相關知識點:“ as …… as …… ”是大家熟悉的結構,常譯為“像……一樣”。但在應用中,會有例外。如在《大學體驗
英語》中有句子:
Anti-virus software plays one, albeit important, part in the defense of your company from malicious attack but the security of your computer system is only as strong as the weakest link. And that, more often than not, is the human factor.
里,將 as …… as …… 譯為“像……一樣”,顯然是行不通的。如何解決問題?可以從 as …… as …… 的結構入手,分析一下它的用法。
1. 當主語是同一性質的事物時, as …… as …… 解釋為“同……一樣”
例: John is as bright as Bob. 約翰和鮑博一樣聰明。
2. 當 as …… as …… 結構的主語相同,而項目不同,即把同一事物兩種不同性質的等同時,于 both …… and …… ,可譯為“既……又……”
例: He is as brave as wise. 他既勇敢又聰明。
She is as gifted as diligent. 她不但有天賦,而且勤奮。
,可以將上面句子譯為:“殺毒軟件的作用固然,但在保護公司不受惡意攻擊的戰斗中,只能起的作用。公司的計算機系統安全與否,恰恰系于既薄弱又牢固的環節,而環節往往取決于人。”
除此以外, as …… as…… 還有幾種用法:
1. as …… as …… 結構的兩個主語和兩個項目都不同,即把兩個不同的人和物在不同的時,于 whereas ,可譯為“而”。
例: He was as experienced as his brother was green. 他經驗,而他的弟弟則涉世未深。
The prisons are as over-crowded as the farmlands are empty. 監獄里人滿為患,而地里卻耕作。
2. 當 as …… as …… 的結構后面連接 can / any / ever / possible / 等詞時,表示高級的意思,可譯為“極其,最好或盡量”。
例: He is as wrong as wrong can be. 他大錯特錯了。
This is as fair a land as ever. 這是一片最美的土地。
3. 當 as …… as …… 結構后面表示重量、、、距離等計量名詞時,于 up to ,表示程度,可譯為“……”。
例: The river is as deep as 10 meters. 此河深達 10 米。
At night, the temperature on the moon may be as low as -160 ℃ . 在夜晚,月球的溫度低至零下 160 度。
as …… as …… 結構還有固定搭配的詞組,意思也難于從字面上猜測,如 as good as 簡直是 / 幾乎等于, as soon as not 更愿意, as likely as not 很, as often as not 往往 / 常常,需要平時多加積累和注意。