英語定語從句主要表示定語意義，起限制或確定的作用。但在翻譯過程中，可有許多非定語的意義，而譯成某種狀語從句，或相當于并列分句或獨立句

　　表示“原因”意義

　　表示“原因”的定語從句，其意義與原因狀語從句雷同，可譯為“因為”、“由于”等。

　　例如 :

　　The tribunes, who feared that Caesar might win the people's support and seize the sole power, did not want them to be too favourable to him. (=The tribunes did not want the people to be too favourable to Caesar, because they feared he might win the people's support and seize the sole power.)

　　護民官們因為擔心凱撒會博得人民的擁戴，從而大權獨攬，所以不愿意人民對他過分地表示好感。

　　When Hitler came to power in Germany, Einstein, who was a Jew, found the doors of study closed to him.?

　　( = … Einstein found the doors of study closed to him because he was a Jew.)

　　當希特勒在德國上臺時， 愛因斯坦發現科學研究的大門對他是關閉的， 因為他是個猶太人。

　　表示“結果”意義

　　表示“結果”的定語從句，可轉換為such …that，that等引導的結果狀語從句，常可譯為“因此”、“所以”等。

　　例如 :

　　…North China was hit by an unexpected heavy rain which caused severe flooding·?

　　(=... North China was hit by such an unexpected heavy rain that it caused severe flooding. )

　　華北遭受了一場意外的大雨，結果引起了嚴重的水災。

　　The league member saved a child, for which he was praised?

　　(=The league member saved a child that he was praised.

　　共青團員救了一個孩子，因此他受到了表揚。

　　表示“目的”意義

　　這類從句略似于in order to，in order that或帶to不定式等表示的目的狀語，漢語可譯為“以便"等。

　　例如 :

　　Envoys were sent who should promote friendly relations with other countries.?

　　(= Envoys were sent so that friendly relations with other countries might be promoted.)

　　派出使節以便促進與其他國家的友好關系。

　　They set up a separate state of their own, where they would be free to keep Negroes as slaves.?

　　(= They set up separate state of their own in order that they might be free to keep Negroes as slaves there. )

　　他們建立起一個單獨的國家以便在那里可隨意地，把黑人當作奴隸。

　　表示“條件”意義

　　這類定語從句通常表示一種先決條件，漢語可譯為“如果”、“只要”等。

　　例如 :

　　They said the clothes made of this magic cloth would be invisible to anyone who was unfit for the office he held.?

　　(= be invisible to him if anyone was unfit for the office he held.)

　　他們說用這種魔布縫制的衣服，如果哪個人不稱職，他就看不見。

　　A suggestion which will do a lot of good to the majority of the people is likely to be supported and accepted.?

　　(=If a suggestion will do a lot of good to the majority of the people, it is likely to… )

　　如果一個建議會給大多數人帶來許多益處的話，它就可能得到人們的支持，并被采納。

　　表示"讓步”意義

　　這類定語從句在意義上相當于一個讓步狀語從句，�？勺g為“雖然"、"盡管"等。

　　例如 :

　　This technique will help to minimize any increases in product costs which are inevitable in the present circumstances.?

　　(=This technique will help to minimize any increases in product costs though they are inevitable…)

　　這處技術將有助于使產品成本的增加數減至最小，雖然產品成本的增加在目前情況下是不可避免的。

　　Carl, who now holds an important position in a large chemical works, still remembers one afternoon in his first year when the professor took the students to the chemistry lab.?

　　(= Although he now holds an important position in a large chemical works, Carl still remembers….)

　　卡爾現在雖然在一家大化工廠擔任重要職務，但他至今還記得在他上大學一年級時有一天下午教授把學生帶到化學實驗室去。

　　表示“對比”或“轉折”意義

　　這類定語從句在意義上相當于并列連詞but或while連接的并列分句。

　　例如 :

　　Envoys were sent who should promote friendly

　　He is a scholar, which I’m not.?

　　(= He is a scholar while I'm not.)

　　他是個學者，然而我卻不是。

　　Trams, which disappeared from Britain many years ago, are still used in several European cities.?

　　(= Trams disappeared from Britain many years ago, but they are…)

　　有軌電車多年前就在英國銷聲匿跡了，現在歐洲大陸上有幾個城市卻還在使用。

　　The day, which opened brightly, closed with a storm.?

　　(= The day opened brightly but closed with a storm.)

　　這天清晨陽光燦爛，黃昏時卻大風大雨。

　　表示“敘述”、“補充”和“評注”等意義

　　這類定語從句在意義上相當于并列連詞and連接的并列分句或獨立的簡單句。其從句一般都是非限制性的。

　　例如 :

　　He drew out two handfuls of golden sovereigns and handed them to John West, who passed them to Piggy. (=…to John West John West passed them to Piggy.)

　　他從口袋里掏出兩把價值一鎊的金幣，交給約翰·威斯特，約翰·威斯特就把這錢交給皮吉。

　　I threw the ball to Tom, who threw it to Ann.

　　?( = I threw the ball to Tom and he threw it to Ann.)

　　我把球扔給湯姆，湯姆又扔給安.

　　以上兩句都是表示"繼續敘述"的意義，即作者把故事繼續講下去。再看其他幾句：

　　These books, which are only a small part of my collection, I picked up in France(=These books I picked up in France. They are only a small part of my collection.)

　　這些書是我在法國買的，它們在我的藏書中只占一小部分。

　　Bertrand Russell, whose philosophical writings made a profound impact on philosophers all over the world, died in 1970. (=Bertrand Russell died in 1970. His philosophical writings made a profound impact on philosophers all over the world. )

　　伯特蘭德·羅素死于1970年，他的哲學著作對全世界的哲學家都有深刻的影響。

　　以上兩句中的非限制性定語從句都是用于補充情況，即提出更多的有關事實。以下幾句中的定語從句都是用于附加評注，即對前述事實提出說話者自己的看法。請比較：

　　He was ill in bed, which explains why he didn't tum up last night. (=He was ill in bed. This explains why…)

　　他患病在床，這就是他昨天晚上沒有來的原因。

　　He blamed me for everything, which I thought very unfair. (= he blamed me for everything. l thought this very unfair.)

　　他把一切問題都歸罪于我，我認為這很不公平。

　　He has given in his resignation, which was the best thing he could do in the circumstance. (= He has given in his resignation. This was the best thing…)

　　他已經提出辭呈，這在當時情況下是最好的辦法。

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