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英語可數名詞的復數形式一般用來表示多數的意義，但我們譯成漢語時，不能籠統
地加上“們”或“些”，而是要根據句中不同的情況，將它們譯成較明確的漢語。下
面介紹四種常用的譯法：
一、譯成籠統的多數。如“數”，“幾個”，“若干”，“一批”，“多少”，“群”等詞。
1．If the reaction took hours and not seconds, the fuel costs would be prohibitive.
假如這一反應還需數小時而不是幾秒鐘，那么燃料成本就太高了。
2．The atom is made up of a nucleus with negative electrons revolving around it.
原子是由原子核和繞核旋轉的若干負電子組成。
3. The first electronic computers used vacuum tubes and other components, and this made equipment very large and bulky.
第一批電子計算機使用真空管和其他元件，這是設備變得十分龐大。
4. There is enough coal to meet the word’s needs for centuries to come.
有足夠的煤可以滿足全世界幾個世紀的需要。
5. the moon is moving west against the background of the stars.
月亮在群星的襯托下正西落。
二、譯成具體的多數。如：“兩個”，“一對”，“前后”，“內外”等詞。
6. Each time the magnet is broken, new poles are formed, as indicated in Fig.5.
磁體每折斷一次，就有兩個新磁極形成，如圖五所示。
7. To add rigidity, braces are sometimes fastened from the overarm to the knee.
為了增加剛性，有時從懸臂到升降臺裝上一對撐臂加以緊固。
8. The ends of the tubular furnace are closed to minimize convection currents inside the furnace.
把管式爐的前后端蓋緊，是爐內的對流減少到最低限度。
9. the principal function that may be performed by vacuum tubes are rectification, amplification, oscillation, modulation, and detection.
真空管的五大功能是整流、放大、振蕩、調制和檢波。
10. To increase the contact area and permit larger loads to be carried, the balls run in curvilinear grooves in the rings.
為了增加接觸面積并承受較大載荷，滾珠在內外環的曲線槽內滾動。
三、譯成疊詞形式。例如：
11. We saw bubbles rising from under the water.
我們看到一個個水泡從水下升起。
12. After dropping a small stone into still water, we saw ripples going out in all directions.
把一塊小石頭扔進平靜的水中，我們看到一圈圈的漣漪向四面八方擴散。
13. When the plants died and decayed, they formed layers of organic materials.
當這些植物死亡腐爛時，它們就形成一層層有機物。
14．Noises may develop in a worm engine.
磨損了的發電機可能會產生種種噪音。
四、譯成不同種類。如“多種”，“各種”等等。
16. A student of the motions of objects is necessary in order to understand their behavior.
為了了解物體的性能，有必要研究它們的各種運動。
17. The air is made up of a mixture of gases.
空氣是由多種氣體組合而成的。
18. Factories are power plants where various fuels are burned and where the heat energy produced is converted into mechanical energy.
各種工廠都是動力廠，都是燃燒不同燃料、將產生的熱能變成機械能的場所。
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