核心问题
Fetch the harbor before the storm breaks.
[原译]冒着暴风雨向着海港航行。(《英汉辞海》, p. 1942)
从 before the storm breaks 这个时间状语从句来看,暴风雨尚未来临,怎么能说“冒着暴风雨”呢?
词典解答
这是一个由于粗心而造成的误译。大家都知道，由 before, when 等连词引出的时间状语从句，其中的谓语动词的一般现在时是表示将来时间的（参见 case ，if ，simple present tense, when ）：
-
Look before you leap. (Prov) 三思而后行。
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When he comes I will tell him to fetch the police. (Wilde) 当他来的时候, 我要告诉他去找警察。
实际上,这一语言点是标准化英语考试经常考核的项目:
- I'll go with you as soon as I ____ my work.
A. will finish B. shall finish C. finish D. finished(全国高考)
- The new secretary is supposed to report to the manager as soon as she ____. A. will arrive B. arrives C. is going to arrive D. is arriving(全国高考,90-16)
[试译]要在暴风雨来临之前把船驶回港口。