状语从句是一个比较复杂的语言现象，英汉两种语言中都有存在。英语的状语从句根据功能可分为时间、地点、原因、让步、条件、目的、结果、比较和方式状语从句等。有些状语从句的位置比较灵活，有前有后。此外，英语中各类状语从句都有明显的反应其逻辑关系的连接词。汉语的状语从句与英语的状语从句的最大区别就在于状语从句的位置和连接词。汉语中多数状语从句是放在主句之前，只有比较和结果状语从句位于主句之后，方式状语从句的位置则可前可后。
英语状语从句的连词大部分可以在汉语中找到相对应的关联词，翻译时关键在于如何让译文更符合汉语表达方式。因为引导汉语状语从句的关联词时常省略，且省略关联词的汉语句子更为精练，所以英文原文中的连词有时不必译出。例如：
The iron should be stricken while it is hot.
趁热打铁。
If winter comes,can spring be far behind？
冬天来了，春天还会远吗？
关于状语从句的具体翻译技巧，可从分为以下几个方面。
一、时间状语从句的翻译
在英语中，时间状语从句的连接词主要有：when（当……的时候）、whenever（每当……）、every time（每当……）、as（当……时）、by the time（等到……的时候）、the day（在……那天）、once（一旦……）、since（自从……）、until（直到……、如果不……）、till（直到……）、before（在……前）、after（在……后）、as soon as（一……就）、the moment（一……就）、immediately（一……就）、no sooner...than（一……就）、hardly/scarcely...when（一……就）、the instant（一……就）、instantly（一……就）、directly（一……就）、the minute（一……就）、the second（一……就）等。
（一）译成相应的时间状语
While she spoke,the tears were running down.
她说话时，眼泪流淌下来。
As she finished the speech,the audience burst into applause.
在她演讲结束时，听众爆发出热烈的掌声。
Before we send our formal order confirmation,we have to inform you that we cannot accept your request for a 10％ discount.
在本公司寄出正式订单确认之前，必须通知贵方，本公司不能接受贵方打九折的要求。
When they analyzed these rocks,they found“shocked”quartz grains—slivers with a particular arrangement of micro cracks believed to represent the relic left by an extraterrestrial impact.
在分析这些岩芯时，他们发现了“冲击”石英颗粒——带有特殊排列的微裂缝的薄片，科学家认为他们是外层空间来的物体与地球碰撞留下来的遗迹。
（二）译成“一/刚/每……就”的结构
I’ll call you as soon as I have everything arranged.
我一安排好就给你打电话。
As soon as the goods are on board,the master of the steamer or the ship’s agents will give the exporter a receipt of the goods shipped.
货物一装上船，船主或轮船代理人就会给出口商开出一张所装货物的收据。
Directly he uttered these words there was a dead silence.
他刚说出这些话，大家就沉默下来。
（三）译成条件句
A body at rest will not move till a force is exerted on it.
若无外力的作用，静止的物体不会移动。
We can’t start the job until we have the approval from the authority concerned.
如果没有有关当局的批准，我们不能开始这项工作。
Turn off the switch when anything goes wrong with the machine.
如果机器发生故障，就把电门关上。
注意在翻译上句里when引导的时间状语从句时，译者并没有套用“当……时候”的句式，而是根据上下文调整为条件状语从句。when作为最常见的引导状语的连词，其应用是非常灵活的，翻译时不可简单套译，这样的例子还有：
He was on the verge of losing his temper with his wife when she uttered a cry.
他正要对妻子发脾气，忽听她哭叫起来。
另外，when引导状语从句除表时间之外，有时还表原因或让步，相当于since或although，例如：
Why tell lies when you know the truth？
既然你知道实情为何还要撒谎？
He gave up literary study when he might have made a great career in it.
尽管他在文学研究方面可能会做出一番事业，他还是放弃了。
He just stood here with his arms folded when he might have given me a hand.
尽管他可以帮我一把，但就是站在那袖手旁观。
before也常被用来引导时间状语从句，在翻译时，要注意汉语表达习惯是按照事物发展的先后顺序展开，所以调整原文语序是必要的。例如：
Being a pupil before you become a teacher.
想做先生先当学徒。
Get the broken glass out of here before it hurts somebody.
碎玻璃伤人，先把它弄出去。
I had scarcely entered the classroom before the bell rang.
铃声响之前，我才刚刚迈进教室。
before可以引导让步状语从句：
They would fight to death before they surrender.
他们即便战死也决不投降。
二、原因状语从句
英语中，原因状语从句的连接词常常是：because（因为）、since（既然、由于）、as（因为）、for（因为）、now that（既然）、in that（在某方面）、seeing that（既然）、considering that（考虑到、因为）、in view of the fact that（鉴于）。
（一）根据中文表达习惯，翻译成因果分句，一般放在主句之前
The harvest was poor this year because spread of crop diseases and pests was too quick.
因为农作物病虫害传播极快，今年收成很差。
We had to put the meeting off,since so many people were absent.
由于很多人没有来，会议只得延期。
You“jump on the bandwagon”when you decide to support a candidate because public opinion studies show he is likely to win.
因为民意调查显示某个候选人很可能会取胜，所以你决定支持他，你就是“随大流”了。
As we have always received your payment punctually,we are puzzled to have had neither remittance nor report in connection with our current statement of June 30.
因为我方总是准时收到贵方的付款，但是迄今为止，我方既没有收到汇款，也没有接到有关我方6月30号结算的回音，因此深感困惑。
Now that you have had a chance to examine what we have sent to you,we are enclosing an order form for you to make an order easily.
既然贵方有机会审读我方寄送的材料，因此为便于贵方订货，附上订单一份。
It doesn’t boil,despite temperatures reaching up to 400 degrees C,because it is under terrific pressure.
尽管温度可高达摄氏400度，水却因为处于高压之下而不会沸腾。
（二）可译为汉语的“……是因为/就在于”的结构连接主句
A gas differs from solid in that it has no definite shape.
气体不同于固体是因为它没有固定的形状。
He will get promoted,for he has done good work.
他将得到提升，就在于他工作干得好。
Theory is valuable because it can provide a direction for practice.
理论之所以有价值，是因为它能给实践指明方向。
（三）可译为not...because结构
当because引导的原因状语从句的主句中谓语为否定式时，有时可以按正常的语序翻译，即not否定其后动词。例如：
He did not come to the class this morning because he was sick.
今早他没有来上课，因为他病了。
Women in some Islamic countries do not vote because they have no right to.
一些伊斯兰国家的妇女不参加选举，因为她们没有选举权。
但是，有时not不否定谓语，而是否定because本身。所以，翻译时应把主句译成肯定，从句译成否定。例如：
The engine didn’t stop because electricity was off.
并不是因为停电机器才停止运转。
I don’t teach because teaching is easy for me.
我之所以教书并不是因为教书对我来说太容易。
The vehicle did not stop running because the fuel was finished.
车子停止运行，不是因为燃料用完。
These rings are not valued because they are set with precious stones.
这些戒指的价值并不在于它们镶有宝石。
三、条件状语从句
英语中连接条件状语从句的连接词常常有：if（如果）、if only（但愿、要是……就好了）、only if（只要）、unless（除非、如果不）、providing that（假如）、in case（如果）、suppose that（假如）、so long as（只要）、on condition that（条件是）等。
（一）翻译在主句前面
If you tell me about it,then I shall be able to decide.
假如你把一切都告诉我，那么我就能够作出决定。
It was better in case they were captured.
要是把他们捉到了，那就更好了。
If it were gentle,only the more unstable rods fell.If it were severe,they all fell.
如果震动轻微，只有不稳定的木棒倒下，如果震动剧烈，所有的木棒都会倒下。
If Lu Xun were alive,how happy he would be to see the great achievements of New China!
如果鲁迅还活着，看到新中国的伟大成就他会多么高兴啊！
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor,it cannot save the few who are rich.
自由社会要是不能帮助众多的穷人，也就无法挽救少数富人。
The amount of deformation is directly proportional to the applied stress provided the force does not exceed a certain limit.
如果外力不超过某一限度的话，那么形变量与外力成正比。
（二）翻译在主句后面，用来补充说明条件
You can sail in the morning if you are ready.
你早上就可以出海，如果你准备就绪的话。
During the execution of a contract,if one party fails to perform the contract and thus bring economic loss to another party,the latter may ask the former for compensation according to the contract stipulation.
在合同的执行过程中，受损方可根据合同规定要求对方赔偿，如出现一方不能履行合同而造成另一方经济损失的情况。
四、让步状语从句
英语中，表示让步关系的连接词常常有：though（虽然）、although（虽然）、even if（即使）、as（尽管）、while（尽管）、whatever（无论什么）、wherever（无论哪里）、whoever（无论谁）、however（无论怎样）、no matter（不论、不管）、for all that（尽管）、granted that（即使）、in spite of that fact that（尽管）、despite the fact that（不管）等。
（一）译成表示“让步”的分句，如“虽然……但是……，尽管……”等
While we can not see the air,we can feel it.
我们虽然看不见空气，但却能感觉到它。
Granted that you don’t like the proposal,you shouldn’t have rejected it without consulting others.
即使你不喜欢这个提议，你也不该没有同别人商量就把它驳回了。
The price of our product is still slightly lower than those of competitors even though it has been increased by 10％.
尽管我方产品的价格提高了10％，但是与我方的竞争对手相比，还是稍低。
The letter of credit covering your order No.638 has not reached us yet though we have made repeated requests.
尽管我公司一再要求，但是仍未收到贵方编号638订单的信用证。
Although humans are the most intelligent creature on earth,anything humans can do,Nature has already done better.
虽然人类是地球上最聪明的生物，但大自然总会比人更胜一筹。
While industrial lasers today are most often used for cutting,welding,drilling and measuring,the laser’s light can be put to a much different use:separating isotopes to produce nuclear fuel.
虽然今天的工业激光器最常用于切割、焊接、钻孔和测量，但激光可以用于与此迥异的用途：分离同位素以生产核燃料。
（二）译成条件句
由no matter引导的从句可以译为以“不论、不管、无论”等做关联词的条件分句。例如：
No matter what I say or how I say it,my little daughter always thinks I’m right.
不管我说什么，也不管我怎么说，我的小女儿总是认为我是对的。
No matter how carefully you move your hand toward a fly,the insect will dart off almost every time.
不管你多么小心翼翼地把手伸向一只苍蝇，差不多每次它都飞走。
五、目的状语从句
英语里常用的连接目的状语从句的连接词有：that（为了、以便）、so that（为了、以便）、in case（以防、以免）、for fear that（以防）、lest（以防）、in order that（为了）等。
（一）译在主句前面
一般来说，把表示“为了”的目的状语从句通常放在主句前面翻译。
He pushed open the door gently and stole out of the room for fear that he should awake her.
为了不惊醒她，他轻轻推开房门，悄悄地从屋里溜了出去。
We should start early so that we might get there before evening.
为了傍晚以前赶到那里，我们很早就动身了。
A film can slow down the blossoming so that students can study the process.
为了能让学生研究这一过程，电影可以放慢花朵绽放的过程。
There must be device non-linearity in order that such a phenomenon could be possible.
为了使这一现象有可能发生，就必须存在器件的非线性。
（二）译在主句后面
表示目的的从句还可以翻译在主句后面，表示“省（免）得”、“以免”、“以便”、“使得”、“生怕”等概念。
He emphasized it over and again,lest she should forget.
他反复强调这一点，免得她忘了。
They hid themselves behind some bushes for fear that the enemy should find them.
他们躲在树丛后面，以防被敌人发现。
In addition,the cameraman must have a knowledge of composition so that the arrangement of the people and objects in each shot will produce the desired effect.
另外，摄影师必须具备合成的知识，以便安排好每个镜头中的人和物来达到预期的效果。
六、结果状语从句
（一）译在主句后面
英语中常见的连接结果状语从句的连词有：so that、so...that、such...that、to such a degree等，通常可以翻译为“结果、如此……以至于……”，一般可直接翻译于主句之后。
He made a wrong decision,so that half of his lifetime was wasted.
他做了错误的决定，结果浪费了自己半生的时间。
The difference is such that all will perceive it.
差别这么大，所有的人都看得出来。
（二）译在主句前面
一般情况下，主句中如果含有never、never so、not so、not such等否定词，而且其后的结果状语从句是由but that和but what连接并构成双重否定，我们在翻译的时候，可以译为“如果……不”或者“没有……不”。
She never comes but she borrow.
她如果不借东西就不来。
She is not so old but that she can read.
她并没有老到不能读书。
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