一、認(rèn)識同位語及同位語從句
1. 同位語
著名的英語語法大家薄冰說,“當(dāng)兩個(gè)指同一事物的句子成分放在同等位置時(shí),一個(gè)句子成分可用來說明或解釋另一個(gè)句子成分,前者就叫做后者的同位語 (appositive)”。而充當(dāng)同位語的多為名詞或代詞,有時(shí)也可用數(shù)詞、形容詞、不定式或動名詞等充當(dāng)同位語。
如:We, the Chinese people, are determined to build China into a powerful and prosperous country.
我們中國人民決心將中國建設(shè)成一個(gè)強(qiáng)大繁榮的國家。
They all wanted to see the film. 他們都想看電影。
Are you two ready? 你們倆都準(zhǔn)備好了嗎?
He read all kinds of books, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign. 他讀各種各樣的書, 古今中外的都有。
Our suggestion, to concentrate on primary education, has got many supporters. 我們的集中全力于初等教育的建議得到了很多人的支持。
The first proposal, working at night, was turned down. 第一個(gè)建議,“挑燈夜戰(zhàn)”,被拒絕了。
2. 同位語從句
1) 同位語從句, 通俗地講,就是在主從復(fù)合句中,用一個(gè)從句,放在某些名詞后面,用來說明這些名詞的具體內(nèi)容。
I heard the news that our team had won.我聽到了我們隊(duì)獲勝的消息。
He must answer the question whether he agrees to it or not. 他必須回答他是否同意這樣一個(gè)問題。
I have no idea when she will come. 我不知道她什么時(shí)候來。
2) 后常接同位語從句的名詞有news,idea,fact,promise,question,doubt,thought,hope,message,suggestion,words,possibility等。
如:Ive come from Mr. Wang with a message that he wont be able to see you this afternoon. 我從王先生那里帶來口信他今天下午不能來看你了。
I have no idea what he said at the meeting. 我不知道他在會上說了些什么。
There is some doubt whether he is the best man for the job. 他是不是擔(dān)任那項(xiàng)工作的最佳人選,有點(diǎn)疑問。
Is there any possibility that he will be elected chairman? 他有被選為主席的可能嗎?
3) 引導(dǎo)同位語從句的連接詞及其功能與特點(diǎn)
連接詞功能與特點(diǎn)例句
連接詞
that,
whether
同位語從句意義完整,應(yīng)用that引導(dǎo)同位語從句。
that 在從句中不擔(dān)任任何成分,僅起連接作用,無語義,不可省略。The general gave the order that the soldiers should cross the river at once.
They were worried over the fact that you were sick.
The news that we are having a holiday tomorrow is not true.
同位語從句意義不完整,需表達(dá)“是否”的含義,應(yīng)用whether引導(dǎo)同位語從句。whether 在從句中不擔(dān)任任何成分,僅起連接作用,但有語義。
(if不能引導(dǎo)同位語從句)Answer my question whether you are coming.
The question whether it is right or wrong depends on the result.
連接代詞
who, what, whose, which既起連接作用,又有語意,同時(shí)在從句中擔(dān)任成分(主語、賓語、表語或定語)。The question who should do the work requires consideration.
Have you any idea what time it starts?
We dont understand the problem why this is the best choice.
連接副詞
when, where, why, how同位語從句意義不完整,需表達(dá)“什么時(shí)候”、“什么地點(diǎn)”、“什么方式”等含義,應(yīng)用when, where, why,how等詞引導(dǎo)同位語從句。他們既起連接作用, 又有語義,同時(shí)在從句中還擔(dān)任“狀語”成分。I have no idea when he will be back.
I have no idea where I should go.
We dont understand the problem why this is the best choice.
I have no impression how he went home, perhaps by bike.
4) 值得注意的是,在那些表示“建議、命令、要求”等意義的名詞(如suggestion,advice,order, demand, requirement等)后面的同位語從句要用虛擬語氣。
如:There was a suggestion that Brown should be dropped from the team. 有一項(xiàng)建議是布朗應(yīng)該離隊(duì)。
They expressed the wish that she accept the award. 他們表示希望她接受這筆獎金。
5) 有時(shí)同位語從句可以不緊跟在說明的名詞后面,而被別的詞 (謂語或狀語部分)隔開。
The thought came to him that maybe the enemy had fled the city. 他突然想起可能敵人已經(jīng)逃出城了。
The story goes that he often beats his wife. 傳說他經(jīng)常打老婆。
同位語從句鞏固練習(xí)
1. Theres a feeling in me well never know what a UFO is—not ever.
A. thatB. which
C. of whichD. what
2. There is a new problem involved in the popularity of private cars road conditions need.
A. that; to be improved
B. which; to be improved
C. where; improving
D. when; improving
3. Do you have any idea is actually going on in the classroom?
A. thatB. which
C. asD. what
4. Danby left word with my secretary he would call again in the afternoon.
A. whoB. that
C. asD. which
5. —Its thirty years since we last met.
—But I still remember the story, believe it or not, we got lost on a rainy night.
A. whichB. what
C. that D. when
6. Tomorrow is Toms birthday. Have you got any idea the party is to be held?
A. thatB. which
C. whatD. where
7. A warm thought suddenly came to me I might use the pocket money to buy some flowers for my mothers birthday.
A. ifB. when
C. thatD. which
8. The fact has worried many scientists the earth is becoming warmer and warmer these years.
A. whatB. which
C. thatD. though
9. News came from the school office Wang Lin had been admitted to Beijing University.
A. whichB. what
C. whereD. that
10. —Is there any possibility you could pick me up at the airport?
—No problem.
A. whenB. that
C. whetherD. what
參考答案:1—5 AADBC6—10 DCCDB
二、“去枝葉留主干移位置”破解長難句
隨著詞匯量和閱讀量的增加,不少學(xué)生本以為閱讀應(yīng)無多大困難,但事實(shí)卻相反,更會經(jīng)常遇到許多又長又難以理解的句子。如何破解這一困境:
(一) 了解長難句的成因
一般來說,造成長難句的原因有: (1) 過多的修飾語;(2) 多并列成份; (3) 語言結(jié)構(gòu)層次多。
(二) 掌握破解理解長難句的基本方法
1. 要掌握英語句式的基本結(jié)構(gòu)和基本句式
1) 簡單句的五種基本句型:(其他各種句子都可由這些基本句型擴(kuò)展或變化而成。)
① 主語+系動詞+表語如:He is a student.
② 主語+不及物動詞如:We work.
③ 主語+及物動詞+賓語如:Henry bought a dictionary.
④ 主語+及物動詞+雙賓語(間接賓語+直接賓語)如:My father bought me a car.
⑤ 主語+及物動詞+復(fù)合賓語(賓語+賓補(bǔ))如:Tom made the baby laugh.
2) 句子種類
(1) 按句子的用途可分為四種:
A. 陳述句(肯定、否定)
如:He is six years old.
She didnt hear of you before.
B. 疑問句(一般、特殊、選擇、反意)
如: Do they like skating?
How old is he?
Is he six or seven years old?
Mary can swim, cant she?
C. 祈使句
如:Be careful, boys.
Dont talk in class.
D. 感嘆句
如:How clever the boy is!
(2) 按句子的結(jié)構(gòu)可分三種:
A. 簡單句:只有一個(gè)主語(或并列主語)和一個(gè)謂語(或并列謂語)。
如:He often reads English in the morning.
Tom and Mike are American boys.
She likes drawing and often draws pictures for the wall newspapers.
B. 并列句:由并列連詞(and, but, or等)或分號(;)把兩個(gè)或兩個(gè)以上的簡單句連在一起構(gòu)成。
如:You help him and he helps you.
The future is bright; the road is tortuous.
并列句的分類
① 表示連接兩個(gè)同等概念,常用and, not only... but also..., neither... nor..., then, as well as等連接。
如:The teachers name is Smith, and the students name is John.
② 表示選擇,常用的連詞有or, either... or..., otherwise, or else, rather than等。
如:Hurry up, or youll miss the train.
③ 表示轉(zhuǎn)折,常用的連詞有but, still, however, yet, while, when等。
如:He was a little man with thick glasses, but he had a strange way of making his classes lively and interesting.
④ 表示因果關(guān)系,常用的連詞有so, for, therefore, then, thus等。
如:August is the time of the year for rice harvest, so every day I work from dawn until dark.
C. 主從復(fù)合句:含有一個(gè)或一個(gè)以上從句的句子。主從復(fù)合句包含:一個(gè)主句以及名詞性從句(主語從句、賓語從句、表語從句和同位語從句)、定語從句和狀語從句等。
如:Whether he will come or not doesnt matter much.(主語從句)
He asked me which team could win the game.(賓語從句)
The problem is (that) they cant get here so early.(表語從句)
I made a suggestion that he (should) go there at once.(同位語從句)
The foreign visitors took a lot of pictures when they were at the Great Wall.(狀語從句)
2. 掌握英語句子的基本結(jié)構(gòu)、句式和句子的類型,用以分析長難句的構(gòu)成:
分析長難句, 不妨按照“去枝葉留主干移位置”的方法并按照以下的步驟來進(jìn)行:
1) 找出全句的主語、謂語和賓語,從整體上把握句子的結(jié)構(gòu),搞清楚句子的“主干”。
2) 找出句中所有的修飾成分,如形容詞、副詞、非謂語動詞、介詞短語等,搞清楚他們各自的作用,這些都是句子的“綠葉”。
3) 分析句子的語法功能,是并列句還是復(fù)合句,是名詞性從句還是定語從句、狀語從句等, 這些都是 句子的“樹枝”。
4) 注意插入語等其他成分及某些次要成分的特殊用法和含義。
5) 注意句子是否有特殊的結(jié)構(gòu),如倒裝、強(qiáng)調(diào)等。
(三)例析
例析①The gravity of the situation shocked Bob Geldof, an Iris musician, so he organized a charity concert called Live Aid to raise money for the victims of hunger in Ethiopia.(p.2 M10)
在上述句中, an Iris musician 為Bob Geldof 的同位語,說明他的身份。因此 該句可簡化為: The gravity of the situation shocked Bob Geldof。
而連詞so連接一個(gè)并列句,表結(jié)果。該句意為“he organized a charity concert”,而 a charity concert 后的called Live Aid 為過去分詞短語作后置定語,修飾說明a charity concert,同時(shí)后面還有動詞不定式短語to raise money for the victims of hunger in Ethiopia作為he organized a charity concert的目的狀語(為何組織音樂會)。在分析了該句后就不難理解該句的基本意義:
這一情況的嚴(yán)重性使愛爾蘭音樂家鮑勃·格爾多夫感到震驚。因此,他組織了一場名為“Live Aid (現(xiàn)場援助)”的慈善音樂會,為埃塞俄比亞饑荒受難者募集資金。
例析②The WFP has organized a number of programmes, including the FoodLife programme, which sends emergency food aid to countries during times of trouble; the FoodforGrowth programme, which targets people most at risk, such as babies, pregnant women and old people; and the FoodforWork programme, which helps people without jobs support themselves by giving them work and paying them in food aid. (p.2, M10)
該句雖長但主干卻很短:The WFP has organized a number of programmes。而including 后則有三個(gè)并列的內(nèi)容并且各帶有一個(gè)非限制性定語從句說明programme:
including:
① the FoodLife programme, which sends emergency food aid to countries during times of trouble;
② the FoodforGrowth programme, which targets people most at risk, such as babies, pregnant women and old people;
③ and the FoodforWork programme, which helps people without jobs support themselves by giving them work and paying them in food aid.
該句意為: 世界糧食計(jì)劃署(the WFP)已經(jīng)組織了若干個(gè)項(xiàng)目, 包括:挽救生命糧食計(jì)劃——該計(jì)劃為處于危機(jī)時(shí)刻的國家送去緊急糧食援助;(包括)健康成長糧食計(jì)劃——主要以身處危險(xiǎn)中的人為目標(biāo),如嬰兒、孕婦和老人,并教導(dǎo)他們有關(guān)營養(yǎng)的知識;(包括)幫助無業(yè)的人們維持生計(jì)的以工貸賑計(jì)劃——通過給他們工作,用食物援助支付他們的工資。
例析③The topic of the Romany will continue to be controversial, and the peace between them and many Europeans is tentative at best. (p.31, M10)
該句中, 尤為值得關(guān)注的是短語 at best,意為“充其量,至多” 。有些短語由于微小的差異很容易讓人誤解。
該句意為: 有關(guān)羅姆人的話題將會繼續(xù)引發(fā)爭議,羅姆人和許多歐洲人之間的和平充其量只是暫時(shí)的。
例析④On the other hand, many people, including some scientists, disagree and are afraid that, if mankind toys with nature in this way, we may be on their way to producing a reallife Frankensteins monster. (p.42,M5)
該句中,many people disagree and are afraid 是句子的主干部分(主語和謂語),而including some scientists是介詞短語,在句子中作定語,修飾people;that...是disagree and are afraid 的賓語從句,在賓語從句中,if mankind toys with nature in this way是條件狀語從句。
在該句中,短語on the other hand意為“另一方面”,常與on the one hand連用;短語toy with...意為“戲弄”;短語on their way to中的to為介詞,后面常接名詞、代詞或Ving形式,意為“在……途中;即將進(jìn)行,在向……邁進(jìn)”。
該句意為:另一方面,包括一些科學(xué)家在內(nèi)的許多人持不同意見,他們擔(dān)心人類如此戲弄自然,可能將制造出現(xiàn)實(shí)生活中的弗蘭肯斯坦怪物。
例析⑤Nowhere is this truer than with genetically modified (GM) food. (p.59, M5)
在該句中, 由于否定詞nowhere 置于句首而用倒裝語序。truer是true的比較級且與否定詞連用,則表示最高級的意義。
該句意為: 轉(zhuǎn)基因食品就是最好的例子。
英語長難句是多種多樣的,我們可以采用多種方法來理解。比如,把長難句根據(jù)各部分的功能,進(jìn)行分解,為使語意連貫,可以改變句式或適當(dāng)增加詞語。有人曾以下句為例:The number of the young people in the United States who cant read is incredible about one in four. 這是一個(gè)比較簡單的句子,僅在the young people后帶有一個(gè)定語從句who cant read, 如果按照原有的句子結(jié)構(gòu)直譯:“沒有閱讀能力的美國青年人的數(shù)目令人難以相信約為1/4。” 這樣的漢譯既不通順也不太合漢語的表達(dá)習(xí)慣,因此不妨譯為:“大約有1/4的美國青年人沒有閱讀能力,這簡直令人難以置信?!?/p>
鞏固練習(xí):
試讀并翻譯下列句子:
1. The thing I like best about them is that your money is going to be a good cause and not into the pockets of profitdriven companies, and you are not damaging the planet, but finding a new home for unwanted goods.
2. The real attractions of the Hollowell farm to me were its position, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor,bounded on one side by the river,and separated from the highway by a wide field.
3. The lack of right male role models in many of their lives—at home and particularly in the school environment—means that their peers are the only people they have to judge themselves against.
4. Her work—thought to be the first of its kind to test the pressure theory—resulted from the observation that juvenile blacktip sharks off Florida moved into deeper water ahead of a violent storm in 2001.
5. It was then that I realized that I had not really come to help,but to learn about and experience another culture that helped improve my own understanding of life and the world.
6. This process is also found among scholars and authors: a statement of opinion by one writer may be restated by another, who may in turn be quoted by yet another;and this process may continue, unless it occurs to someone to question the facts on which the original writer based his opinion or to challenge the interpretation he placed upon those facts.
參考答案:
1. 對于它們,我最喜歡的是你的錢被用于辦好事的,而不是進(jìn)了營利公司的口袋,你不是在破壞這個(gè)星球,而是在為那些人們不需要的商品找到一個(gè)新的去處。
2. Hollowell農(nóng)場真正吸引我的地方是它的位置,它離村子大約兩英里,距最近的鄰居半英里,一邊臨河,另一邊又有一大塊寬闊的田野把它與公路隔開。
3. 在他們很多人的生活中,比如在家里,尤其是在學(xué)校,缺少合適的男性榜樣,這就意味著他們只好對照自己的同齡人來評判自己。
4. 她的研究,被認(rèn)為是第一個(gè)測試壓力理論的研究,是來自于一次對于初生黑鰭鯊的觀察。在2001年,在一次強(qiáng)風(fēng)暴來臨之前,這些黑鰭鯊被觀察到從佛羅里達(dá)海岸游到較深的水域。
5. 只有在那時(shí)我才意識到我并非真的來幫忙的,而是來了解和體驗(yàn)另一種有助于提高我對生活和世界的理解的文化。
6. 在學(xué)者和作者中,常常也會發(fā)現(xiàn)這個(gè)過程:一個(gè)作者陳述的觀點(diǎn)有可能會被另外一位作者重述,然后他的重述或許又會被另一個(gè)作者引用。這個(gè)過程會繼續(xù)下去,除非有人質(zhì)疑原作者的觀點(diǎn)所根據(jù)的事實(shí)或者是對原作者對這些事實(shí)的解釋提出異議。
(作者:楊定生,南京市第三高級中學(xué))