英语表示倍数增减或倍数对比的句型多种多样,其中有 一些(如下文中的句型②、⑤、⑥、⑧、(12) 等, 见圈码)很容易译错——其主要原因在于:英汉两语在 表述或对比倍数方面存在着语言与思维差异。现将常 用的英语倍数句型及其正确译法归纳如下:
来源:考
  倍数增加

(一) A is n times as great(long,much,…)as B.(①)
A is n times greater (longer, more,…)than B.(②)
A is n times the size (length, amount,…)of B.(③)
以上三句都应译为;A的大小(长度,数量,……)是B的n倍[或A比B大(长,多,……)n-1倍].

Eg. This book is three times as long as (three times longer than,three times the length of )that one.
这本书的篇幅是那本书的3倍(即长两倍)。

注:当相比的对象B很明显时,than(as,of)B常被省去。
来源:考
(二)increase to n times(④)
increase n times/n-fold(⑤)
increase by n times(⑥)
increase by a factor of n(⑦)
以上四式均应译为:增加到n倍(或:增加n-1倍)。
来源:考
Eg. The production of integrated circuits has been increased to three times as compared with last year.
The output of chemical fertilizer has been raised five times as against l986.
化肥产量比1986年增加了4倍。来源:考
That can increase metabolic rates by two or three times.
那可使代谢率提高到原来的2倍或3倍(即提高1倍或2倍)。
The drain voltage has been increased by a factor of four.
漏电压增加了3借(即增加到原来的4倍)。
注:在这类句型中increase常被raise,grow,go/step up,multiply等词所替代。

(三)There is a n-fold increase/growth…(⑧)
应译为:增加n-倍(或增至n倍)。这个句型还有其它一些形式:
Eg. A record high increase in value of four times was reported.
据报道,价值破记录地增长了3倍。 来源:考

(四)double (增加1倍),treble(增加2倍),quadruple(增加3倍)。(⑨)
Eg. 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.来源:考
【= 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)。