问英语｜英语常见问题解答

问

The pollution question as well as several other issues is going to be discussed when the Congress is in ____ again next spring.

A. assembly B. session C. conference D. convention(全国研考,96-36)

[原译]明春代表大会开会期间将再次对污染及其它几个问题进行讨论。（《大学英语》96年第3期，p.8）

again 是修饰介词短语 in session, 还是修饰主句谓语 is going to be discussed 呢?

答

从 again 的位置上看(它位于 when 从句之中), 它以及 next spring 只能是修饰介词短语 in session 的。

请与下面的句子进行对比：

Parliament will not be in session again until after Christmas. (LDCE) 议会要等到圣诞节后才再开会。

因此，上面的译文是不符合原意的，译文的意思是：本次大会已对污染以及其他几个问题进行了讨论，下次会议将再次进行讨论。而原文的意思却是：

待明春再次召开代表大会时，将对污染问题以及其他几个问题进行讨论。

问

My new house is half as large again as my old one.

[原译]我的新房子是我的旧房的一半大。(《最新高级英汉词典》,商务印书馆,1995年,p.18)

如果 A is half as large again as B 真是指“A 是 B 的一半大”，那么 A is half as large as B 又是什么意思呢？难道它们是同义表达手段吗？

答

看来，上面的误译不是因疏忽造成的，而是因误解造成的。A is n times as large(much, many, long, tall) as B 意为 A 是 B 的 n 倍大(多、长、高)，因此，A is half as large(much, many, long, tall) 意为 A 是 B 的一半大(多、长、高)。A is n times(half) as large(much, many, long, tall) again 则是 A 比 B 大(多、长、高)n 倍(一半)，可见，有无 again，意思截然不同，请看下面的实例：

These shoes cost me as much again as the last pair I bought. (Whitford) 买这双鞋比上次买的那双鞋多花了一倍的钱。
We have turned out half as much coal again as they. 我们出产的煤比他们多半倍。

(参见 as much as, as many/as many again)

again

again¹

again²