问英语｜英语常见问题解答

as long as¹

问

Rockets can do it. As long as a rocket burns enough fuel to provide sufficient thrust, it will continue to increase in speed. [原译]火箭能达到这个速度。一旦火箭有足够的燃料使它产生足够的推力,速度将不断增加。(科普)

答

在英语里连词 as long as (so long as) 引导的是一个条件状语从句, 相当于 provided (that), 通常可译为“只要”。例如:

The electrical resistance of a body is constant only so long as its physical condition is unchanged. 只要物体的物理条件不变,其电阻就是恒定的。
As long as light travels through one kind of substance, it proceeds in all directions in straight lines from its source. 只要光是在同一物质中传播，它就从光源笔直地向各个方面照射。
Bill agreed to take with me—as long as I didn't tell anybody else. (Hillary, Living History) 比尔答应和我一起去—只要我不告诉任何人。在汉语里，“一旦”用作连词时，一是表示“忽然有一天”，例如，“相处三年，一旦离别，怎么能不想念呢?”；二是用于未然，表示“要是有一天”，例如，“理论一旦为群众所掌握，就会产生巨大的物质力量”。因此，在上例中用汉语的“一旦”来翻译英语的 as long as 是不够恰当的。 [试译]……只要火箭有充分的燃料燃烧,来提供足够的推力,它就会不断地增加速度。

as long as²

问

我查找了许多语法著作,得知 as long as 只能引导时间状语从句和条件状语从句。但无法解释下列句子：

As long as you're here, we might as well talk about your last game.

答

as long as 除了引导时间状语从句和条件状语从句之外, 还可以引导原因状语从句。上面问句中 as long as 从句便是一个原因状语从句, 可以译为: “(由于, 既然)你在这里, 我们不妨谈一谈你的最后一次比赛”。类例:

As long as you act so mean, you can't expect anybody to do anything for you. (Curme)

(由于)你行为卑劣,你不可能指望有人会来帮助你。

As long as you're going, I'll go too. (LDCE) 既然你要去,那我也去。

(参见 as long as/so long as)

as long as³

问

The WTO cannot live up to its name ____ it does not include a country that is home to one-fifth of mankind.

A. as long as B. while C. if D. even though(全国高考,00-21)

标准答案为 C。我一直弄不明白为什么不可以选 A。

答

标准答案当然是正确的,但是,选项 A 也同样是正确的,因为 as long as 可作“如果”“只要”解。让我们用实例来证明这一点:

“Can I take the dog for a run?” “Yes, as long as you’re back before dark.” “我可以把狗带出去跑一跑吗?”“可以，只要你天黑前回来就行。”
I can come as long as I can leave at 4:30 p.m. (CIDE) 如果下午四点半能离开的话，我就能来。
We'll send it as long as you phone when it arrives. (同上) 只要到了货之后你能打个电话过来,我们就给你发过去。
You couldn't turn the heat off as long as the system was operating. (Cobuild) 只要整个系统还在工作,你就不能停止供热。
As long as it doesn't rain we can play. (ALD) 只要不下雨,我们就能玩。

[试题句意]如果世界贸易组织不接纳一个占人类人口1/5的国家，那它就不可能名副其实。/只要世界贸易组织不接纳一个占人类人口1/5的国家，它就不可能名副其实。