1、精选英语长难句分析一、定语从句【难句】1. He is referring to the upsurge of interest in mobile television, a nascent industry at the intersection of telecoms and media which offers new opportunities to device-makers, content producers and mobile-network operators. (The Economist Jan. 5, 2006)【结构分析】 本句结构清晰，是一个复合句。句首部分 H
2、e is referring to the upsurge of interest in mobile television 是主句，其后的 a nascent industry at the intersection of telecoms and media作 mobile television 的同位语，句末的关系代词 which 引导定语从句 which offers new opportunities to device-makers, content producers and mobile-network operators 来修饰先行词 a nascent industry，关
3、系代词 which 在从句中作主语。【参考译文】 他谈到了众人对移动电视的巨大兴趣，这是一个在电信和媒体领域有交叉的新兴产业，它给设备制造商、电视内容制作者以及移动网络运营商提供了新的机遇。【难句】2. Meanwhile, Apple Computer, which launched a video-capable version of its iPod portable music-player in October, is striking deals with television networks to expand the range of shows that can be pu
4、rchased for viewing on the device, including “Lost”， “Desperate Housewives” and “Law &Order”. (The Economist Jan. 5, 2006)【结构分析】本句使用了分隔结构，体现了非限制性定语从句分隔，从句which launched a video-capable version of its iPod portable music-player in October修饰主语 Apple Computer(关系代词 which 在从句中作主语)分隔了主语和系动词。连接后得到 Meanwhil
5、e, Apple Computer is striking deals with television networks to expand the range of shows其中 that 又引导定语从句 that can be purchased for viewing on the device修饰先行词 shows(关系代词 that 在从句作主语，从句中使用了被动语态)，句末的分词结构 including “Lost”， “Desperate Housewives” and “Law &Order”作伴随状语，表明 range of shows 的具体内容。【参考译文】与此同时，苹
6、果电脑公司在 10 月发售了一款可以观看电视的便携式音乐播放器 iPod，这个播放器大大帮助了电视网络扩大其可以供用户购买的、用于在移动终端的节目范围， 包括迷失、绝望的主妇以及法律与秩序。【难句】3. Some technologies do indeed improve at such a predictable pace that they obey simple formulae such as Moores law, which acts as a battle plan for the semiconductor industry. (The Economist Sep. 21,
7、2006)【结构分析】 本句结构清晰，主句为 Some technologies do indeed improve at such a predictable pace that they obey simple formulae such as Moores law，使用了 suchthat结构；关系代词 which 引导定语从句 which acts as a battle plan for the semiconductor industry，修饰先行词 formulae such as Moores law，which 在从句中作主语。【参考译文】的确，有些技术的进步是以一种可预测的
8、节奏进行着，它们遵循摩尔定律般简单的公式，好比是半导体工业的设计图纸。【难句】4. Visit many online sites to research a car, and they will sell your name immediately to local dealerships which will then harass you in the old-fashioned way. (The Economist May 27, 2006)【结构分析】以 and 为切入点，本句包含两个并列分句。注意前一分句省略了和后一分句相同的主语 they(指代网络销售商) 。后一分句中， th
9、ey will sell your name immediately to local dealerships 是主句，关系代词 which 引导定语从句which will then harass you in the old-fashioned way，which 指代上文的一整句话。【参考译文】网络销售商通过访问大量的网站去寻找一部车，然后就会把你的名字提供给当地的经销商，这又会让你重回到以前那种购车模式所带来的困扰中。【难句】5. Even Chinas population will be declining by the early 2030s, according to the
10、UN, which projects that by 2050 populations will be lower than they are today in 50 countries. (The Economist Jun.5, 2006)【结构分析】 本句结构清晰，是一个复合句。主句为 Even Chinas population will be declining by the early 2030s, according to the UN，其后的定语从句 which projects that by 2050 populations will be lower than they
11、are today in 50 countries 修饰先行词 UN，关系代词在从句中作主语，注意这里 project 作动词用，译为“指出”，且从句里使用了比较级。【参考译文】联合国有关报告指出，即便是中国，到 2030 年初期人口也将开始递减。这份报告同时还指出，到 2050 年，将有 50 个国家的人口低于今天的水平。【难句】6. That is surely how history will judge modern criticism of video games, which are accused of turning young people into violent crim
12、inals. (The Economist Jun.18, 2006)【结构分析】 本句的主句 That is surely how history will judge modern criticism of video games 是主系表结构，其中表语由 how 引导的名词性从句充当，定语从句which are accused of turning young people into violent criminals 修饰先行词 video games，关系代词 which 指代先行词 video games 在从句中作主语，这里使用了被动语态 be accused of，在翻译时我们
13、译成主动。【参考译文】 对于当今时代那些控诉电视游戏使年轻人变成暴力罪犯的批评者们，历史最终也将对他们作出同样的批判。【难句】7. Management and HR groups spend a lot of time talking about “engagement”， which comes down to getting employees excited about the work theyre doing and its contribution to the company. (Business Week Feb. 5, 2007)【结构分析】本句的主干一目了然：Manage
14、ment and HR groups spend a lot of time talking about“engagement”，which 引导的定语从句 which comes down to getting employees excited about。修饰先行词 engagement，关系代词 which 在从句中作主语。介词 about 后有两个宾语 the work and its contribution，其中work 的修饰语由一个省略了关系代词 that/which 的定语从句 theyre doing 充当，关系代词在从句中作宾语，contribution 则由后置的介词
15、短语修饰。【参考译文】管理和人力资源群体花费大量的时间来谈论“参与”，激发雇员对他们的工作和为公司做贡献的兴趣。【难句】8. To make the technology as simple as possible, Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software that can be used across all their devicesbe it PCs, TVs, or settop boxes. (Business Week Jan. 29, 2007)【结构分析】 本句结构比较清晰，是一个复合句。句首的不定式短
16、语 To make the technology as simple as possible 作全句的目的状语。主句为 Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software。关系代词 that 引导的定语从句 that can be used across all their devices 修饰先行词 software，that 在从句中作主语，并且使用了被动语态。第一个破折号后面是对 across all their devices 的具体说明，注意这里采用了 whetheror引导的让步状语从句省略 whether 的特殊形式
17、 be it PCs, TVs, or set。第二个破折号后 top boxes 是对 software 的最终阐释，我们去掉中间让步状语作的分隔成分，可以连接全句为 Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software that can be used across all their devicestop boxes。【参考译文】为了让科技尽可能的简单，索尼、惠普和其他销售者最终开发了可以在所有装置上使用的软件不论是个人电脑、电视机或是数字解码器这种软件就是机顶盒。【难句】9. On the face of it, that
18、doesnt seem especially surprising: we feel strong emotion at important events, which are obviously more memorable than ordinary moments. (Time Jan. 18, 2007)【结构分析】这是典型的冒号前为主句，冒号后作解释说明的实例。句首部分On the face of it 为全句的状语，主句部分为 that doesnt seem especially surprising，这里 seem 采用了系动词的用法。注意形容词 surprising 指物的-
19、ing使用。冒号后 we feel strong emotion at important events 是对主句的解释说明，非限制性定语从句 which are obviously more memorable than ordinary moments 使用了比较结构，关系代词 which 在从句中作主语。注意 which 后的 be 动词使用了复数形式 are，联系上文，我们不难判断出它指代 important events。【参考译文】乍看起来，那似乎不会使我们特别吃惊：在重大事件上我们会感到强烈的感情冲击重大事件显然比平常日子让人记忆深刻。【难句】10. An animal that
20、 can remember the significance of that large, nasty-looking thing with the big teeth and sharp claws will survive longer and produce more offspring. (Time Jan. 18, 2007)【结构分析】本句是复合句，句子的主干为 An animal will survive longer and produce more offspring。主语 animal 后接关系代词 that 引导的定语从句，关系代词代替 animal 在从句中作主语。在从
21、句里，谓语动词 remember 的宾语是 the significance，它的后置定语为 that large, nasty-looking thing with the big teeth and sharp claws；介词短语 with the big teeth and sharp claws 补充说明 thing 的特点。【参考译文】一种动物只有记住了长相丑恶(具有巨大牙齿和锋利爪子)且身体庞大的重要性，才能生存长久并繁殖更多的后代。【难句】11. Women who live in areas of high air pollution, exposed to invisibl
22、e particles from traffic fumes, coal-fired power stations and wood fires, are at increased risk of heart disease and death, according to a study. (The Guardian Feb. 1, 2007)【结构分析】本句是主系表结构。主语 Women 后是定语从句 who live in areas of high air pollution，关系代词 who 在从句中代替 women 作主语，系表部分 are at increased risk of
23、heart disease and death 被分词结构(表被动)作的后置定语exposed to invisible particles from traffic fumes, coal-fired power stations and wood fires 分隔，由于定语部分较长，在翻译时我们可以译为并列结构；句子末尾的according to a study 作全句的状语。【参考译文】一项研究表明，生活在严重空气污染地区的女性，暴露在车辆尾气、燃煤发电厂、森林火灾所产生和排放的无形的微小颗粒中，越来越容易患心脏病，甚至会因此直接导致死亡。二、名词性从句【难句】1. The consol
24、e can determine how the controller is moving in space and what it is pointing at, and uses that information to control what is happening on screen. (The Economist Dec. 2, 2006)【结构分析】以逗号后 and 为切入点，得到主句部分的并列平行结构 The console can determine, and uses that information to control，uses 与 can determine 一起作该句
25、的谓语。其中 determine 的宾语也以 and 切入，得到 how引导的名词性从句 how the controller is moving in space 和 what 引导的名词性从句 what it is pointing at(how 在从句中作状语，what 在从句中作宾语) ；在 use 的宾语补足语 to control中，control 的宾语使用了 what 引导的名词性从句 what is happening on screen 充当， what 在从句中作主语。【参考译文】游戏机能测出手柄的移动轨迹，识别手柄指着屏幕上的什么东西，然后根据得到的信息控制屏幕上的游戏
26、。【难句】2. If left unchanged, it appears that the time to cash in on digital sales via services like iTunes is starting to evaporate, especially if the music is set to start leaking into the public domain in the country where it was originally produced. (Business Week Feb. 5, 2007)【结构分析】本句主干为主系表结构，注意 a
27、ppear 在这里是系动词用法。表语部分由 that 引导的名词性从句 that the timeis starting to evaporate充当，不定式短语 to cash in on digital sales via services like iTunes 作后置定语修饰 the time。especially 直到句末是条件状语从句，使用了被动语态 if the music is set to句末关系副词 where 引导的定语从句 where it was originally produced 修饰先行词 the country，关系副词在从句中作状语，相当于 in whic
28、h。句首部分 If left unchanged，我们可以理解为是分词结构作的条件状语，注意这里使用了 leave sth.+adj。用法。【参考译文】如果不改变，则通过诸如 iTunes 利用数字销售赚钱的时代可能开始消亡了，尤其是当音乐在其最初发表的国家已经进入公共领域时。【难句】3. If I ever had any doubts about how demanding a teachers job is, it would have disappeared for good when I spent some time recently in schools. (The Guardi
29、an Sep. 12, 2007)【结构分析】 本句的结构清晰，为主从复合句。it would have disappeared for good when I spent some time recently in schools 为主句部分，其中包含一个 when引导的时间状语从句 when I spent some time recently in schools。If 引导的条件状语从句中，had any doubts about 后的宾语由 how 引导的名词性从句 how demanding a teachers job is 充当，how 与形容词 demanding 相连作从句
30、的表语。注意整个句子使用了与过去相反的虚拟语气，从句为 if+had done，主句为would/could/should/might+have done 的形式。【参考译文】 如果说我以前还曾怀疑教师的工作有多吃力，那么当我最近在学校中待了一段时间后，我永远改变了原来的想法。【难句】4. The teachers who took part in the program also told me of their worries that they might be force-feeding their pupils information rather than stimulating
31、the discussion necessary to ensure they grasped the importance to them of what they were being taught. (The Guardian Sep. 12, 2007)【结构分析】本句成分复杂。主语 The teachers 后跟 who 引导的定语从句 who took part in the program also told me of their worries作修饰语，关系代词 who 在从句中作主语。told 后我们可以认为是双宾语(对象+内容)，直接宾语部分 their worries
32、后跟 that 引导的名词性从句 that they might be force feeding their pupils information rather than stimulating the discussion necessary to ensure说明 worries的具体内容。ensure 后面的宾语是一个省略了引导词 that 的宾语从句 they grasped the importance to them of，grasped 的宾语 the importance of被不定式结构 to them 分隔，of 构成的介宾短语的宾语由 what 引导的名词性从句充当，且
33、从句使用了被动语态的现在进行时。【参考译文】参与节目的老师们还告诉我，他们担心自己可能是在向学生强行灌输知识与信息，而不是激励他们讨论，以此保证他们能掌握他们所学知识的要领。【难句】5. The trouble with that approach is that consumers tend to prefer devices that require simply plugging them in, without complicated setups of wireless channels, security, and other features common to home net
34、works. (Business Week Jan. 29, 2007)【结构分析】 本句主干很清晰，是主系表结构。其中表语部分由 that 引导的名词性从句 that consumers tend to prefer devices充当。 device 后是 that 引导的定语从句 that require simply plugging them in,关系代词 that 在从句中作主语。逗号后的介词短语 without complicated setups of wireless channels, security, and other features作从句中的伴随状语( 在翻译时
35、我们可以转译为定语)，句末的形容词结构 common to home networks 后置作 features 的定语。【参考译文】 这一方式的问题在于，消费者更喜欢不需要创立复杂的无线电频道、安全保护以及家庭网络所共有的其他特性，便可以简单插入的装置。【难句】6. Davies says guidance must strike a balance between being flexible enough to take account of the differences between disciplines and providing enough detail to be of
36、use. (The Guardian Oct. 3, 2007)【结构分析】本句不难，主句谓语 says 后是省略了 that 的宾语从句 guidance must strike a balance between being flexible enough to take account of the differences between disciplines and providing enough detail to be of use。注意两个 between 的使用。第一个 between 与后面的 and 相连，构成 being flexible enough toand p
37、roviding enough detail to结构，第二个 between 后跟 disciplines 表示“各学科之间”，并且前后都使用了 be enough to do 的形式。【参考译文】戴维斯说，指导规范必须在足够灵活考虑各学科的不同点和提供充足的可操作的细节之间寻求一种平衡。【难句】7. In its 16 years of operation it has found the first convincing evidence for the existence of black holes, made observations supporting the theory t
38、hat the universes expansion is accelerating and confirmed that dark matter exists. (The Economist Nov. 2, 2006)【结构分析】去掉句首介宾 In its 16 years of operation 作的时间状语，以 and 为切入点，得到主句 it has found, madeand confirmed其中 made 后的宾语中，包含现在分词结构 supporting the theory作的伴随状语，在此伴随状语中，that引导同位语从句 that the universes exp
39、ansion is accelerating 解释说明 theory 的内容；而 confirmed 后的宾语由 that 引导的名词性从句 that dark matter exists 充当。【参考译文】在它运行的 16 年中，首次发现了关于黑洞的令人信服的证据，很多观测都支持宇宙加速膨胀的理论并确认暗物质的存在。三、非谓语动词【难句】1. The energy used to separate oxygen from air before burning is almost as great as that needed to filter out nitrogen afterwards
40、, leading to a similar loss of efficiency. (The Economist Nov. 30, 2006)【结构分析】本句是一个简单句，为一个主系表结构 The energy is almost as great as that needed to filter out nitrogen afterwards，使用了 asas结构，其中被比较的对象 that needed to filter out nitrogen afterwards 中，that 指代上文的energy，过去分词结构 needed to作后置定语体现被动。其中主语 energy 由过
41、去分词结构 used to separate oxygen from air before burning 作后置定语体现被动；句末的现在分词结构 leading to a similar loss of efficiency 作全句的结果状语。【参考译文】 燃烧前将氧气从空气中分离所需的能源几乎不亚于上述将氮气过滤所需的耗费，这就使得两者在效率损失上不相上下。【难句】2. Some great manufacturers and great service companies may have become too lean in their relentless drive to redu
42、ce costs, outsourcing not just their non-core activities but essential ones too. (The Economist Jun. 15, 2006)【结构分析】本句不难，逗号前为主句 Some great manufacturers and great service companies may have become too lean in their relentless drive to reduce costs,使用了 tooto结构，句末的现在分词结构 outsourcing not just their non
43、-core activities but essential ones too 作伴随状语，进一步补充说明 reduce costs 的具体内容。【参考译文】有些大的制造商和服务供应商热衷于降低成本，不仅把非核心业务外包，而且连核心业务也不放过。【难句】3. The study shows that nearly half the organizations featured in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers plan to expand their graduate programs this year, increasing the total
44、 number of vacancies available for new graduates by more than 10 percent compared with 2006 recruitment levels. (The Sunday Times Jan. 11, 2007)【结构分析】 本句是复合句。逗号前为主句，是主谓宾结构，其中谓语shows 的宾语由 that 引导的名词性从句 that nearly half the organizations featured in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers plan to expand
45、their graduate programs this year 充当。现在分词结构 increasing the total number of vacancies available for new graduates by more than 10 percent compared with 2006 recruitment levels 作状语，我们可以理解其为结果状语，注意增加的幅度用介词 by 表示。句末的过去分词结构 compared with 2006 recruitment levels 作比较状语。【参考译文】研究表明，时代排名前 100 名的毕业生雇主单位中有将近一半计
46、划今年将扩大毕业生接收规模，为新的毕业生增加可利用的空缺职位数量，这个数量与 2006 年的新成员水平相比，会增加 10%以上。【难句】4. The trouble is, as soon as youve been given a clean bill of health youre back at your desk, facing the same situation that led to depression and compulsive behavior problems in the first place. (Times Online Jan. 11, 2007)【结构分析】
47、本句主干是一个主系表结构 The trouble is，其中表语部分由从句充当。在表语从句中，包含 as soon as 引导的时间状语从句 as soon as youve been given a clean bill of health，翻译为“ 一就”。现在分词短语 facing the same situation作 youre back at your desk 的伴随状语，关系代词that 引导的定语从句 that led to depression and compulsive behavior problems in the first place 修饰先行词 the sam
48、e situation，that 在从句中作主语。【参考译文】 问题是，一旦你得到清楚的健康证明，你就得立刻回到你的办公桌，并且首先就要面对与原来曾导致沮丧和强迫性行为问题的同样的情形。【难句】5. Drivers can instruct their car stereos to “play similar”，prompting the system to call up songs in the same musical genre. (Business Week Feb. 5, 2007)【结构分析】 本句结构清晰，主干是一个主谓宾结构：Drivers can instruct thei
49、r car stereos to“play similar”，其中不定式结构 to “play similar”构成了instruct their cars 的复合宾语。现在分词结构 prompting the system to call up songs in the same musical genre 作 instruct their car stereos to “play similar”的状语，我们可以理解为结果状语，在这里，prompt 后也采用了不定式结构 to call up songs in the same musical genre 与 the system 一起构成复合宾语的形式。【参考译文】 驾驶者可以指令车内立体声设备“播放相似音乐”，提示系统集合相同风格的音乐。【难句】6. Having succeeded as a convenient vehicle for every conceivable political and commercial slogan, the threads themselves are becoming the newest message, logically enough
