汉语和英语都有长句，但在句子结构上差异很大。汉语的长句从内部结构来看，可分为两种：一种长句是句子成分比较多，且有的成分内部比较复杂，这种句子内容丰富，陈述细致；另一种长句是复句或多重复句，这种句子可以把事物间的逻辑关系表达出来。英语的长句是以“主语 谓语”框架为基础，其扩展方式有增加句子的修饰语、并列成分或并列句、利用短语或从句充当句子成分。

1．原序翻译

从前有个俊俏的年轻人，名叫王小，人人都喜欢他，可他总是闷闷不乐，因为他有一个说话尖刻，唠叨不休的继母。

Once there lived a handsome young man named Wang Xiao who, though a favorite with everyone, was unhappy because he had a sharp-tongued, nagging step mother.

在街上，我遇见了一个小孩，他哭得伤心极了，我问他，他说他饿极了，两天没吃东西了。

In the street I met a boy, who was crying as if his heart would break and said, when I spoke to him, that he had had no food for two days.

2．分译

2．1按内容层次分译

秋天，无论在什么地方的秋天，总是好的；可是啊，北国的秋，却特别地来得清，来得静，来得悲凉。

Autumn, wherever it is, always has something to recommend itself. In North China, however, it is particularly, limpid, serene and melancholy.

2．2带有反问句、反诘句或感叹句的汉语长句翻译

被观众鼓了几声掌就飘飘然，就忘乎所以，就选成了歌星，就坐飞机，就灌唱片，这简直是胡闹。

Once one gets some applause, one’s head will swell. And one will be treated like a star, given free plane trips and invited to have voice recorded everywhere. It’s ridiculous!

2．3原句出现总说或分述时要分译

不晓得季节与结婚有什么关系，但是从初冬到春天结婚的人数比其他季节多了很多，也许就是所谓的结婚季节吧。

Don’t know what relation exists between the season and marriage, but the number of marriage is much greater from early winter to spring than in other seasons. Maybe this is the season of marriage people usually call.

2．4为强调语气而分译

灾难深重的中华民族，一百年来，其优秀人物奋斗牺牲，前赴后继，摸索救国救民的真理，是可歌可泣的。

For a hundred years, the finest sons and daughters of the disaster-ridden Chinese nation fought and sacrificed their lives, one stepping into the breach as another fell, in quest of the truth that would save the country and the people. This moved us to songs and tears.

2．5从关联词处分译

我在学堂里坐着，心里也闷，不如给他家放牛，倒快活些。

I feel sitting in school boring anyway. I’d rather look after our neighbor’s buffaloes.

3．合译

3．1在主语变换处和译，常出现主从句或分词结构

爱丽丝站在我身边，帮我拿起电报。她的手在微微颤动。

Hers hands slightly trembling, Alice helped me to pick up the telegram.

3．2按内容连贯合译

还是热，心里可镇定多了。凉风，即使是一点点，给了人们很多希望。

It was still hot but everyone felt much better, for the breeze, though slight, brought them hope.

3．3在关联处合译

阁下如认为该公司信守合同，可以胜任我公司之代理商，则请告知，我们当不胜感激。

It would be much appreciated if you would inform us whether the company can be relied on to abide by agreement hence qualified to be an agent on our behalf.

4．变序翻译

我们为了顾全大局，于同年秋末在第三方的调停下，开诚布公地多次强烈要求贵方赔偿我们的一切损失。

With the third party acting as an intermediary, to take the interest of the whole into account, we strongly demand with frankness and sincerity many times at the end of the autumn of the same year that you should compensate all our losses.