When a new movement in art attains a certain fashion, it is advisable to find out what its advocates are aiming at, for, however farfetched and unreasonable their principles may seem today, it is possible that in years to come they may be regarded as normal.
[结构分析]
本句的主干是it is advisable to find out... for... it is possible that...,句首的When引导一个时间状语从句,句中的for... it is possible... (至句末)是一个并列分句,表示原因,其中for后面的however +形容词farfetched and unreasonable引导状语从句,表示让步。在主干it is advisable to find out... 中,it是形式主语,后面的不定式结构to find out what its advocates are aiming at是真正的主语。
While talking to you, your could-be employer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your “wares” and abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner.
[结构分析]
这也是一个并列句,包含两个分句。第一个分句的主干是your could-be employer is deciding whether...,其中whether引导一个宾语从句whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you;第二个分句的主干是your “wares” and abilities must be displayed...。注意:pay sb. to do sth.此处的意思是“做…对…有利”;“wares”的本义是“商品、货物”,但在本文中,作者认为找工作就是推销自己,所以结合本文的背景,wares的意思是“(求职者的)资历或能力”。
The change met the technical requirements of the new age by engaging a large professional element and prevented the decline in efficiency that so commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation after the energetic founders.
[结构分析]
本句是一个并列句,以and连接;第一个分句的主干是The change met the technical requirements...,后面的介词结构by engaging a large professional element作状语,说明met the technical requirements of the new age的方式;第二个分句的主干是(the change) prevented the decline in efficiency,后面的that引导的定语从句修饰decline in efficiency。注意:engage此处的意思是“雇,聘”。
Online culture thinks highly of the notion that the information flowing onto the screen comes there by specific request.
[结构分析]
本句的主干是Online culture thinks highly of the notion that...,其中notion后面的that引导一个同位语从句,说明notion的具体内容;同位语从句的主干是the information...comes there...,其中flowing onto the screen作定语,修饰the information,句末的by specific request作状语,修饰come there。
[参考译文]
网络文化非常推崇这样一种理念:出现在用户屏幕上的信息应该是根据用户特定要求发送过来的。
5、状语从句
Consumers seem only concerned, not panicked, and many say they remain optimistic about the economy’s long-term prospects, even as they do some modest belt tightening.
Perhaps it is humankind’s long suffering at the mercy of flood and drought that makes the ideal of forcing the waters to do our bidding so fascinating.
[结构分析]
这是一个强调句,基本结构是it is...suffering...that makes...so fascinating,被强调部分是humankind’s long suffering at the mercy of flood and drought,其中的中心词是suffering,有两个修饰成分:humankind’s long和at the mercy of flood and drought(受旱涝摆布)都做suffering的定语。suffering这个词除了是被强调的部分外,还是后面that引导的从句的主语;在that引导的从句中,ideal做宾语,带有of引导的动名词短语forcing the waters to do our bidding(让河水听我们吩咐)这个定语;so fascinating做ideal的宾语补语,说明ideal的特点。
[参考译文]
也许正是因为人类长期以来遭受旱涝摆布的痛苦,才使他们制服洪水的理想显得如此令人着迷。
(2)倒装结构
Nowhere do 1980 census statistics dramatize more the American search for spacious living than in the Far West.
Mr. McWhorter’s academic specialty is language history and change, and he sees the gradual disappearance of “whom”, for example, to be natural and no more regrettable than the loss of the case-endings of Old English.
[结构分析]
本句是一个并列句,包含两个以and连接的分句,其中第二个分句比较复杂:宾语是the gradual disappearance of “whom”, for example,接着是to be natural and no more regrettable,这一部分作上述宾语的补足语,最后是比较结构no more... than... (像…一样不…)。
With regard to Futurist poetry, however, the case is rather difficult, for whatever Futurist poetry may be—even admitting that the theory on which it is based may be right—it can hardly be classed as Literature.
[结构分析]
本句的主干是the case is rather difficult, for... it can hardly be classed as Literature,前面的however表示本句与前一句形成对比,句首的介词结构With regard to Futurist poetry作状语,其中with regard to的意思是“关于…”; for... it can hardly be classed as Literature是一个并列分句,表示原因,主干是it can hardly be classed as Literature; for后面的从句whatever Futurist poetry may be表示让步,作状语;破折号之间的部分even admitting that... 也是让步状语,其中that 引导一个宾语从句that the theory... may be right,而从句的主语theory后又带有定语从句on which it is based。