(一)省代词
1.省略作主语的人称代词
根据汉语习惯,前句出现一个主语,后句如仍为同一主语,就不必重复出现。英语中通常每句都有主语,因此人称代词作主语往往多次出现,这种人称代词汉译时常常可以省略。
(1)省略作主语的人称代词
I had many wonderful ideas, but I only put a few into practice.
我有很多美妙的想法,但是只把少数付诸实践了。
He was thin and haggard and he looked miserable.
他瘦弱憔悴,看上去一副可怜相。
(2)英语中,泛指人称代词作主语时,即使是作第一个主语,在汉语译文中往往也可以省略。
We live and learn.
活到老,学到老。
When will he arrive?-You can never tell.
他什么时候到?--说不准。
The significance of a man is not in what he attained but rather in what he longs to attain.
人生的意义不在于已经获取的,而在于渴望得到什么样的东西。
2.省略作宾语的代词
英语中有些作宾语的代词,不管前面是否提到过,翻译时往往可以省略。
The more he tried to hide his mistakes, the more he revealed them.
他越是想要掩盖他的错误,就越是容易暴露。
Please take off the old picture and throw it away.
请把那张旧画取下来扔掉。
3.省略物主代词
英语句子中的物主代词出现的频率相当高。一个句子往往会出现好几个物主代词,如果将每个物主代词都翻译出来,那么汉语译文就显得非常罗嗦。所以在没有其他人称的物主代词出现的情况下,在翻译时物主代词大多被省略。
I put my hand into my pocket.
我把手放进口袋。
She listened to me with her rounded eyes.
她睁大双眼,听我说话。
4. 省略反身代词
How does atoms arrange themselves in a solid?
原子在固体中是如何排列的?
We should concern ourselves here only with the structure of atoms.
这里我们只论述原子的结构。
Friction manifests itself as a force that opposes motion.
磨擦表现为阻碍运动的力。
Although pure science usually has no apparent connection with technology, it does lend itself to the development of applied science.
理论科学虽然通常与技术没有明显的联系,但确实有助于应用科学的发展。