例1. The number of the young people in the United States who can`t read is incredible about one in four.

    上句在英语中是一个相对简单的句子, 但是如果我们按照原文的句子结构死译, 就可能被翻译成:没有阅读能力的美国青年人的数目令人难以相信约为1/4。

    这样, 就使得译文极为不通顺, 不符合汉语的表达习惯, 因此, 我们应该把它译为: 大约有1/4的美国青年人没有阅读能力, 这简直令人难以置信。

    例2. Television, it is often said, keeps one informed about current events, allow one to follow the latest developments in science and politics, and offers an endless series of programmes which are both instructive and entertaining.

    分析: 在此长句中, 有一个插入语“it is often said”, 三个并列的谓语结构, 还有一个定语从句, 这三个并列的谓语结构尽管在结构上同属于同一个句子,但都有独立的意义, 因此在翻译时, 可以采用分句法, 按照汉语的习惯把整个句子分解成几个独立的分句, 结果为:人们常说, 通过电视可以了解时事, 掌握科学和政治的最新动态。从电视里还可以看到层出不穷、既有教育意义又有娱乐性的新节目。

    下面我们再举一个例子:

    例3. All they have to do is press a button, and they can see plays, films, operas, and shows of every kind, not to mention political discussions and the latest exciting football match.

    他们所必须做的只是按一下开关。开关一开, 就可以看到电视剧、电影、歌剧, 以及其他各种各样的文艺节目。至于政治问题的辩论、最近的激动人心的足球赛更是不在话下。

    例4. Although perhaps only 1 per cent of the life that has started somewhere will develop into highly complex and intelligent patterns, so vast is the number of planets that intelligent life is bound to be a natural part of the universe.

    虽然在某处已经开始的生命中可能仅有百分之一会发展成高度复杂、有智慧的型式, 但是行星的数目如此之多,以致有智慧的生命一定是宇宙的一个天然组成部分。