【问】 If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil，they would have completed thejob in a few hours. As it is，they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have along way to go. (New Concept English，Book 2，L. 88) [原译]如果土壤下面没有坚硬的岩石，他们早就在几个小时内完成这项工作了。由于目前的情况，他们已钻了十六个小时，但还有一大段距离。(《新概念英语》(二)，朗文出版公司、世界图书出版公司，1993年，P. 376) What is more，they will not have to rely solely on the written word. Films，gramophonerecords，and magnetic tapes will provide them with a bewildering amount of information.They will be able，as it were，to see and hear us in action. (New Concept English，Book3，L. 38) [原译]而且，他们也不必单纯依靠文字记载材料。电影、唱片以及磁带将给他们提供大量足以使人无所适从的资料，或者说，他们将亲眼目睹我们的活动，可能听到我们的谈话。(《新概念英语》(3)，朗文出版公司、世界图书出版公司，1993年，P. 171)as it is(was)和as it were有什么区别?上面的译文是否表达了原意? 【答】 as it is(was)是个成语，意思是“实际上”、“事实上”、“照目前情况来看”。正象EED所解释的那样，“你使用as it is，是为了把可能的情景与实际发生的实际情况进行对比”(参见as itis)。请分析下面的例句： 1. I wanted to buy another car but as it is I'll have to keep the old one a bit longer. (DAI) 我本想再买一辆汽车，但事实上我不得不再用一段时间旧车。 2. As it was，they had no unity，no sense of co-operation. (Cronin) 事实上，他们不团结，没有合作的意识。 as it were在意义和用法上与as it is (was)完全不同。其意义是：“可以说是”、“似乎是”、“仿佛”(so to speak，in a certain way，as if it were really so)。它表示所说的话听起来并不那么肯定。例如： 1. He is my best friend，my brother as it were. (LASED) 他是我最好的朋友，似乎可以说是我的兄弟。 2. He is，as it were，a walking dictionary. 他简直可以说是一部活词典。 3. When he said that，she went for him like an angry bull，as it were. (DEI) 他说了那句话，她仿佛象一头发怒的公牛向他冲了过去。 4. The book gives，as it were，a picture of evil old society. 这本书可以说是描绘了罪恶旧社会的图景。 5. With this illiterate audience，he felt himself，as it were，casting pearls before swine. 面对着这些文盲听众，他觉得自己好象是在对牛弹琴。 6. The poor old man，as it were，just a skeleton. 这个穷老头仿佛瘦成一架骷髅了。 7. They were intoxicated，as it were，at the beautiful scenery all around. 他们似乎陶醉于周围迷人的景色之中了。 由此不难看出，你所提出的句(a)中的as it is并不是原因状语从句，而是表示与设想的可能情况(即上句的虚拟情况)进行对比，因此原译文是错误的，你提出的句(b)中的as itwere被译为“或者说”也是不恰当的，因为它并不表示选择关系。 [试译](a)但是，事实上…… (b)而且，他们将不必仅仅依靠文字材料。电影、唱片和录音带将会给他们提供大量的信息。似乎可以说，他们将能够听到我们的讲话，看到我们的活动。 请做下面的英语试题： 1. ____，we need to improve the equipment in our factory right now. A. As it is B. As it were C. As it was D. As it will be 2. I wish I had enough money. ____ I can’t pay you now. A. As it were B. As it is C. As it will be D. As it was