一、關聯(lián)詞或從屬連詞位于句首的從句+主句謂語+其他成分
它們一般是譯在句首,作為主從復合句的主語。這樣的詞有關聯(lián)詞what, which, how, why, where, who, whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever及從屬連詞that, whether, if. 如:
What we now will describe is how the magnetic nature of iron oxide can uniquely be exploited as a separation process utilizing a magnetic filtration system.
參考譯文:現(xiàn)在我們所要介紹的是如何奇特地利用氧化鐵的磁性而提出一種使用磁力過濾系統(tǒng)的分離法。
分析:其中關聯(lián)詞可譯為:„所。
二、it+謂語+that(whether)引導的從句
如果先譯主句,可以順譯為無人稱句。有時也可先譯從句,再譯主句。如果先譯從句,便可以在主句前加譯“這”。如:
It can be seen that precleaning alone would not reduce the total sulfur content of the four coals to levels anywhere near the standards.
參考譯文:可以看出,這四種煤的總含硫量僅靠預先洗選將不能降低到完全接近標準規(guī)定的水平。
It is a matter of common experience that bodies are lighter in water than they are in air.
分析:有時為了使譯文成分完整,可以補充上泛指的主語(如人們„、大家„)。
參考譯文:物體在水中比在空氣中輕,這是一種大家共有的經(jīng)驗。
類似的結構還有:it is (universally) known that„大家都知道„it is believed that„人們都相信„