“一 ... 就 ... ”的一些英语说法

王济文

英语是一种语汇十分丰富的语言，同一个意思往往可以用不同的词汇来表达。比如，我们汉语中的“一...就... ”，在英语中除了用最普通、最常见的as soon as 以外，还可以用 the minute, the moment, the instant, at the (bare) idea of, at the (mere) thought of, at the (mere) mention of, at the(very) sight of, no sooner ... than, shortly after 等等来表示。
    例 1. I'll tell him the minute (that) he comes. （他一来我就告诉他。）
    例 2. The smuggler was caught the moment he got off the plane. （那个走私犯一下飞机就被捕了。）
    例 3. The instant the inhabitants heard the alarm, they fell in for action. （居民们一听到警报声，立即准备行动。）
    例 4. My stomach would turn at the (bare) idea/thought of frying potatoes in animal fat. （一想到用动物油来煎马铃薯时，我就反胃作呕。）
    例 5. The children have been longing to go to the Children's Center for a long time. They always feel excited at the mere mention of the place. （孩子们很久以来一直盼望着能去儿童活动中心。一提起这地方，他们就激动不已。）
    例 6. We would think of Uncle Tom at the very sight of his old truck. （我们一看见汤姆叔叔的旧卡车，就会想起他。）
    例 7. He had no sooner returned to England than he bought a fine house and went to live there. (= No sooner had he returned to England than he ...) （他一回到英国就买了一座漂亮的房子，并且在那里住了下来。）
    例 8. I'll write you shortly after I get to Beijing. (我一到北京就给你写信。）