步越快。

8. 你既然这样讲，我就得相信呀。

9. 我们读书是为了求知。

10. 我打开窗子邀明月进来。

11. 他太狡猾所以没有人和他做朋友。

12. 豹死留皮，人死留名。

13. 如果合算的话，我就接受那个工作。

14. 没有人比不要听的人更聋的了。

15. 如果你是上等人，你就要像个上等人的样子。

16. 听来也许觉得奇怪，我太有钱反买不起它。

17. 我并不羡慕他富有，那使他非常烦恼。

18. 忧愁使他变成这个样子。

19. 在我们愉快地玩着的时候，时间过得很快。

20. 没有互敬是不能有友谊的。