(四)double (增加1倍),treble(增加2倍),quadruple(增加3倍)。(⑨)
e.g. The efficiency of the machines has been more than trebled or quadrupled.
这些机器的效率已提高了2倍或3倍多。
(五)此外,英语中还有一种用again而不用倍数词来比较倍数的方法,如:
A is as much (large,long,…)again as B.(= A is twice as much (large,long,…)as
B.(⑩)
应译为:A比B多(大,长,……)1倍。
A is half as much (large, 1ong,…)again as B.
(= A is one and a half times as much (large, 1ong,…)as B.)(11)
应译为:A比B多(大,长……)一半(即A是B的一倍半)。
倍数减少
(一)a is n times as small (light,slow,…)as b.(12)
a is n times smaller (lighter, slower,…) than b.(13)
以上两句均应译为:a的大小(重量,速度,……)是b的1/n[或a比b小(轻,慢,……)(n-1)/n]。
e.g. The hydrogen atom is near1y l6 times as light as the oxygen atom.
氢原子的重量约为氧原子的1/16(即比氧原子约轻15/16)。
e.g. This sort of membrane is twice thinner than ordinary paper.
这种薄膜比普通纸张要薄一半(即是普通纸厚度的1/2)。
注:当相比的对象b很明显时,than/as b常被省去。
(二)decrease n times/n--fold (14)
decrease by n times(15)
decrease by a factor of n(16)
以上三式均译为:减少到1/n[或:减少(n-1)/n]。
decrease常被reduce, shorten, go/slow down等词替代。
e.g. Switching time of the new-type transistor is shortened 3 times.
新型晶体管的开关时间缩短了1/3(即缩短到2/3)。
e.g. When the voltage is stepped up by ten times, the strength of the current
is stepped down by ten times.
电压升高9倍,电流强度便降低9/10(即90%)。
e.g. The equipment reduced the error probability by a factor of 5.