四、后置定语
大量使用后置定语也是科技文章的特点之一。常见的结构不以下五种:
1、介词短语
The forces due to friction are called frictional forces.
由于摩擦而产生的力称之为摩擦力。
A call for paper is now being issued .
征集论文的通知现正陆续发出。
2、形容词及形容词短语。
In this factory the only fuel available is coal.
该厂唯一可用的燃料是煤。
In radiation, thermal energy is transformed into radiant energy ,similar in nature to light.
热能在辐射时,转换成性质与光相似的辐射能。
3、副词
The air outside pressed the side in .
外面的空气将桶壁压得凹进去了。
The force upward equals the force downward so that the balloon stays at the level.
向上的力与向下的力相等,所以气球就保持在这一高度。
4、单个分词,但仍保持校强的动词意义。
The results obtained must be cheeked .
获得的结果必须加以校核
The heat produced is equal to the electrical energy wasted.
产生的热量等于浪费了的电能。
5、定语从句
During construction, problems often arise which require design changes.
在施工过程中,常会出现需要改变设计的问题。
The molecules exert forces upon each other, which depend upon the distance between them.
分子相互间都存在着力的作用,该力的大小取决于它们之间的距离。
Very wonderful changes in matter take place before our eyes every day to which we pay little attention.
(定语从句to which we pay little attention 修饰的是changes,这是一种分隔定语从句。)
我们几乎没有注意的很奇异的物质变化每天都在眼前发生。
To make an atomic bomb we have to use uranium 235, in which all the atoms are available for fission.
制造原子弹,我们必须用铀235,因为轴的所有原子都会裂变。
五、常用句型
科技文章中经常使用若干特定的句型,从而形成科技文体区别于其他文体的标志。例如It---that---结构句型;被动态结构句型;结构句型,分词短语结构句型,省略句结构句型等。举例如下:
It is evident that a well lubricated bearing turns more easily than a dry one.
显然,润滑好的轴承,比不润滑的轴承容易转动。
It seems that these two branches of science are mutually dependent and interacting.
看来这两个科学分支是相互依存,相互作用的。
It has been proved that induced voltage causes a current to flow in opposition to the force producing it.
已经证明,感应电压使电流的方向与产生电流的磁场力方向相反。
It was not until the 19th century that heat was considered as a form of energy.
直到十九世纪人们才认识到热是能量的一种形式。
Computers may be classified as analog and digital.
计算机可分为模拟计算机和数字计算机两种。
The switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened three times.
新型晶体管的开关时间缩短了三分之二。(或---缩短为三分之一。)
This steel alloy is believed to be the best available here .
人们认为这种合金钢是这里能提供的最好的合金钢。
Electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed as light.
电磁波传送的速度和光速相同。
Microcomputers are very small in size ,as is shown in Fig.5.
如图5所示,微型计算机体积很小。
In water sound travels nearly five times as fast as in air.
声音在水中的传播速度几乎是在空气中传播速度的五倍。
Compared with hydrogen, oxygen is nearly 16 times as heavy.
氧与氢比较,重量大约是它的十六倍。
The resistance being very high, the current in the circuit was low.
由于电阻很大,电路中通过的电流就小。
Ice keeps the same temperature while melting.
冰在溶化时,其温度保持不变。
An object, once in motion, will keep on moving because of its inertia.
物体一旦运动,就会因惯性而持续运动。
All substances, whether gaseous, liquid or solid ,are made of atoms .
一切物质,不论是气态、液态,还是固态,都由原子组成。
六、长句
为了表述一个复杂概念,使之逻辑严密,结构紧凑,科技文章中往往出现许多长句。有的长句多达七八个词,以下即是一例。
The efforts that have been made to explain optical phenomena by means of the hypothesis of a medium having the same physical character as an elastic solid body led, in the first instance, to the understanding of a concrete example of a medium which can transmit transverse vibrations, and at a later stage to the definite conclusion that there is no luminiferous medium having the physical character assumed in the hypothesis.
为了解释光学现象,人们曾试图假定有一种具有与弹性固体相同的物理性质的介质。这种子尝试的结果,最初曾使人们了解到一种能传输横向振动的具有上述假定所以认为的那种物理性质的发光介质。