(1)用单句来翻译 所谓单句,英文叫作 Simple Sentence,是在一个句子中,只包含得有一个主语和一个述语的,例如 Birds sing.(鸟鸣。) What have you been doing?(你在做什么?) What beautiful hair that little girl has!(那小女孩有多么美丽的头发呀!) 单句并不一定是很短的,有时因为修饰语加多了,也可以把句子拉得很长,现举几个例子如下: Nearly all the boys in this class go somewhere for the summer.(几乎班上所有的学生都要到什么地方去过暑假。) They saw a burning house,standing a little distance from the road,with some stately firtrees in the foreground.(他们见到离开大路不远的地方,有一幢房子起火了。在那房子前面长得有一排森森的枞树。) Caught in a shower on his way to his house in Lloyd Road,a tall English gentleman,a teacher of English in one of the most flourshing private schools in Singapore,began running,with some books under his arm,in order to catch a bus going at full speed about twenty yards ahead of him.(一个身材高大的英国人,是新加坡顶发达的一间私立学校的英文教员,在回返劳益路他的住宅去的途中,遇到了骤雨,他手臂下夹着几本书,开始向前跑,想去搭乘在他二十码光景前面以全速力在开行的那辆巴士车。) 我们由中文翻译英文的时候,应运用英文各种惯用的句法,采取各种不同的方式,即以单句而论,也是有许多方式可以用来把句子扩大的:(一)用补语的,(二)用宾语的,(三)用形容词或副词的,(四)用动词片语的,(五)用独立片语的,(六)用副词片语的,(七)用介词片语的,(八)用名词片语的,(九)用代名词片语的,(十)用分词片语的。所以在主语和述语以外,还可以增加许许多多的字句,因为上述十种方式,并不限于一句只许用一种,我们同时可以用上好几种,如上举最后的一个例句,caught in a shower是分词片语,a tall English 是形容词,a teacher of English 是同格名词,running 是宾语,with some books under his arm 是副词片语,in order to catch a bus 是介词片语,going at full speed 是形容词片语等等,所以原来只有主语 gentleman 和述语 began 两个字,现却拉长到五十五个字了。 (一)用补语的 不完全的动词必须有补语,才能使句子表达出一个完全的意念来。自动词用主格补语,他动词用宾格补语。 (a)主格补语 他看去很年轻。 He looks young. 华盛顿小时是一个好孩子。 Washington was a good boy. 中国是要养儿防老的。 In China a son should be the staff of his parents’ old age. (b) 宾格补语 人民选举他做总统。 People elected him president. 他使国家富强了。 He made his country wealthy and powerful. (二) 用宾语的 英文的他动词是要加上宾语才能成句的。用宾语的句子可分下列六种译法: (a)用一个宾语 除你以外我没有朋友。 I have no friend but you. 天生丽质。 Nature has molded her form and features with masterly touch. (b)用两个宾语 那老人讲一些有趣的故事给我们听。 That old man tells us amusing stories. 一磅烟丝只够他吸两个礼拜。 A pound of tobacco only lasts him a fortnight. (c)用表结果的宾语(Object of Result) 她点燃了一把火。 She lights a fire. 他在木板上钻了一个洞。 He bores a hole in the plank. 我在那上面画了一朵花。 I painted a flower on it. (d)用同系宾语(Cognate Object) 他发出了一声短促的苦笑。 He laughed a little short ugly laugh. 他过着一种凄凉寂寞的生活。 He is living a sad and lonely life. (e)用反身宾语(Reflexive Object) 他在晚会上感到很快乐。 He enjoyed himself at the party. 你应利用图书馆的书。 You should avail yourself of the books in the library. (f)用保留宾语(Retained Object) 凡有间接和直接两个宾语的文句,如由主动改为被动时,通常有两种说法,即每次只能用一个宾语,间接的或直接的,作为主语,其未用作主语的,就称为保留宾语,如 我给了那孩子一支自来水笔。 I gave the boy a fountain pen. 如将上句改为被动时态,则有下列两种形式: The boy was given a fountain pen by me. A fountain pen was given the boy by me. (三)用形容词或副词的 (A)用形容词的,又可分为(a)叙述的用法,(b)限定的用法,(c)名词的用法,(d)副词的用法,(e)同格的用法五种译法。 (a)叙述的用法(Predicative Use) 这朵玫瑰花是红的。 This rose is red. 他对那结果感到满意。 He was content with the result.(cf.contented) 这不值得那样麻烦。 It is not worth the trouble.(cf.worthy) 专限于叙述用法的形容词有:ill(cf.sick),well(cf. healthy),glad,sorry,exempt 等,其他还有以“a”开头的字,如 alone,asleep,awake,afraid,alike,ashamed,akin 等,例如:He was fast asleep.(熟睡)也多半只有叙述用法。 (b)限定的用法(Attributive Use) 这是一朵红玫瑰花。 This is a red rose. 知足常乐。 A contented person is happy with his status quo. 他找到一个敢于和他相抗的敌人。 He found a worthy enemy. 儿童教育必须由所能聘到的最好的教师来施行。 The education of children must be conducted by the best attainable instructors. 没有一件伟大的事不是由热忱来做成的。 Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.(Emerson) (c)名词的用法(Noun Use) 他有审美的眼光。 He has an eye for the beautiful. 阔人也有他们的苦恼。 The rich have their troubles too. 级长阻止强者欺侮弱者。 The monitors hinder the strong from bullying the weak. 她是一个俗气的富婆。 She’s one of the vulgar rich.(Gissing) 他对周围老少的人群投以一瞥。 He cast a look at the crowd of old and young about him.(对称时可略去冠词) (d)副词的用法(Adverbial Use) 他们平安到达了。 They arrived safe.(=They were safe when they arrived.句中的 safe 为补语) 红颜薄命。 He died young.(=He was young when he died.句中的 young为补语) 我很想对你做得诚实一点。 I want to act honest with you. 看得轻松一点吧。 Take it easy. 我大为吓倒了。 I’m awful frightened. 那会很合我的式。 That will suit me fine. (e)同格的用法(Appositive Use) 一个饥饿疲惫的猎户睡在床上。 A hunter,hungry and exhausted, slept on the bed. 他又忧伤又疲倦,慢慢地走回家去了。 Sad and weary,he slowly walked home. 他老是神经过敏,这时尤其如此。 Always sensitive,he was especially so at this moment.(Gissing) 她的面貌虽不难看却很平凡。 Her features,though not plain,were insignificant.(Austen) 仍然是绿的叶子被风吹得从灌木篱笆上飘落下来。 The leaves,still green,were tossed off the hedgerow trees by the wind. (B)用副词的,又可分为(a)修饰动词、形容词或其他副词,(b)修饰名词或代名词,(c)修饰副词片语,(d)修饰全句,(e)作形容词用,(f)作名词用,(g)作补语用七种译法。 (a)修饰动词、形容词或其他副词: 她听了那笑话开心地大笑。 She laughed heartily at the joke. 我现在已准备好了。 I am ready now. 她英语说得非常好。 She speaks English remarkably well. (b)修饰名词或代名词: 这事小孩子也能做。 Even a child can do it. 圣人也不免有过。 Even Homer sometimes nods. 只有你能猜。 Only you can guess. 已有大批人聚集在那里了。 Quite a crowd had already gathered there. 唯有约翰知道这事。 John alone knows about it. 你还要什么? What else do you want? 我也有烦心的事。 I, too, have troubles. (c)修饰副词片语: 我们及时到达。 We arrived just in time. 我在战争结束后随即来到新加坡。 I came to Singapore soon after the war. 正十时关大门。 The gate is shut exactly at 10 o’clock. 他差不多快渡过河去了。 He is almost across the river. 他旅行了世界一周。 He has traveled entirely around the world. (d)修饰全句: 简单地说,事实就是这样。 Briefly the facts are these. 很幸运地我去时他正在家。 Fortunately I found him at home. 确实你是错了。 Certainly you are in the wrong. 他愚笨地把那鹅杀了。 He foolishly killed the goose. 那真是一个好计划。 That is an excellent plan indeed. (e)作形容词用: 这是下行车吗? Is this a down train? 在那边那位绅士是他的父亲。 That gentleman there is his father. 我在归途中遇到了他。 I met him on my way back. 从这件事产生的不愉快情形,和吃了大肉的早餐,可能就是他对一般世界失去希望的原因吧。 The unpleasant circumstances resulting from this together with heavy meat breakfasts,may probably have contributed to his desponding views of the world generally. (Eliot) 他一切都完了。 All is over with him. 我们一定要想办法赶走这些苍蝇。 We must do something to keep the flies off. 他把袜子穿反了。 He put on his socks wrong side out. (f)作名词用: 从这儿去有多远? How far is it from here? 今天是我生日。 Today is my birthday. 那个描写了人生的浮沉。 It described the ups and downs of life. (g)作补语用: 火熄灭了。 The fire is out. 战争结束了。 The war is over. 蔷薇开了。 The roses are out.(=open) 幕已揭开。 The curtain was up. (四)用动词片语的 英文动词除单字(如come等)及群字(如 will come 或 will have come 等)外,还有动词片语(verb phrase),那是动词和其他词类,尤其是名词,结合而成的一种片语,常另具特殊意义,所以我们特别列成一项,来供翻译时采用。 你不应该拿你小弟弟们来开玩笑。 You should not make fun of your little brothers. 明天市公会堂要举行音乐会。 A concert is to take place at the town hall tomorrow. 我们没有钱就生活不了。 We cannot get along without money. 他赶不上班。 He couldn’t keep up with the class. 我期待着你的回信。 I look forward to receiving your reply. 你必得把所作的决定重新加以考虑。 You must think better of your resolution. 我规定在晚饭前出外散步一回。 I make a point of taking a walk before supper. 我不作弄天真老实的人。 I don’t play a trick on innocent people. 他的脚有什么毛病。 He has something the matter with his foot. 我和那件事没有关系。 I have nothing to do with the matter. 叁、由内容来分的造句 (1)用平叙句来翻译 平叙句(Declarative 或 Assertive Sentence)是叙述事实的文句,我们日常讲话,大部分都是用的这种句子。如我在本书前面讲过的,英文的句型共有五种,其用字的排列次序为: 1. “主语+自动词”,如 Birds sing.(鸟鸣。) 2. “主语+自动词+补语”,如 The rose smells sweet.(玫瑰花香。) 3. “主语+他动词+宾语”,如 He has plenty of sense.(他富有见识。) 4. “主语+他动词+间接宾语+直接宾语”,如 He teaches us English.(他教我们英文。) 5. “主语+他动词+宾语+补语”,如 You must keep it a secret.(你必须保守秘密。) 英文句中用字的排列次序常有变化,并不一定照这五种句型的规矩来说。兹就惯用法找出一些变化的形式,来作为平叙句的译法;至于普通五种句型所表现的平叙句法,因为前面已经详细讲过了,所以这儿不拟再说。 (一)There +动词+主语 凡说到事物或人的有无时,在主语所含文字较长的情形下,为引起听者对主语的注意起见,在应说主语的地位上,用there一字充数,而将真正的主语移到后面去说,如 桌子上有一本书。 There is a book on the desk. 后来他确知悔悟了。 There came a time when he did repent. 人们看到了一个奇异的光景。 There was seen a strange sight. 从前有一位大王名叫亚菲来德。 Once there lived a great king whose name was Alfred. 一切寂静无声。 There fell a deep silence. (二)把条件句中的连词省略,而将助动词放在主语的前面去,本动词的be及have,也有这种助动词同样的用法。例如: 如果你找到了,请告诉我。 Should you find them,kindly let me know. 她要有一个小孩的话,她就快乐了。 Had she a child,she would be happy. 他要是还在世,他会怎样说呀! Were he alive,what would he say? 我要是见到了他,我会责备他的。 Did I see him,I would blame him for it. (三)副词(片语)+动词+主语 为着引起读者的注意或好奇心起见,又为着保持字数较多的主语和动词的密切结合起见,常把动词放到主语的前面去。在这种情况下,也有采用there的时候。 一个女郎和一条狗来到街头了。 Down the street came a girl and a dog. 名单上还可加入下列的名字。 To the list may be added the following names. 在房间的当中,枝形吊灯下面,站着老家长乔戎。 In the centre of the room,under the chandelier,stood the head of the family,old Jolyon. 在他后面走进来一个身材高大的女人,体态丰腴,容仪端正,头发还是棕色的——那就是瓦丽斯夫人。 Behind him had come in a tall woman,of full figure and fine presence,With hair still brown—Lady Valleys herself. (四)为着加强副词(片语),补语、宾语或本动词起见,常将这种字放在一句的头上。 1. 惊叹词变来的副词及介词,与同形的副词及here,there。 副词+动词+名词 代名词+动词 (a)枪声砰的一响,那鸟就掉下来了。 Bang went the gun,and the bird fell. 砰的一下又是一声枪声。 Bang came another shot. 皮鞭重重地抽去。 Crack goes the whip! (b)天花板掉下来了。 Down came the ceiling. 他走下去了。 Down he went. 老鼠都跳进去了。 In plunged the rats. 我们像一阵风似的走了。 Off we went like the wind. 笛声一再高扬。 On and on went the puper. 行行复行行。 On and on they went. 那对夫妇一下就冲出去了。 Out rushed the man and his wife. 他们冲出去了。 Out they rushed. 马车驰过去了。 Over went the carriage. 他拿着盘子走过去了。 Over he went with the dish. 蜻蜓轰然上升。 Up went this roaring dragonfly. 他们上去了。 Up they went. (c)托孟来了。 Here comes Tom. 他来了。 Here he comes. 这是你的上衣。 Here is your coat. 这就是的。 Here it is. 那是你的手套。 There are your gloves. 那就是的。 There they are. 注意:here,there如做“在这里”,“在那里”解时,仍可放在句首,但字的排列要照普通的顺序,如Here the game keeper found the dead body.(猎场看守人在这里找到了那尸体。)There Scott wrote all his works.(史各特就在那里写出了他全部的著作。) 2. 上述1. 项以外的副词及副词片语。 副词(片语)+助动词+主语+本动词 我们对于这个决定深为后悔。 Bitterly did we repent our decision. 那情景我记得很清楚。 Well do I remember the scene. 我曾指出时间是过得很快的,但是徒然。 In vain did I point out how time was getting on. 我们再也见不到他的面了。 Never shall we see his face again. 我做梦也未曾想到这样的事。 Never had I even dreamed of such a thing. 对于这个使命我决不再向前移动一步。 Not another step will I budge on this errand. 直到那个时侯我才实感到形势的危险。 Not till then did I realize the danger of the situation. 他不但从来没有踏进大门来过,甚至连在窗口也没有露过面。 Not only did he never cross the threshold,but he never so much as showed his face at a window. 为着闲人去游荡,世界上再没有比伦敦更好的地方了。 Nowhere in the world is there such a place for an idle man as London. 我们没有想到会再也见不到他的。 Little did we think that we should never see him again. 他一进房来就破口大骂。 Scarcely had he entered the room when he broke out in insuits. 那对他们最没有兴趣的了。 Least of all is it to their interest. 我看见过他好多次。 Many a time have I seen him. 这种光景我以前只见到过一次。 Only once before have I seen such a sight. 他只有一次对我说过话。 Only on one occasion did he speak to me. 迟迟地他才明白那火灾是发生在他自己家里。 Only slowly did he understand that the fire was in his own house. 3. 补语: 补语+主语+动词 (a) 罗杰始终是一个坏脾气的家伙。 Cantankerous chap Roger always was. 他们非常感谢我要援助他们。 Very grateful they were for my offer of help. 幸而我们知道她的名字。 Lucky it is that we know her name. (b)我的懊悔是痛苦而无益的。 Bitter but unavailing were my regrets. 我采取正当措施极为有效。 So effective it is that I have taken the right measures. 4. 宾语: 宾语+主语+动词 宾语+助动词+主语+本动词 (a)我们虽然能够知道过去,但对未来却只能推测。 The past one can know,but the future one can only feel. 我们高兴地记得许多事情,也高兴地忘却许多事情。 Many things we gladly remember,others we gladly forget. 金银我都没有,我所有的只有这些,现在都给你好了。 Silver and gold have I none,but such as I have give I thee. (b)他没有给她说一句好话。 Not a word did he say in her favour. 不到最后一张纸印好,他们谁也不会有一分钟休息的。 Not a moment’s rest will any of the men enjoy until the last paper is printed. 只有两个人死去了,没有继续受苦。 Only two had merciful death released from their sufferings. 5. 本动词: 你抱怨也得去。 Growl you will and go you must. 他说我们必须赶上她。 He says overtake her we must. 因为我们必须找到那个解毒剂,不然就得发现民主政治是欺诈的。 For find that antidote we must,or discover democracy to be fraudulent. “如果你马上打电报去,他是可以阻止的。”而他就是这样被阻止了。 “If you telegraph at once,he can be stopped.”And stopped he was. (五)为着和上文联系,某些字眼要放在句首。 这种威胁他简直无法实行。 This threat he was quite unable to carry out. 这到底是什么我说不出来。 What it is I cannot tell. 这个议论的全程有赖于此。 On this depends the whole course of the argument. 我相信那些话是有预言意味的。在那些话中间有着劳工阶级成功地进行斗争的秘密。 I believe those words are prophetic. In them is the secret of a successful prosecution of the struggle of the working class. 随后就吹起逆风来了。 Then came unfavourable winds. 其次就是付款的问题。 Next comes the question of pay. 这便是此人的生平与性格。 Such are the life and character of this man! 医生在他的(创办医院的)计划书上这样说。 So the physician said in his prospectus. 他加速了他的步伐,我也如此。 He quickened his pace,and so did I. 你们错了,我们也错了。 You were wrong,so were we. “你现在一定要去睡觉呀。”“正是。你也是呀。” “You must go to bed now.”“So I must. So must you.” 树倒下来了,一定会死的。 As the tree falls, so must it die. 种瓜得瓜,种豆得豆。 As a man soweth, so shall he reap. 自作自受。 As you make your bed, so you must lie on it. 那件事他什么也不知道。他的妻子也和他一样。 He knew nothing about it. No more did his wife. 试想想田野的百合是怎样生长的;它们既不劳动,也不纺织。 Consider the lilies of the field,how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.(Matt.6:28) 我也不必告诉你,我做这些事是凭什么职权。 Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. 那一切都是真的,我们不可忘记。 All that is true, nor must we forget. 我不知道,我也猜不出来。 I know not, nor can I guess. 我不告你虚伪,更不告你欺诈。 I do not accuse you of falsehood, still less (do I accuse you) of dishonesty. 习题9 1. 笨人无药可医。 2. 她每星期写一封信回家。 3. 他把钱都花在买书上面了。 4. 阔人也和穷人一样烦恼。 5. 这个礼拜下了不少的雨。 6. 现在是到了要思索的时候。 7. 她的缝纫机原来就是放在这里的。 8. 在他后面接着来了长蛇似的兵马。 9. 一按机关地雷立刻爆炸。 10. 在蒙茅斯要塞陆军通讯队所养的鸽子是最代表的。 11. 人们最喜欢的就是名利。 12. 杯中只有一点水。 13. 罕有比这更为忙乱的。 14. 他要看到了我,立刻就会认识的。 15. 他甫发言,听众就阻碍他。 16. 关于此事我们意见不同的地方就在此。 17. 他们得看护病伤的人。 18. 他不会成功的,虽则他从未这样努力试过。 19. 知足的人是幸福的。 20. 那演说家如是说。