句子：他在整理祖父的老宅時，發現了許多過去的東西。
誤譯：When he tidied up his grandfather's old house, he found many former things.
正譯：When he tidied up his grandfather's old house, he found many old things.
解釋：former 用來修飾事情，不修飾具體的實物。former things指“過去的事情”。而“過去的東西”就是“老物件”，要譯為 old things 或 old objects。
“過去”的第一個意思是“說話時或某一特定時刻以前的時間”。名詞譯為 past, bygones。形容詞譯為 past, last, former, previous, old。副詞譯為 in the past, formerly, previously。
例如：
1. 這個失足青年下定決心與過去決裂。The juvenile delinquent made up his mind to break with his past.
“過去”的第二個意思是“時間流逝或消逝”。英語可以譯為 to pass, to lapse, to tick away。例如：
2. 自從我們上次見面，五年已經過去了。Five years have passed/lapsed since we last saw each other.
“過去”的第三個意思是“反應或作用逐漸消失”。英語可以譯為 to wear off。例如：
3. 她用冷水洗了洗臉，困勁兒頓時就過去了。She washed her face with cold water, and her sleepiness wore off instantly.
“過去”的第四個意思是指“離開或經過說話人或被敘述對象的所在地，向另一個地點去”。表示空間概念。譯為 to go over，to walk over, to pass by, to go further。例如：
4. 再過去是一個大池塘。When you go further, you'll see a large pond.
“過去”的第五個意思是“過世”，是委婉語。可以譯為 to pass away