1、难句在考研阅读、完型填空和翻译中的出现频率很高，无论句子有多长、结构有多复杂，它都由一些基本的成分组成的。从结构来说，英语句子中，除了谓语之外，其它的成分均可以由从句或者非谓语动词来充当。从句子本身是一个完整的句子，因此，从句与从句之间的关系可能包孕、套嵌，也可能并列，平行。从功能来说，英语有三大复合句，即:名词性从句，包括主语从句、宾语从句、表语从句和同位语从句;形容词性从句，即我们平常所说的定语从句;状语从句。非谓语动词可以有自己的时态和语态（过去分词除外），也可以跟自己的逻辑主语、宾语、状语等成分，构成一个非谓语动词结构。由于非谓语动词和从句的这些特点，使英语句子从理论上讲可以无限延长。
2、英语长句的分析方法：去枝叶，留主干。 1） 划出句子中的定语从句和状语从句;2）划出所有介词短语（位于 be 动词后的除外）；3） 名词性从句看作一个整体,找出句中所有的谓语结构、非谓语结构、介词短语和从句的引导词;4） 非谓语动词结构看作一个整体；5）找出全句的主语、谓语和宾语，即句子的主干；6） 分析从句的结构和非谓语动词的内部结构。长难句分析的步骤举例：经典例题（2001 年考研完型填空第二段）In a significant tightening of legal controls over the press, Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor, wi
3、ll introduce a draft bill that will propose making payments to witnesses illegal and will strictly control the amount of publicity that can be given to a case before a trial begins.分析:第一，划出定语从句和状语从句: that will propose making payments to witnesses illegal and will strictly control the amount of publi
4、city /that can be given to a case /before a trial begins.第二，划出介词短语：In a significant tightening of legal controls over the press第三，句子的结构分析:（1）主干结构是主语（Lord Irvine 含同位语 the Lord Chancellor）+将来时谓语（will introduce）+宾语（a draft bill）；（2）that 引导的定语从句修饰 draft bill,其中，will propose 是第一个谓语，making payments to wit
5、nesses illegal 是一个动名词短语做宾语，在动名词短语内部，payments to witnesses 做 making 的宾语，illegal 是宾补；第二个谓语是 will strictly control, the amount of publicity 是它的宾语。that can be given to a case before a trial begins 是孕含有一个时间状语从句（before a trial begins）的定语从句，修饰 publicity。请大家按照上述步骤认真分解以下 70 个句子，并把分解后的句子读熟甚至背过，则基本上可以解决考研长难句问题
6、。1. This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the high-energy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields. 结构分析:句子的主干是 This will be particularly true。since 引导原因状语从句。此从句中又套嵌一个由关系代词 that 引导的定语从句，修饰 the high-e
7、nergy American fashion。在定语从句中，that 做主语，makes 做谓语，it 做形式宾语，不定式短语 to combine few farmers with high yields 则是真正的宾语（不定式短语内部 to combine 是主干，few farmers 是宾语，with high yields 是状语），possible 做宾语补足语。this 指代前句中提到的这种困境。energy pinch 译为“能源的匮乏”;infashion 译为“用方法、方式”。译文：这种困境将是确定无疑的，因为能源的匮乏，高能量消耗这种美国耕种方式将很难在农业中继续下去，而
8、这种耕种方式使投入少数农民就可获得高产成为可能。2. Now since the assessment of intelligence is a comparative matter，we must be sure that the scale with which we are comparing our subjects provides a“valid”or“fair”comparison. 结构分析:句子的主干是 we must be sure。since 引导原因状语从句 the assessment of intelligence is a comparative matter。主
9、句中又有 that 引导的宾语从句 that the scale with which we are comparing our subjects provides a“valid”or“fair”comparison。此宾语从句中又套嵌一个由介词 with+which 引导的定语从句 with which we are comparing our subjects 修饰先行词 the scale。scale 在此处意为“尺度、衡量标准”。译文：既然对智力的评估相比较而言的，那么我们必须确保，在对我们的对象进行比较时，我们所用的尺度能够提供“有效的”或“公平的”比较。3. In general
10、，the tests work most effectively when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined and least effectively when what is to be measured or predicted can be not well defined.结构分析:句子的框架是 the tests work most effectively whenand least effectively when。and 连接两个并列分句，每个并列分句中皆有一个 when 引导的时间状语从句分别
11、说明 work most effectively 和 and（work）least effectively。第二个时间状语从句中还有一个主语从句 whatpredicted。the tests 是主句的主语，work 为动词做谓语。qualities 在此处是可数名词，不译为“质量”，而译为“特征”。defined 不能直译为“被定义为”，而应译为主动语态“界定”。译文：一般来说，当所需要测定的特征能被精确界定时，测试最为有效;而当所测定或预测的东西不能被明确界定时，测试效果最差。4. For example，they do not compensate for gross social in
12、equality，and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable circumstances. 结构分析:句子的框架是 they do not compensate，and thus do not tell how。and 连接两个并列分句，第二个并列分句中由 how 引导的宾语从句是一个带有虚拟条件句的主从复合句，其中 had he grown up（=If he had grown up）是省略了连词 if 的非真实
13、条件句。主句主语的 they，在此代指上文提到的 tests; able 在句中作might have been 的表语。underprivileged 在此不能译为“没有特权的”，而译为“没有地位的”或“物质条件差的”。译文：例如，测试并不能弥补明显的社会不公;因此，它们不能说明一个物质条件差的年轻人，如果在较好的环境中成长的话，会有多大才干。5.It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset：it invites you to think that animals should be treated either with the con
14、sideration humans extend to other humans，or with no consideration at all. 结构分析:句子的框架是 It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset: it invites you to think that。冒号后的复合句是对冒号前部分作进一步说明。复合句中 that 引导宾语从句，从句中有 eitheror引导的两个并列的介词结构作状语，修饰动词 be treated，其中第一个 with 介词结构中还有一个省略了关系代词 that或 which 的定语从句 human
15、s extend to other humans，修饰 the consideration。it 代指上文的观点，即如果对人权没有达成一致看法，而谈论动物的权利是徒劳的。介词短语 at the outset 译为“从一开始”。动词 invites 应转译为“使”、“让”或“促使”。动宾结构 extend consideration to 意为“给予关怀或关心”，consideration 不应译为“考虑”。译文：这种说法从一开始就将讨论引向极端，它使人们认为应该这样对待动物:要么像对人类自身一样关怀体谅，要么完全冷漠无情。6. But even more important，it was th
16、e farthest that scientists had been able to look into the past，for what they were seeing were the patterns and structures that existed 15 billion years ago. 结构分析:句子的框架是 it was the farthest that。但 It wasthat在本句中不是强调句型。it 是指上句中所提到的 150 亿年前形成的巨大云团（a strip of enormous cosmic clouds some 15 billion light
17、-years from earth）;that 引导的应是一个定语从句，修饰先行词 the farthest。for 引导的是表示原因的分句，分句中还有that 引导的定语从句，修饰 the patterns and structure。译文：但更重要的是，这是科学家们所能观测到的有关过去的最为遥远的景象，因为他们看到的是 150 亿年前宇宙云的形状和结构。7. Thus it happened that when the new factories that were springing up required labor，tens of thousands of homeless and
18、hungry agricultural workers，with their wives and children，were forced into the cities in search of work，and any work，under any condition，that would keep them alive.结构分析:句子的框架是 it happened that。it 做形式主语，that 引导的从句做真正的主语。主语从句中，又有一个由 when 引导的时间状语从句，主句为 tens of thousands of homeless and hungry agricultu
19、ral workerswere forced，时间状语从句中从句主语 the new factories 又带有一个定语从句 that were springing up; that would keep them alive 做 work 的定语从句。spring up 意为“发生，出现，建立”。译文: 于是就出现了这样的情况:正当新办的工厂纷纷建立，需要劳动力的时候，成千上万无家可归、饥肠辘辘、以农业为生的劳动者携家带口，被迫进入城市;他们要找活干，不管什么活儿，不论什么条件，只要不被饿死就行。8. As a result of two or three centuries of scie
20、ntific investigation we have come to believe that nature is understandable in the sense that when we ask her questions by way of appropriate observations and experiments，she will answer truly and reward us with discoveries that endure.结构分析:句子的框架是we have come to believe that。that 引导的从句做 believe 的宾语从句
21、;此从句中有一个 that 从句作 the sense 的同位语从句;同位语从句中又套嵌一个由 when 引导的时间状语从句;此时间状语从句又套嵌一个定语从句 that endure，修饰其先行词 discoveries。by way of 意为“经由，通过方法”;reward sb. with意为“以报答，酬劳”;endure 此处应译为“持久，持续”,不要译为“忍受，容忍”。译文:由于两三个世纪以来的科学研究成果，我们逐渐相信，如果运用合适的观察和实验方法向大自然探究问题，她会真心实意地给我们答复，并且以永垂不朽的发现来报答我们。从这个意义上来说，大自然是可以认识的。9. These ne
22、w observational capabilities would result in simply a mass of details were it not for the fact that theoretical understanding has reached the stage at which it is becoming possible to indicate the kind of measurements required for reliable weather forecasting.结构分析:句子的框架是 These new observational capa
23、bilities would result in simply a mass of details。后面紧跟省略了 if 引导的虚拟条件句 were it not for the fact that，即 if it were not for the fact that;that 从句作 the fact 的同位语从句。此从句中又套嵌一个定语从句，修饰其先行词 the stage; required for reliable weather forecasting 为过去分词短语修饰 the kind of measurements。simply 译为“只不过，仅仅”，不应译为“简单地”。译文：
24、理论上的认识已达到了这样一个阶段,即现在已能指出需要哪种测量方式才能可靠地预报天气。如果做不到这一点，那么上述这些新的观察能力只不过提供了一大堆细节而已。10. The story of the discovery of what is now generally called the principle of Archimedes，namely that a solid body when immersed in a liquid loses a portion of its weight of the liquid it displaces，has many different versi
25、ons，of which the following is one.结构分析:句子的框架是 The storyhas many different versions。what is now generally called the principle of Archimedes 为名词性从句做介词 of 的宾语。namely that a solid body作 the principle of Archimedes 的同位语;when immersed in a liquid 是省略了主语的过去分词短语，句子补充完整为 when the solid body is immersed in a
26、 liquid，修饰其主句 a solid body loses a portion of its weight of the liquid;it displaces 是省略了关系代词 that 的定语从句修饰 the liquid，it 代指前面提到的 the solid body;同时，of which the following is one 又构成先行词 versions 的定语从句。displace 意为“排（水）”;version 不译为“版本”，此处指“根据个人观点的（对事件等的）说法，看法”;句尾的 one 代指 a version。译文:当固体浸没到液体中时，固体会失去它所排
27、出的液体的那部分重量，这就是现在通常所谓的阿基米德原理。有关这一发现的故事说法众多，下面的故事就是其中之一。11. We assumed that there were forces of attraction between molecules which varied rapidly with the distance so that the attraction between molecules that were more than a few ten millionths of a millimeter apart was very small but became conside
28、rable when the molecules approached more closely.结构分析:句子的框架是 We assumed that there were forces of attraction。that 引导宾语从句。此宾语从句中套嵌一个由 which 引导的定语从句修饰先行词 forces of attraction; so that the attraction between molecules是 so that 结构引导的结果状语从句;在此状语从句中，除主干结构 the attractionwas very small but became considerab
29、le，又有 that were more than a few ten-millionths of a millimeter apart 做定语从句修饰先行词 molecules 和 when the molecules approached more closely 做状语从句，修饰but became considerable。considerable 译为“相当大（或多的）”。译文：我们曾经假定，分子之间存在着引力，这种引力随着分子之间距离的不同而有显著的变化，因而，在间距为千万分之几毫米的分子之间的引力是很小的，但是分子靠得很近时，这种引力会变得相当大。12. This need is
30、 enshrined in the concept of sustainable development，which means that we must，for the benefit of coming generations，leave enough environmental space so that these generations will be able to address their needs and fulfill their aspirations.结构分析:句子的框架是 This need is enshrined in the concept of sustai
31、nable development。其后紧跟着一个 which 引导的定语从句，修饰先行词 sustainable development。此定语从句的谓语动词 means 又套嵌一个 that 引导的宾语从句，即 we mustleave enough environmental space。此宾语从句中又有 so that 结构做此从句的目的状语。be enshrined in 意为“被深深地珍藏（或铭记）在”，此处转译为主动语态“纳入到”。sustainable development 译为“可持续发展”。译文：这一需要被正式载入可持续发展的概念之中。所谓可持续发展是指:为了子孙后代的利
32、益，我们必须保留足够的生存环境空间，以满足他们的需要，施展抱负。13. Painting lacks only the means to represent movement in time and space，which is the special property of sculpture and architecture，since a painting is designed to be seen from one point at one time，whereas sculpture and architecture are created to be seen from vari
33、ous points of view，thus supplying movements in space and time.结构分析:句子的框架是 Painting lacks only the means,since。since 引导的原因状语从句修饰主句;关系代词 which 引导的定语从句修饰 the means to represent movement in time and space; property 在此处应译为“性质,特性”,不译为“财产,资产”。译文：绘画缺少的仅仅是表现空间与时间变化的手法，而这正是雕塑与建筑的特性。绘画时只要求在某一时刻，从空间的一点来欣赏，而雕塑和建
34、筑的创造则要求从各个角度来欣赏，这样就表现出了空间，时间的变化。14. Once intimidated by arguments that their children would feel more at home in bilingual classes，and that they might lose their heritage in regular classes，these women have since given voice，loudly and persuasively，to what they know from experience that unless they
35、are fluent in the language of their adopted country，their children will never attend college or land any but the most menial of jobs.结构分析:句子的框架是 these women havegiven voiceto what they know from experience that。that 从句做 experience 的同位语从句;此从句中又套嵌一个 unless 引导的条件状语从句;Once intimidated by arguments是过去分词做
36、状语修饰 these women，其施动者 arguments 又有两个 that 引导的同位语从句修饰限定它。intimidated by arguments 意为“被论点搞得惊慌害怕”;feel at home 不能直译为“感到在家”，而译为“感到自在”;give voice to 意为“表达，表露”;land jobs 译为“找到工作”。译文：有人说，孩子们在双语课堂里会感到更加自由自在，而在正规班级会丧失其传统文化。这几位母亲曾被这一论点搞得惶恐不安，现在发表了最响亮，最有说服力的意见。从她们自身的经验中，他们深知:如果孩子们不熟练掌握他们所移居国家的语言，除了那些最简单的体力活儿外，
37、根本谈不上上大学，也谈不上找到理想的工作。15. The presumption on which human cloning rests is that all these cells，though now specialized，still contain exact copies of the original set of genetic instructions needed to make an entire individual and can do so if a way is found to switch them back on.结构分析:句子的框架是 The presu
38、mption is that all these cellscontain genetic instructionsand can do so。其中介词 on 加 which 引导定语从句修饰主语 the presumption; that 从句为表语从句;此表语从句中 contain和 can do 并列做 all these cells 的谓语;表语从句中又插入一个 though 引导的省略了主语 all these cells 的让步状语从句，补充完整为 though these cells are now specialized; needed to make an entire individual 为过去分词短语做 genetic instructions 的后置定语;并列谓语 can do so 又有 if 条件句修饰。rest on 意为“依赖”。为避免重复 do so 代替前文提到的 make an entire individual。译文：人类克隆赖以存在的假定是:虽然所有的细胞现已全部特化，但却仍然包含有发育为完整个体所需的与母体完全一致的全部遗传指令;如果能找到一个方法使失去作用的部分恢复作用，这些细胞就能发育成为完整的个体。
