談談since從句的翻譯問題

一、正面翻譯

在一般情況下，since用作連詞表示“自從”時，它所引導從句的謂語通常應是非延續性動詞。如：

He has grown an inch since I saw him. 我上次見到他以后他已長高了一英寸。

She has had another baby since I saw her last. 從上次我見到她以來，她又生了一個孩子。

We’ve been friends ever since we met at school. 自從我們在學校遇見以來一直是朋友。

He’s been in bed since he broke his leg. 自從他摔傷了腿，他一直躺在床上。

He has worked for us ever since he left school. 他離開學校以后就一直為我們工作。

He hasn’t stopped complaining since he got back from his holidays. 自從他休假回來，就不停地抱怨。

二、反面翻譯

但有時也可以是延續性動詞或狀態動詞，不過此時應注意：延續性動詞或狀態動詞所表示的通常是動作或狀態的完成或結束 (而不是其開始)。試體會下列句子及其相應的翻譯：

I haven’t heard from him since he lived in Beijing. 自從他離開北京以來，我一直未收到他的信 (“住在北京”的結束，即“離開北京”)。

He has never come to see me since I was ill. 我病愈之后他還沒來看過我 (“生病”的結束，即“病愈”)。

It has been so long since we were all together. 好久我們沒有在一起團聚了。(“在一起”的結束就是“沒有在一起”)

注意：

如果要表示從句中的動作或狀態延續至今，就應該用持續性動詞的現在完成時，而不是用一般過去時。如：

I haven’t seen you since I have been back. 我回來后一直未見到你。

I haven’t had a good meal (ever) since I’ve been here. 我自從來到這里后還沒吃過一頓好的。

I haven’t seen you since I have been back. 我回來后就一直沒見到你。

He has never been to see me since I have been ill. 我生病以來他從未來看過我。

Nothing has happened here since you’ve been away. 自你離開后，這里沒有發生什么事。

I have met him often since I have lived here. 自從我在這里住下之后，我常看見他。

I have learned a lot from him since I have known him. 自從我認識了他，我向他學到許多東西。

This is the first storm since you’ve been here. 自從你來到這里，這才是第一場暴風雨哩。

三、值得注意的特例

有個別時候(尤其是用于since I was a child, since we were young之類的表達)，持續性動詞或狀態動詞的一般過去時也可以表示動作或狀態持續到現在 (多半有ever修飾)。如：

I’ve known her ever since I was a child. 自孩提時代起我就已經認識她了。

We have known each other since we were children. 我們從小認識。

I have lived here since I was a child. 我從小就在這里住。

She’s been playing tennis since she was eight. 她從八歲起就打網球了。

Tom hasn’t been home since he was a boy. 湯姆從小離家就沒回去過。

We have lived in England since I was a child. 從我小時起我們就住在英國。