連詞Before在中學(xué)教材中的幾種用法

李清江

中圖分類號：G633.41 文獻(xiàn)標(biāo)識碼：B 文章編號：1006-5962（2013）07-0173-01

連詞before 譯成漢語有多種方法。這是由于英漢表達(dá)習(xí)慣不同而造成的。因此，在把before譯成漢語時應(yīng)結(jié)合具體情況，選擇能忠實(shí)表達(dá)其含義而又符合漢語習(xí)慣的方法，下面歸納幾種漢語的譯法

1直譯成"在……之前"。往往表示主句的動作先于從句的動作發(fā)

例1：Before I go out ， I must my homework ，

我必須在外出前完成我的回家作業(yè)。

注：在英語中往往把Before的從句放在主句后面，而譯成漢語時一般將它提前。

例2：Be a pupil before you become a teacher 。

在你成為老師之前先做學(xué)生

2譯成"（直到）……之后才"。副詞"才"在漢語中的意思是發(fā)生得慢或晚

強(qiáng)調(diào)主句所表達(dá)的時間，距離很長或花費(fèi)的力氣很大 。常用的句式是：It be + 時間段 + before從句

例3： It seemed a long time before the wounded soldier came to himself.。 似乎過了好長時間，傷員才醒過來。

例4：It will be five years before he returns to his homeland.

得過五年他才能回國 。

注：翻譯此類句子時，before 從句一般不提前。

3如果原文目的在于說明在從句動作發(fā)生之前，主句動作業(yè)已發(fā)生

一般可譯為"末……就"或"還沒有（來得及）……就"

例5：Before I could get in a word ， he got up and ran out of the room .

我一句話都未來得及插，他就在了起來，奔出了房間。

例6： She offered me a cup of coffee before I could sit down.

沒等我坐下，她就給我端來了一杯茶。

注：原文中before 引導(dǎo)的從句的謂語動詞用的是肯定形式，而譯成漢語時卻是否定式。

4如果主句中謂語動詞用的是否定式，可譯成"就""便"或"快"

一般來說，主句主語為名詞·代詞或it 。強(qiáng)調(diào)主句所表達(dá)的時間，距離短或花費(fèi)的力氣教小。

例7：The patient had not sat long before the doctor came back .

病人沒坐多久，醫(yī)生就回來了。

例8：It was not long before the river was in flood。

不久，河水便泛濫了。

5有些句子的連詞 before 還可以譯成"趁著"，"還沒有……"，"免得"等 它所引導(dǎo)的從句可譯成帶有否定意義的語句。

例9：I'll water the flowers before it gets dark .

趁天還沒黑，我要把花澆好。

例 10 ：He died before he wrote a will.

他還沒來得及寫遺囑就死了。

6連詞before 還可譯成"剛……就"

在漢語中"就"強(qiáng)調(diào)事情發(fā)生得"早"或"快"，它著眼于強(qiáng)調(diào)主句和從句的動作緊接著發(fā)生，或幾乎同時發(fā)生。一般來說，此類句子都還有否定副詞 hardly ，scarcely ，barely等，此復(fù)合句中主句須用過去完成時態(tài)。

例 11： We had barely got to the school before we heard the bell for class

我們剛到達(dá)學(xué)校就聽到上課鈴響了。

例 12： I had hardly got home before it began to rain.

我剛到家天就開始下雨

注 ：hardly ， scarcely ， barely等否定副詞在主句主語之前時，主句要出現(xiàn)助動詞放在主語之前。此句中連詞before和when可以互換。那么例11，12可以改寫如下：

Barely had we got to the school when we heard the bell for class.

Hardly had I got home when it began to rain.

7某些習(xí)慣用語中的連詞before 還可譯成"先……后……"或"先……再……"，有時也可譯成"寧（可）……（也）不……"

例13：Look before you air your view 。先看看再發(fā)表觀點(diǎn)。

例14：The boy would die before he told the secret. 那男孩寧死也不肯講出秘密。

以上淺談了before 的幾種譯法。當(dāng)然。英譯漢的方法是多種多樣的，

翻譯時要視具體情況，靈活運(yùn)用。

【練一練】

一.從A， B， C， D中選出正確答案。

1. You should go over your test paper _____you hand it in.

A. as soon as B. because C. before D. though

2. Scientists say it may be a few _______it is possible to test the medicine on patients.

A. because B. after C. since D. before

3. It was evening ______we reached the little town of Winchester

A. that B. until C. before D. since

4. I must write it down ______I forget

A. after B. when C. until D. before

5. John think it won't be long ______he is ready for his new job.

A. until B. before C. after D. since

6. Hardly had she lain down ______she fell asleep

A. before B. after C. though D. because

7. We waited a long time ______he came out.

A. after B. before C. until D. while

8. It will be two months ______he comes back.

A. that B. when C. before D. after

9. The little hero would fight to death ______he gave in to the enemy

A. before B. after C. as D .if

10. They hadn't known each other long ______they got married

A. until B. when C. because D. before

Key： 1——5. C D C D B. 6——10. A B C A D