很多英语学习者在阅读如经济学人、CNN、卫报、纽约时报等较高阶的文章和参加诸如考研、IELTS、TOEFL等考试时常常有此困惑:即使查明所有单词,整句话还是不知其意。
究其原因是英文向中文的转换过程中,大脑需要执行一系列复杂多变的规则,其中会遇到词义障碍,语序障碍等种种困难,而解决这类问题不仅需要我们提高词汇量,也要掌握一些句型的分析技巧,因此本公号现推出“长难句分析”专栏,仅为抛砖引玉之用,供广大英语学习者交流品鉴。
I shall define him as an individual who has elected as his primary duty and pleasure in life the activity of thinking in Socratic way about moral problems.
解析:本句主要考核的是超长定语从句的分析能力,主句中define...as...是固定词组搭配,翻译成“把...定义为...”,接下来由who引导了一个定语从句修饰individual,虽然be elected as的搭配常常翻译成“被选作......”,但这里的as his primary duty and pleasure in life是状语成分,本应该放到句末作补充说明,但由于elected的宾语the activity of thinking in Socratic way about moral problems比较长,所以as引导的状语作了前置处理,形成倒装。
译文:我将他定义为一个对道德问题进行苏格拉底式思考并将此作为人生首要责任和快乐的人。
When a new movement in art attains a certain fashion , it is advisable to find out what its advocates are aiming at , for , however farfetched and unreasonable their principles may seem today , it is possible that in years to come they may be regarded as normal.
解析:该句结构比较复杂,考核的要点之一是“for”在本句中是一个隐秘的连词,表示“因为”,连接两个因果关系的并列句,for前面的部分是表示结果的分句,结构是由when引导的状语从句 主句,主句还原之后是“to find out what...is advisable”,“it”作形式主语,真正的主语是后面的不定式“to find out what ...”,for后面的部分是表示原因的分句,结构是让步状语从句 主句,“it”也作形式主语,其真正主语是“that in years to come they may be regarded as normal”,将其还原之后是that in years to come they may be regarded as normal is possible.
译文:当一场新的艺术运动形成某种时尚时,理应弄清其倡导者的意图,因为无论他们的准则在今天看来是多么牵强、荒谬,将来都有可能被视为正常。
我是Ada,是一名高校英语教师,美音、口语、幼儿英语启蒙路线规划爱好者,用心分享英语学习干货,攻克听说读写。