四,形容詞與比較級

形容詞的第三大難點即形容詞比較級的翻譯,說到這里,很多小伙伴不以為然,不就是“比…更…”嗎,但是,你要相信考試的時候是不會出“this stick is longer than that one”這類弱智句子的,下面我們一起來縷縷這些時常困擾著我們的比較級~

1, “比較級+than”結(jié)構(gòu),這類句式比較常見,在翻譯時,要先翻譯than后面的內(nèi)容,如:

①Marseilles has proved to be a better racial melting pot than Lyons.

事實證明,與里昂相比,馬賽是一個更好的種族大熔爐。

②She’s much happier performing live than in a recording studio.

與在錄音棚里錄音相比,她更喜歡現(xiàn)場表演。

2,more than 結(jié)構(gòu)

(1)譯為否定句 ?

The complexity of the human situation and justice of the social order demand for more fundamental changes in the basic structure of society itself than some politicians are willing to admit in their speeches.

人類社會的復(fù)雜性和社會制度的不公正性,要求對社會基本結(jié)構(gòu)進(jìn)行改革,而一些政客很不愿意承認(rèn)這點。(本例選自錢歌川《翻譯的技巧》)

(2)譯為“與其說,,,倒不如說”等同于not so much as,這個結(jié)構(gòu)同樣要先翻than后面

He is more knave than fool.

與其說他蠢,不如說他壞。

His father is more kind than wise.

他的父親不是智者而是仁士。

(3)在more than+從句(從句中有can/could)中,意為“實在不能”,如:

①The problems of urban areas are far more than can be handled any short - term efforts.

城市地區(qū)的問題是不可能短期內(nèi)解決的。

②That problem is more than I can work out.

我實在解不出那道題。

(4)置于動詞前,表示用更強(qiáng)意義的動詞也無妨,意為“豈止,深為,極其”。

She more than hesitated to give me a promise.

對于答應(yīng)那件事她豈止是猶豫。

3,no more than 結(jié)構(gòu)

(1)二者都不

This book is no more interesting than that one.

這兩本書都沒趣。

I can run no faster than he can.

我跑得不快,他跑得也不快。

有時可譯為 “正如A不…,B也不”,如:

A home without love is no more a home than a body with soul is a man.

正如一個沒有愛的房子不能稱之為家一樣,一個沒有靈魂的肉體就不能稱之為人。

A whale is no more a fish than a horse is.

正如馬不是魚一樣,鯨也不是魚。

(2)no more than 修飾數(shù)量時,譯為“僅僅,只有” ,如:

①there is no more than eigth people in the room.

房間里只有8個人。

②The northward journey from Jalalabad was no more than 120 miles.

從賈拉拉巴德向北的旅程不到120英里。

(3)與not more than 區(qū)別

①?no?more?than?的意思是“僅僅”“只有”“最多不超過”,強(qiáng)調(diào)少。如:

?This?test?takes?no?more?than?five?minutes.?這項測驗只要5分鐘。

②?not?more?than?為?more?than?(多于)的否定式,其意為“不多于,不超過如:Not?more?than?10?guests?came?to?her party.?來參加她派對的客人不超過十人。

????比較:She?has?no?more?than?three?cats.?她只有3只貓。(強(qiáng)調(diào)少)????

?She?has?not?more?than?three cats.?她至多有3只貓。(也許不到3頂帽子)????

③用于比較兩件事物時,no more ... than 表示對兩者都否定,意為“同……一樣不”(=neither ... nor);而 not more ... than 指兩者雖都具有某種特征,但程度不同,意為“不如”、“不及”(= not so ... as)。

簡單來說,not more … than表示“前不如后”,而 no more than如:

This book is not more interesting than that one.

這本書不如那本有趣。

This book is no more interesting than that one.

兩本書都不有趣。

3,less than 與no less than

(1)less than “不到,少于,…以內(nèi)”

如:In less than seven days the infested plants had recovered.

不到7天時間,受蟲害侵襲的植物就復(fù)原了。

(2)no less than

①多達(dá),不少于

There were no less than fifty wounded.

受傷者多達(dá)50人。

He is no less than fifty centimetres round the middle.

他的腰圍不小于五十公分。

②簡直是

It is no less than robbery to charge so much.

要這么多錢,簡直是搶劫。

③與…一樣,不比…差

He is no less wise than you.

他和你一樣聰明。