單詞but和詞組“not only ... but also …”都表轉折意義，大多數情況下，這個詞(組)完全可以用另外的形式(如使用not、分號或簡化的定語從句)來表達，以使句式更加豐富。

Plain:   The children at school were familiar with many games, but Li Hua had never even heard of them.

Interesting:  The children at school were familiar with many games (that) Li Hua had never even heard of.

【評析】分析原句的句子結構，but連接前后兩個句子，表轉折，后半句中的them指代的內容實為前半句中的many games，所以這兩個句子完全可以使用定語從句來連接，句中的that可以省略。

在業(yè)余時間里，他不僅熱衷于海上沖浪，而且還熱衷于上網。

不合格譯文：In his spare times, he not only loves surfing, but also web-surfing.、

【評析】“業(yè)余時間”應該是單數spare time；“not only ... but also …”結構一般位于動詞后面，而且當中無需逗號，修改后是he loves not only surfing but also web-surfing。

合格譯文：In his free time, he enjoys not only surfing but also online activities.

【評析】可以考慮刪除“not only ... but also …”結構，直接用and連接兩組并列的成分surfing和online activities即可。

最佳譯文：In his free time, he is a surfer of both waves and the Internet.

【評析】surfer一詞既然兼有“運動沖浪(A)”和“網上沖浪(B)”之意，那就不必使用“not only ... but also …”結構，直接以a surfer of both A and B代替即可。

If從句意為“如果……那么……”。在日常生活中，只要我們稍加留心，就能發(fā)現很多含有“如果……那么……”的句型，其實并不需要真的用上“如果……那么……”結構，無論中英文都一樣。比如：“如果坐火車的話，那么路上花的時間比較長；如果坐飛機的話，那么時間就比較短”完全可以簡化為“坐火車花的時間比較長，坐飛機時間就比較短”。下面我們來看一些可以省去或替換if從句的英文例句。

Plain: If we were directed from government bureaucracy when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

Interesting: Were we directed from government bureaucracy when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

【評析】虛擬條件句中有were、had或should，可以省略if，把were、had或should提至主語之前，構成主謂倒裝。例如：Should he come (= If he should come), tell him to ring me up.

真誠生活，細嚼慢咽，隱瞞年齡，此乃永葆青春之奧秘。

不合格譯文：Honest living, eat slowly, hiding your age, these are the secrets of youth.

【評析】三個主語形式應統一，可選擇都譯為動名詞詞組形式：“living honestly, eating slowly and hiding your age”，然后加破折號引出后半句。

合格譯文：If you live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age, you can keep your youth forever.

【評析】沒有語法錯誤，可以考慮簡化兩個you及if從句，改為“Live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age can keep your youth forever.”

最佳譯文：The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.

【評析】選擇“奧秘”作譯文的主語可令句子主題更為清晰和突出，同時避免了三個主語形成的頭重腳輕結構。

由“so ... that ...”和“such ... that …”引導的從句通常表示“如此……以至于……”的意思，兩者的差別是前者是和形容詞結合使用的，后者是和名詞一起使用的。有些英語老師不厭其煩地讓學生操練和使用這種句型，導致其泛濫成災，效果反而不一定好。其實在很多情況下，這個結構都是可以省略的，下面結合一些例句具體闡述。

Plain:  The comedian was so funny that as soon as he started talking people laughed.

Interesting: The comedian soon had people all laughing.

【評析】分析原句，其核心信息是“喜劇演員逗笑了眾人”，本身已經包含了“滑稽(funny)”之意，無需再使用“so funny that”結構。

他人又矮又瘦，有點弱不禁風的樣子。他干這個能行嗎？

不合格譯文： It seems that he could even be blown away in such a delicate figure. Can he actually do it?

【評析】行文羅嗦，斜體部分不符合英文表達習慣，且in such a delicate figure中的in應改為with，even在此處語感怪異，實屬多余。

合格譯文：He is so small, slim and somewhat weak that his ability to do the task is questionable.

【評析】譯文將漢語中“矮”、“瘦”和“弱不禁風”三個意思分別譯出，用詞正確，但加上“so ... that ...”結構后句子略顯臃腫，可考慮簡化。同樣地，“ability to do ... is questionable”也過于啰嗦。

最佳譯文：He was small and slight, almost meek. Could he do it?

【評析】他“又矮又瘦”且“弱不禁風”，自然會造成別人質疑他的能力。所以沒有必要使用“so ... that ...”結構，“干這個能行嗎”簡單譯成“Could he do it?”文字簡潔，表意直接、清晰。