核心问题
I couldn't have got to the meeting on time—unless I had caught an earlier train. (LEG) 我不可能及时赶到会场,除非我赶上了较早一班火车。(《朗文英语语法》,外研社,p.531) 译文将 I couldn't have got to the meeting on time 译为“我不可能及时赶到会场”,是否正确地表达了原意?
词典解答
译者将 on time 译为“及时”是错误的(应为“准时”)。此外,译者还误解了原文的时态:couldn't have got 是指“过去(那时)没有可能到达”,而译文却变成指“现在或将来没有可能到达”了。
[试译]我那时是绝不可能准时到达会场的，除非我赶上了较早一班火车。
(参见 if... not/unless)
couldn't have done/cannot have done 见 can