英语表示倍数增减或倍数对比的句型多种多样,其中有 一些(如下文中的句型②、⑤、⑥、⑧、(12) 等, 见圈码)很容易译错——其主要原因在于:英汉两语在 ;9o;r)9~
表述或对比倍数方面存在着语言与思维差异。现将常 用的英语倍数句型及其正确译法归纳如下: fXI:Y8T
倍数增加 No]~jnqDM
一、 A is n times as great(long,much,…)as B.(①)A is n times greater (longer, F
more,…)than B.(②)A is n times the size (length, amount,…)of BH]Yn u&o
B.(③)以上三句都应译为;A的大小(长度,数量,……)是B的n倍[或A比B大(长,多,……)n-1倍]. bVP"(H]
Eg. This book is three times as long as (three times longer than,three _@S`5;4x
times the length of )that one. ljl^ GFo
这本书的篇幅是那本书的3倍(即长两倍)。 z[`@}}Q
注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than(as,of)B常被省去。 ;XM{o:1Y[
二、increase to n times(④) 2'=T[<nNB
increase n times/n-fold(⑤) uqz]J$
increase by n times(⑥) iq(
)8nxi
increase by a factor of n(⑦) bfo["
以上四式均应译为:增加到n倍(或:增加n-1倍)。 Xpzfm7CB/
Eg. The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times \&U>LwZd?
as compared with last year. 9tF9T\jW
The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against %|s+jeUDn|
l986.化肥产量比1986年增加了4倍。
%iV^S!e
That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times. %^RN#_ro(3
那可使代谢率提高到原来的2倍或3倍(即提高1倍或2倍)。 ER,1(1]N
The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four. d!eYqM7-G
漏电压增加了3借(即增加到原来的4倍)。 U&O:
_>~
注:在这类句型中increase常被raise,grow,go/step up,multiply等词所替代。 sr8cYLm5R
三、There is a n-fold increase/growth…(⑧)应译为:增加n-倍(或增至n倍)。这个句型还有其它一些形式: t!RiU ZAo
Eg. A record high increase in value of four times was reported. <[w=TdCPs
据报道,价值破记录地增长了3倍。 t.mVO]dsj
四、double (增加1倍),treble(增加2倍),quadruple(增加3倍)。(⑨)Eg. The efficiency of the B}^w_C2
machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled.这些机器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。 eM8}X[
五、此外,英语中还有一种用again而不用倍数词来比较倍数的方法,如: dAuJXGo
A is as much (large,long,…)again as B.(=A is twice as much &jmRA