大学英语语法 第二十五讲 句式与修辞

第二十五讲

句式与修辞

在英语语言的实际运用中, 不宜总是用“主—谓—表”、“主—谓—宾”等简单句结构。 简单句容量小, 有局限性, 用多了会使句型呆板、单调, 千句一面, 文章乏味, 没有可读性, 因

而也就不能较好地表达思想。要使语言新鲜、生动、富有吸引力, 不断地变换句子结构、句 型及表达方式, 是非常必要的, 也是可能的。比如, 同一思想往往可以用简单句、复合句或 并列句表达, 可用分词短语表达, 也可用介词短语表达; 可用主动语态表达, 也可用被动语 态表达; 可用肯定形式表达, 也可用否定形式表达; 可用直陈语气表达, 也可用虚拟语气表 达, 等等。另外, 从修辞学的角度讲, 英语句子有松散句( loose sentence )、尾重句( periodic sentence)和平衡句(balanced sentence )之分。在松散句中, 主要信息或实质部分先出现, 后 跟修饰语或补充性细节; 在尾重句中, 主要信息或实质部分出现在句尾或句子后半部分; 在 平行句中, 信息同等重要, 句式结构相同, 并驾齐驱, 相互独立。同时, 行文时, 还可使用某 些修辞手法, 如明喻、暗喻、夸张、拟人等, 从而更加形象地描写事物, 更加生动地说明事理。

英语句式变化多样, 修辞手法丰富多彩, 我们完全可以根据思想表达的需要, 利用各种 词句表现手法, 安排句子的各种成分, 以达到理想的表达效果。下面对英语的典型句式和 修辞进行综合考察, 通过转换对比, 揭示出英语行文造句的灵活性和多样性。 一、统一性

1 . 从属关系准则

在一个句子中(指复合句) , 如果要表达的是两个或两个以上的思想, 而这些思想同等重

要, 互不依附, 处于并列的地位, 那就要把它们当作并列句处理, 用并列连词( and, but , or 等)连接起来。例如:

His father is a professor and his mother is a musician . 他父亲是一位教授, 母亲是一位 音乐家。

We love peace, but we are not afraid of war . 我们热爱和平, 但是我们并不怕战争。 .. 但是, 如果句子中所表达的两个或两个以上的思想不是同等重要的, 而是一个为主要思 想, 其余的为次要的、附属性的思想(用以说明或限定主要思想) , 那就不能把它们当成并 列句处理, 而要用主从复合句或别的结构来处理。主从复合句只能用从属连词( when , where, so, because 等)连接, 不能用并列连词连接。 1)第一原则: 勿将句子中主要思想和次要思想的位置颠倒 The snow stopped when the old man died . (不妥)

The old man died when the snow stopped . (正)雪停的时候, 老人去世了。 The waiters were serving coffee when the ship struck the rock and sank . (不妥) When the waiters were serving coffee, the ship struck the rock and sank . (正)服务 员上咖啡的时候, 船触礁下沉了。

2)第二原则: 勿在主从复合句中插入并列连词

He came out first in the football match , and which delighted us . (误)

He came out first in the football match , which delighted us . (正)他在足球赛中获得 第一名, 这使我们都很高兴。

I have two brothers, but who are younger than I . (误)

I have two brothers, who are younger than I . (正)我有两个兄弟, 年龄都比我小。

新/ 世/ 纪/ 英/ 语/ 丛/ 书 848 第二十五讲 句式与修辞

3)第三原则: 正确选择连接词

In case she had been ill for a month , she was never absent from school . (误) Although she had been ill for a month , she was never absent from school . (正)虽然 病了一个月, 但她从来没缺过课。

Because he speaks softly is no proof that he is kind . (误)

That he speaks softly is no proof that he is kind . (正)他说话温柔并不能证明他是善 良的。(主语从句) 2 . 平行结构准则

平行结构准则要求: 同等重要的、并列的句子成分(思想、概念)要用同类的语法形式来表 示, 要用并列连词连接。在使用并列连词如and, but , or, neither . . .nor, either . . .or , not only . . .but also, both . . .and 等时, 所连接的应该是名词对名词, 副词对副词, 分词对 分词, 不定式对不定式, 动词对动词, 句子对句子等等, 而不能把其中一个概念用分词结 构表达, 另外两个概念用不定式或从句表达。 .. 下面两个句子是违反平行结构准则的:

The painting was colour ful, shocking and could not easily be understood .

这个句子中的三个表语(三个概念)具有相同的语法功能, 都是说明主语的, 应该放在相 同的结构中, 都用形容词。可以把could not easily be understood 改为hard to understand。 We saw Tom walking towards the river, taking o f f his clothes and to plunge into the water .

这个句子中的三个宾语补足语表示三个平行的概念, 三个并列的动作, 即“走到河边, 脱 下衣服, 跳入水中”。因此, 应该用相同的语法结构表示, 都用现在分词短语。可以把to plunge 改为plunging。

.. 我们知道, 在不影响句意明晰的情况下, 句中相同的介词、代词、冠词等可以省略, 但如果

省略后会造成意思上的混乱或不合逻辑, 则不可省略。例如:

The woman denied that she had got into the shop at night and she had taken the ring . 因为第二个宾语从句前没有连词that , 全句的句意就是“那个妇女否认曾在夜晚进入该 店, 然后偷了戒指。” The woman denied that she had got into the shop at night and that she had taken the ring . (正)

The woman denied that she had got into the shop at night and taken the ring . (正) .. 考察下面两句:

In the picture she saw a doctor , solider and teacher . (一人还是三人?) The dog is more of a danger to the strangers than the local residents . (歧义) 1)名词平行结构

The patient..s symptoms were f ever, dizziness, and his head hurt . (误)

The patient..s symptoms were f ever, dizziness, and headache . (正)病人的症状是发 烧、头晕、头痛。

The speaker called attention to the beginning and how it ended . (误)

The speaker called attention to the beginning and end of the movement . (正)演讲者

要人们注意这场运动的起始及其终结。

Studies serve for delight, for ornament , and for being able . (误)

Studies serve for delight , for ornament , and for ability . (正)读书能够带来愉悦, 使 人高雅、聪慧。

大学英语语法———讲座与测试(第二版) 849 一、统一性

The award was for a combination of scholarship, someone who was a good leader , and ability in athletics . (误)

The award was for a combination of scholarship, a good leadership , and ability in athletics . (正)

She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and with uncertain temper . (误)

She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper . (正)

2)形容词平行结构

Jack was honest, industrious, and he has talent . (误)

Jack was honest, industrious and talented . (正)杰克诚实、勤奋又聪明。 He was sympathetic, tolerant, and people respected him . (误)

He was sympathetic, tolerant, and respected by people . (正)他富有同情心, 胸襟博 大, 受到人民的爱戴。

I value a friend who is sweet, kind, and love . (误)

I value a friend who is sweet, kind, and loving . (正)我看重这样的朋友: 他性情温和, 心地宽厚, 并有爱心。 3)分词平行结构

I am thinking of the future of this country, threatened with the black waters of confusion, threatened with mob government , threatening with what I cannot see . (误)

I am thinking of the future of this country, threatened with the black waters of confusion, threatened with mob government , threatened with what I cannot see . (正) The boys were running, shouting and to laugh . (误)

The boys were running, shouting and laughing . (正)男孩子们一边跑, 一边笑着、叫着。 The old man returned home, disappointed and exhausting . (误)

The old man returned home, disappointed and exhausted . (正)老人回家来了, 筋疲力 竭, 非常失望。

4)动名词平行结构

Jane prefers singing to dance . (误)

Jane prefers singing to dancing . (正)珍妮喜欢唱歌胜过跳舞。

Henry..s work is reading books and to write book reviews . (误)

Henry..s work is reading books and writing book reviews . (正)亨利的工作是读读书, 写写书评。

5)动词不定式平行结构

To know what is good and doing what is right is not the same thing . (误)

To know what is good and to do what is right is not the same thing . (正)知道什么 是好的和实际做得好是不同的。

He told us to look at the picture and that we should tell him what we f ound . (误) He told us to look at the picture and to tell him what we found . (正)他让我们看一 看那张图画, 然后告诉他我们发现了什么。

She likes to knit , to sew and crocheting(用钩针织) . (误) She likes to knit , to sew, and to crochet . (正)

To finish school and to getting a good job are his ambitions . (误) To finish school and to get a good job are his ambitions . (正)

新/ 世/ 纪/ 英/ 语/ 丛/ 书 850 第二十五讲

句式与修辞

She came to class prepared to take notes and with some questions to ask . (误) She came to class prepared to take notes and to ask some questions . (正) 6)副词平行结构

The work is handsome and skill f ully done . (误)

The work is handsomely and skill f ully done . (正)这工作做得漂亮, 有水平。 7)介词短语平行结构

The room is fifteen feet in length and thir teen feet wide . (误)

The room is fifteen feet in length and thir teen feet in width . (正)这个房间长15 英 尺, 宽13 英尺。

They drove first to the lake, then to the river and finally the ocean . (误)

They drove first to the lake, then to the river and finally to the ocean . (正) What is written without e f fort is in general read without pleasure .

She defended him when living, amidst the clamors o f his enemies; and praised him when dead, amidst the silence of his f riends .

8)谓语动词平行结构

The man walked up to the garden gate, hesitated and the bell rang . (误)

The man walked up to the garden gate, hesitated and then rang the bell . (正)

At the street corner, she stopped, stood straight and to look at the boy lying on the ground . (误)

At the street corner, she stopped, stood straight and looked at the boy lying on the ground . (正)

9)句子平行结构

A person who is able and the will to do things should be given an important task . A person who is able and has the will to do things should be given an impor tant task . 一个有能力而又乐意干工作的人应委以重任。

I forgot that the bill was due on Monday and the company would close my account if it wasn..t paid . (误)

I forgot that the bill was due on Monday and that the company would close my account if it wasn..t paid . (正)

They are looking for a house that has four bedrooms and sitting on a hillside lot . (误) They are looking for a house that has four bedrooms and that sits on a hillside lot . (正) Note: 连接词要放在平行的成分之前。例如: She either is a painter or a musician . (误)