考研英語(yǔ)長(cháng)難句突破：破解考狀語(yǔ)從句

狀語(yǔ)從句 （Adverbial Clause）指句子用作狀語(yǔ)時(shí)，起副詞作用的句子。它可以修飾謂語(yǔ)、非謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞、定語(yǔ)、狀語(yǔ)或整個(gè)句子。根據其作用可分為時(shí)間、地點(diǎn)、原因、條件、目的、結果、讓步、方式和比較等從句。狀語(yǔ)從句一般由連詞(從屬連詞)引導，也可以由詞組引起。從句位于句首或句中時(shí)通常用逗號與主句隔開(kāi)，位于句尾時(shí)可以不用逗號隔開(kāi)。英語(yǔ)狀語(yǔ)從句用在主句后面的較多, 而漢語(yǔ)的狀語(yǔ)從句用在主句前的較多, 因此, 在許多情況下, 應將狀語(yǔ)從句放在主句前面。下面我們通過(guò)一些實(shí)例說(shuō)明它們常用的翻譯方法。 

　　【真題例句1】 

　　While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.

　　【解析】 

　　可拆分為：While there are almost as many definitions of history //as there are historians, // modern practice most closely conforms to one // that sees history //as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.

　　主句：modern practice most closely conforms to one;從句：讓步狀語(yǔ)從句While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians；比較狀語(yǔ)從句as there are historians；定語(yǔ)從句that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past修飾one。主干結構是While there are almost as... as there are... +主句，While引導讓步狀語(yǔ)從句，此句與漢語(yǔ)句序復合漢語(yǔ)習慣未作調整，仍放于主句前。從句中as... as結構是比較級，這句話(huà)直譯為“有多少歷史學(xué)家，就有多少關(guān)于歷史的定義。 

　　【參考譯文】 

　　幾乎每個(gè)歷史學(xué)家對史學(xué)都有自己的界定，但現代史學(xué)家的實(shí)踐最趨向于認為，歷史學(xué)是試圖重現過(guò)去的重大史實(shí)并對其作出解釋。 

　　【真題例句2】 

　　In general, the tests work most effectively when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined and least effectively when what is to be measured or predicted can not be well defined.

　　【解析】 

　　可拆分為：In general, //the tests work most effectively //when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined //and least effectively //when what is to be measured or predicted can not be well defined.

　　主句：the tests work most effectively when... and least effectively when...，主句中潛逃了兩個(gè)并列的時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined和when... can not be well defined，第二個(gè)時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句中又嵌套了一個(gè)主語(yǔ)從句what is to be measured or predicted做此狀語(yǔ)從句的主語(yǔ)。本句在翻譯的時(shí)候將一個(gè)主從復合句，適當調整成了兩個(gè)獨立的單句（即：the tests work most effectively when..., and the tests work least effectively when...），并把兩個(gè)狀語(yǔ)分別提前了，更符合漢語(yǔ)表達習慣。