5.定语从句表示让步

具有让步状语功能的定语从句的主要标志就是，主从句所表示的情况互相矛盾，不合逻辑。因此，我们在理解这样的句子时，不要拘泥于其结构和作用，而应通过认真观察，从上下文中发现，从句中表示的不利情况、障碍并不能阻止主句中动作的发生这一逻辑关系。因此翻译这类句子时应当特别注意主从句的内容分析和逻辑推理。然后译成汉语时在译文前加上“尽管……但……”，“虽然……但是……”，“不管……都……”等连词。

Mrs．Smith，who had been married to her husband for nearly 20 years，still doesn't know him very much．

尽管史密斯夫人结婚近20年，但她仍不了解她的丈夫。

在此句中who had been married to her husband for nearly 20 years相当于even though she had been married to her husband for nearly 20 years．

The drugs that are available are much too expensive．(人教大纲版高二上第51页)

现在能买到的药实在太贵。(虽然可以买到药，但是太昂贵)

Water，which seems so simple and common，is what makes life possible．(人教大纲版高二下第20页)

水，看起来是如此的简单与平凡，却使生命成为可能。

Air will completely fill any container，in which it may be placed．

不管空气装在什么容器里，它都能把容器充满。

此句可以理解为让步状语从句:No matter what container it may be placed in．