sheer是什么意思

问题描述

The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea reflects the immensity of the profits that such East-West trade could create.

请问在这句话中sheer怎样翻译？是什么意思？

老师答疑

陈老师：

The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea reflects the immensity of the profits that such East-West trade could create.

回答如下：以上为包含2个定语从句的主从复合句

句子结构为：名词+定语从句①+谓语+名词+定语从句②

句子的主干为：The sheer scale of the investment+定语从句①reflect+ the immensity of the profits +定语从句②

The sheer scale of the investment (which/that)it took to begin commercial expansion at sea reflect the immensity of the profits (that) the profits such East-West trade could create.

句子语法结构分析

主句的主语：The sheer scale of the investment（绝对的投资额）

修饰主句的定语从句：（which/that关系代词充当宾语可以省略） it took to begin commercial expanstion at sea（it 不是形式主语，而是指代某个事物，句子没有说明）（它开启海上商业扩张所需要的）

主句谓语：reflect(反映/表现显示)

主句的宾语: the immensity of the profits（巨大的利润/收益）

修饰主句宾语的定语从句:（that 关系代词充当宾语可以省略）the profits such East-West trade could create（这样的东西贸易可能创造的利润。

句子中文意思：它所开启海上商业扩张所需要的绝度投资额极大地反映了这样的东西方贸易可能创造出的巨大利润/收益.

The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea

to begin commercial expansion at 是不定式作目的状语

The sheer scale of the investment 为先行词

(that/which) it took 为省略关系代词的定语从句

如果把it看作形式主语,其结构为下面句子

It took the sheer scale of investment to begin commercial expansion at sea .（特别备注：这已经是一个主语从句，后面不能在接谓语了.

这是一个完成句子，后面不可以再直接+谓语的结构

sheer

vt. （使）偏航，（使）转向

adv. 完全地，全然；垂直地，陡峭地

n. 舷弧；单锚系泊的船位；偏离的方向；船体型线

adj. 完全的，全然的；极薄的；几乎垂直地，陡峭的；绝对的

过去式：sheered 过去分词：sheered 现在分词：sheering 第三人称单数：sheers 比较级：sheerer 最高级：sheerest

【1】adj.(用于强调)纯粹的，完全的，十足的

His music is sheer delight

 听他的音乐完全是一种享受。

Sheer chance quite often plays an important part in sparking off an idea.

灵感的激发通常纯粹是靠运气。

acts of sheer desperation. 彻底绝望的行为

【2】adj.陡峭的;垂直的

There was a sheer drop just outside my window.

陡坡就在我窗户外面。

A young man plunged from a sheer rock face to his death.

一名男青年从陡峭的岩壁上坠崖身亡

【3】adj.极薄的;极轻的;精致的

sheer black tights. 极薄的黑色紧身裤

【4】steep, abrupt, sheer这些形容词均含“陡峭的，险峻的”之意。

steep： 指坡度向上逐渐增加的斜陡坡，强调险峻，暗示难于攀登。

abrupt： 着重指地形突然起伏，形成尖角状。

sheer： 指自始至终近于垂直的陡峭，不仅仅很难爬上去，甚至于不可能攀登。

刘老师：

The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea reflects the immensity of the profits that such East-West trade could create.

【翻译】开启海上商业扩张所需的大规模投资，反映出此东西方贸易可能创造的无限利润。

【简析】sheer用作形容词，“用来强调事物的大小、程度或数量”，一般指“大”的方面。例如：

1.You may feel dwarfed by the sheer scale of the place. 

看到此处气势如此恢宏，你可能会觉得自己很渺小。

来自柯林斯例句

2. The sheer number of spectators has caught everyone unprepared.

观众的人数之多让所有人措手不及。

来自柯林斯例句

3. The area is under threat from the sheer number of tourists using it.

这一地区由于游客人数太多而面临威胁。

来自《权威词典》

4. Jack walked around the hotel and was mesmerized by its sheer size. 

杰克在宾馆里四处转了转，为其宏伟气势所倾倒。

来自柯林斯例句

5. The sheer size of the cathedral is a constant reminder of the power of religion. 

大教堂的宏大规模使人时刻领略到宗教的威严。

来自《权威词典》

6. The bridge is noteworthy for its sheer size. 

这座桥以宏伟闻名.

来自《简明英汉词典》

【句子结构分析】

主语：The sheer scale of the investment （大规模的投资）

谓语：reflects（反映出）

宾语：the immensity of the profits（无限的利润）

定语从句(1)： it took to begin commercial expansion at sea，修饰The sheer scale of the investment。

1. it是形式主语，to begin commercial expansion at sea是真实主语；

2. took：需要；花费。The sheer scale of the investment为其宾语。

定语从句(2)：that such East-West trade could create，修饰the immensity of the profits

【说明】The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea，我把先行词转换为took的宾语，就好理解这个句子了：

It took the sheer scale of the investment to begin commercial expansion at sea.

这是一个典型的“It takes money (time) to do sth. ”结构。it为形式主语，不定式为真正主语。意为：“开启海上商贸扩张需要大规模的投资”。