The Parties， adhering to the principle of e-quality and mutual benefit and through friendly consultation， desire to exert all their efforts in co-operating with each other and agree to jointly in-vest to set up a joint venture enterprise in Changsha， the P. R. China for the purpose of expanding international economic cooperation and technological exchange on a mutually beneficial and profitable basis.
(1)The Buyers may，within 15 days after arrival of the goods at the destination，lodge a claim against the sellers for short-weight being supported by Inspection Certificate issued by a reputable public surveyor.
这是一个简单长句，其主干为The Buyers may...lodge a claim...。修饰谓语动词的状语有三个，分别表示时间within 15 days after arrival of the goods at the destination，方式being supported by Inspection Certificate issued by a reputable public surveyor和目的for short-weight，而且状语中还有状语，作定语的分词issued还有自己的状语by a reputable public surveyor。众多状语，尽管在英语中的位置十分灵活，然而按照汉语的行文规范，方式状语一般应位于动词之前；而有些状语在译文中可以灵活处理，例如本句中的时间状语，可以提前至句首。因此，上句可译成：
货物抵达目的港15天内，买方可以凭有信誉的公共检验员出示的检验证明向卖方提出短重索赔。
(2)Within 30 days after the signing and coming into effect of this contract， the Buyer shall proceed to pay the price for the goods to the Seller by opening an irrevocable L/C for the full amount of USD30，000 in favor of the Seller through a bank at export port. (来源：英语麦当劳 http://www.EnglishCN.com)
此句的主干为...the Buyer shall proceed to pay the price...to the Seller，其中含有一个时间状语within 30 days after the signing and coming into effect of this contract。从语用的角度来看，商务合同中许多时间状语表示的是某一缔约方必须在何时何地承担某一义务和享有某一种权利，即时效性。因此整个句子的重心不是句子的动词，而是发生动作的时间。在译成中文时，为了突出行为的时效性，时间状语应尽量靠近表示义务责任的关键词“须”。此句中还含有一个较为复杂的方式状语by opening an irrevocable L/C...，其中含有三个介词短语作定语修饰an irrevocable L/C。按照汉语的行文规范，方式状语一般应位于动词之前。此外，若动词同时带有时间状语和方式状语时，英文的通常顺序是方式在前，时间在后，而汉语却正好与之相反，为方式在后，时间在前。因此本句可译成：
(3)The Equipment and Material shall be carefully and properly packed in the best and stable condition according to the figures and characteristics of the Equipment and Material so as to withstand long-distance sea and inland transportation and numerous handlings.
(1) This Agreement made this twentieth day of December 2000 between The International Transportation Co. Ltd. of 98 Wuyi Road，the City of Changsha，Party A，and The Far East Trading Co. Ltd.of 29 Piccadilly， the City of London，UK Party B.
Witnesses：
That Party A，in consideration of the agreement hereinafter contained of Party B，contracts and agrees with Party B，that he will deliver，in good and marketable condition，to Party B，during the month of March of next year，five thousand cases of sea，in the following lots，and on the following specified terms，vs：one thousand cases by the eighth of March，one thousand cases additional by the fifteenth of the month，one thousand cases more by the twenty second，and the entire five thousand cases to be all delivered by the thirtieth of March. (来源：专业英语学习网站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)
在上述长句中，主语是This Agreement，后接过去分词短语made...作后置定语。Witnesses用作主句的谓语，后接that引导的宾语从句。在这个冗长的宾语从句中，句子的主干是Party A...contracts and agrees with Party B...其后又有一个that引导的冗长的宾语从句。理顺了句子结构之后，我们发现修饰主语的定语过长，翻译时必须对其进行适当的切分。Witnesses在法律语言中常译为“兹约定”“兹证明”，因此我们不难将该句译为：
(2) The Buyer shall pay the Seller US 350，000 within 20 days after the Bank of China has received the following documents from the Seller and found them in order，but not earlier than 12(twelve) months after the date the Contract Plant for the first time reached 95% of guaranteed capacity of the whole Contract Plant according to the guaranteed quality indices as per Annex VI to the Contract or 65 months after the date of signing the contract，whichever is earlier. (来源：最老牌的英语学习网站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)
此句中含有一个非常复杂的时间状语，界定了买方承担付款义务的时间，从语用的角度来看，but后面的部分实际上是对前一部分，即within 20 days after the Bank of China has received the following documents from the Sellerand found them in order的补充，同时语义上有转折关系；从英语的结构及表述方式上看，英语的状语放在句末，如此冗长的状语对行文规范及读者的理解都不构成任何问题，但如果机械地将如此冗长的状语原封不动地译成汉语并按照汉语行文习惯置于谓语的动词之前，就会使译文显得拖泥带水，难以达意。因此，翻译此句时可以采用化整为零的手法，将表示补充内容的较长部分转换成汉语的并列句，并将原文中时间状语所修饰的谓语部分的核心，即“支付款项”移植为并列句的主语。全句可译成：
The Buyer shall have the right to claim against the Seller for compensation of losses within 60 days after arrival of the goods at the port of destination，should the quality of the goods be found not in conformity with the specifications stipulated in the Contract after re-inspection by the China Commodity Inspection Bureau and the Buyer shall have the right to claim against the Sellers for compensation of short-weight within 60 days after arrival of the goods at the port of destination，should the weight be found not in conformity with that stipulated in the Bill of Lading after re-inspection by the CCIB.
此句由两个结构相同的并列分句组成，均为主句在前，条件状语在后，在两个条件状语中均含有时间状语，此外，两个并列分句中也都含有时间状语，均为within 60 days after arrival of the goods at the port of destination，译成中文时，条件状语应分别置于主句之前，而所有的时间状语均放在各自修饰的动词的前面。同时，为了符合汉语句式较短的特点，可以将两个并列分句断开，分解成两个单句，即译成： (来源：英语博客 http://space.)
