主题：If English is not our first language we can often be puzzled

12. If English is not our first language we can often be puzzled by ways of expression that the native speaker of English does not even have to think about.
如果英语不是我们的本国语言，我们就可能经常被那些讲英语的人都不用的表达方式所困惑。

If English is not our first language we can often be puzzled by ways of expression that the native speaker of English does not even have to think about.
倘若英语不是我们的母语,我们往往会被那些母语为英语的说话者所用的表达法搞迷惑不解.
原句不太妥当.应该用虚拟或用since开头的从句.

为什么要用虚拟? 能说得再细一点吗?

你说了我想说的话.

这句话似乎出自native speaker之口.如果出于ESOL人之口,那应该用since之类的引导词.总之逻辑有问题.如果把 we 改成 you, 那也行.

我实在是理解不了....,5555基础太差了,FREDIE

因为我打中文很慢,所以很简略.
原文的意思是说:如果我们的母语是非英语,有两种可能:是或者不是.如不是,就应用虚拟.
“如果”是一种假设, 与事实可能相反. 如果我们的母语是非英语是一个事实,  那么这句话应该是”由于我们的母语是非英语….”, 主句是陈述了一个事实.

does not even have to think about

I think Sofa and Bench translation are off a little bit.
Certain ways of expression we as foreigners are puzzled, while native speakers of English have no problem with these expression, they can express them without even thinking about how to.

Fungzi, I do think bench's meaning equals yours

接受12楼的意见,加"不假思索"或"随意."

楼主,我总结一下在词友们的帮助下翻的较准确的一稿:
如果英语非我们的母语,一些英语人士不加思索脱口而出的表达方式常常会让我们迷惑不解.

最后由 peaceandlove 于 2009-04-02 07:28:52编辑

有if 就应有then, 有why 就应有because.

如果英语非我们的母语,一些英语人士不加思索脱口而出的表达方式常常会让我们迷惑不解.

the same to this friend

狗狗说的差不多了

If English is not our first language we can often be puzzled by ways of expression that the native speaker of English does not even have to think about
如果英文不是我们的母语，我们就很容易被一些英文的表达方式弄糊涂，而这些令我们糊涂的表达方式对于以英语母语的人来说是自然而然的，他们根本不会想到会有这样那样的问题。