英语句子乍看错综复杂，千变万化，短句短到只一个字，长句长达几行。例如美国诗人Robert Frost的《The Silken Tent》全诗十四行，仅是一句话。其实仔细分析，英语句子就是如下五种基本句型的扩展与缩小。
（1）S + V (主语+ 谓语)
e.g. Good record will help.
（2）S + V + P (主语+ 谓语+ 表语)
e.g. I am a student.
（3）S + V + O (主语+ 谓语+ 宾语)
e.g. Practice needs great effort.
（4）S + V + O + O(主语+ 谓语+ 间接宾语+ 直接宾语)
e.g. She gave me some books.
（5）S + V + O + OC(主语+ 谓语+ 宾语+ 宾补)
e.g. That news made her happy.
我们要牢牢掌握这五个基本句型，这是基本功之基本功。动笔之前，仔细阅读原句，确切理解原句内容，抓住全句中心，搞清楚各个部分之间的关系。然后把句子缩小了再缩小，缩小到只剩下以上五个基本句型中的主要成分。先心译，再笔译。在心译过程中，从基本句型开始，一步步扩大句子，添加修饰成分，直至完整，再笔译。
例1：“就在文戈获释之前，他给妻子写了一封信，问她是否愿意让他回去。”
第一步把句子缩小到只剩主要成分，但句子仍然通顺。
“文戈写了一封信。”Vingo wrote a letter.
第二步增加修饰成分，扩大句子。
“文戈给妻子写了一封信。”Vingo wrote a letter to his wife.
第三步再扩大句子。
“就在文戈获释之前，他给妻子写了一封信。”Just before he was released from jail, Vingo wrote a letter to his wife.
第四步再扩大句子，直至完整，最后笔译。
“就在文戈获释之前，他给妻子写了一封信，问她是否愿意让他回去。”Just before he was released from jail, Vingo wrote a letter to his wife asking if she would have him back.
例2：“体育代表团团长在少先队员向他献上一束鲜花时愉快地笑了。”思维方法同上。（1）The head of the delegation beamed.
（2）The head of the sports delegation beamed.
（3）The head of the sports delegation beamed with delight.
（4）The head of the sports delegation beamed with delight when a young pioneer presented him with a bunch of flowers.
例3：“老人读完后失望之极，竟用颤抖的手指把它撕得粉碎。”
（1）The old man was disappointed.
（2）After reading the letter, the old man was disappointed.
（3）After reading the letter, the old man was so disappointed that he tore it into little bits. （4）After reading the letter, the old man was so disappointed that he tore it into little bits with his trembling fingers.
例4：“在讨论这个问题之前，我要给你们读点东西。”
（1）I’ll read you something.
（2）Before the question is discussed, I’ll read you something.
例5：“老师告诉我们，不要在教室里大声喧哗。”
（1）The teacher told us…
（2）The teacher told us not to talk or laugh loudly.
（3）The teacher told us not to talk or laugh loudly in the classroom.
另外，在翻译过程中还必须保持性、数、格、人称、时态、语态等一致性。选词准确，正确使用习惯用法与修辞手段。在经常做翻译练习的同时，不断提高翻译技巧。久而久之，便会熟能生巧，得心应手。
