英语状语从句表示时间、原因、条件、让步、目的等等, 英语状语从句用在主句后面的较多, 而汉语的状语从句用在主句前的较多, 因此, 在许多情况下, 应将状语从句放在主句前面。下面我们通过一些实例说明它们常用的翻译方法。

例1.           When the levels reached 6 percent the crew members would become mentally confused, unable to take measures to preserve their lives.

简析：take measures to：采取措施。由when引导时间状语。

译文：当含量达到6%时, 飞船上的人员将会神经错乱, 无法采取保护自己生命的措施。

例2.           When censorship laws are relaxed, dishonest people are given a chance to produce virtually anything in the name of “art”. (83年考题)

简析： in the name of：以…的名义。仍是由when引导的时间状语。

译文：当审查放宽时, 招摇撞骗之徒就会有机可乘, 在“艺术”的幌子下炮制出形形色 色的东西来。

例3.           Now since the assessment of intelligence is a comparative matter we must be sure that the scale with which we are comparing our subjects provides a 'valid' or 'fair' comparison. (92年考题)

简析：由since，引导的原因状语从句。

译文：既然对智力的评估是比较而言的, 那么我们必须确保, 在对我们的对象进行比较时, 我们所使用的尺度能提供“有效的”或“公平的”比较。

例4.           For example, they do not compensate for gross social inequality, and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable circumstances. (95年考题)

简析：由thus引导结果状语从句，表明前句所述内容带来的后果是什么。

译文：例如, 他们(测试)并不对社会总的不平等作出补偿, 因此, 测试不能告诉我们, 一个社会地位低下的年轻人如果生活在较为优越的条件下, 会有多大的才能。（结果状语从句）

简析：sth. was taken for granted：认为…是理所当然的。Such/so that，that后引导结果。

电在我们的日常生活中所占的地位是如此重要, 而且现在人们认为电是想当然的事, 所以我们在开电灯或开收音机时, 就很少再去想一想电是怎么来的。

例6.           The first two must be equal for all who are being compared, if any comparison in terms of intelligence is to be made. (92年考题)

简析：if表明条件，用来引导条件状语从句。

译文：如果要从智力方面进行任何比较的话, 那么我们对所有被比较者来说, 前两个因素必须是一致的。

例7.           Though the cost of the venture would be immense, both in labour and power, many believe that iceberg towing would prove less costly in the long run than the alternative of desalination of sea water.

简析：由though引导的让步状语从句，

译文：这种冒险的代价, 不管是在人力还是在能源消耗方面, 都将是巨大的。然而, 许多人认为, 冰山牵引最终会证明比选择海水脱盐法花费要少。

   接下来让我们做些习题来巩固一下今天学习的知识吧：

1.This happens when a fact is discovered which seems to contradict what the “law” would lead one to expect.

2.The policies open to developing countries are more limited than for industrialized nations because the proper economies respond less to changing conditions and administrative control.

3.Although television was developed for broadcasting, many important uses have been found that have nothing to do with it.

4. Once the men had been accepted by the Comet organization, they were brought to Brussels.

参考译文：

1、每当发现一个事实使人感到与该定律应得出的预期结论相矛盾的时候, 就发生这种情况。（时间状语从句）
2、由于贫穷国家的经济对形势变化的适应能力差一些, 政府对这种经济的控制作 用也小一些, 所以发展中国家所3、能采取的政策比起工业化国家来就更有局限性。（原因状语从句）
4、虽然电视是为了广播而发明的, 但是电视还有许多与广播无关的重要用途。（让步状语从句）
5、他们一旦被彗星组织收下了，就被带到布鲁塞尔去了。