【问】 They became the hungrier the harder they worked. 这个句子在意义上是否等于The hungrier they became，the harder they worked. ?

【答】 在The sooner，the better.这种句型里，前面的分句为从句，后面的分句为主句。因此，The hungrier they became，the harder they worked.应译为“他们越饿，干得越起劲”。而Theharder they worked，the hungrier they became.应译为“他们干得越起劲，就越饿。”但是在They became the hungrier the harder they worked.这种句型里，前面的分句为主句，后面的分句为从句。因此翻译时应把次序颠倒过来，即把位于后面的比例从句译到前面去。

They became the hungrier the harder they worked.=The harder they worked the hungrierthey became.

他们干得越起劲，就越饿。

类似的例子：

1. I play the better，the more I practice.

我越练，就弹得越好。

2. A compound is considered the more stable，the smaller its potential energy.

势能越小，化合物就被认为越稳定。

3. An object draws the harder，the more matter it contains.

物体含有的物质越多，它的引力就越大。

4. The air can absorb the more water vapour，the higher its temperature.

空气的温度越高，它吸收的水蒸气就越多。

(参见the... the... 2，4，less2，more6)