從句:定語(yǔ)從句的簡(jiǎn)化規(guī)律
(一)改用“不定式”或“不定式短語(yǔ)”
如果定語(yǔ)從句的時(shí)態(tài)與主句的時(shí)態(tài)具有同時(shí)性(包括謂語(yǔ)有情態(tài)動(dòng)詞)或之后性,則可以用“關(guān)系代詞或關(guān)系副詞+不定式”來(lái)簡(jiǎn)化,或直接用“不定式”來(lái)修飾先行詞。要注意的是,此時(shí)的不定式一定要是及物動(dòng)詞,如果是不及物,則需要在動(dòng)詞后面加上相應(yīng)的介詞,使之成為及物動(dòng)詞短語(yǔ)。這個(gè)結(jié)尾的介詞可以提前到關(guān)系代詞前面,也可以繼續(xù)留在句尾。前者是正式說(shuō)法,后者是非正式說(shuō)法。
例1:We moved to the country so that the children would have?a garden?in which they could play in.
改為:We moved to the country so that the children would have?a garden?in which to play.
或者:We moved to the country so that the children would have?a garden?to play?in.
例2:He felt miserable unless he had?neighbors?(whom)he could quarrel with.
改為:He felt miserable unless he had?neighbors?with whom to quarrel.
或者:He felt miserable unless he had?neighbors?to quarrel with.?
例3:?The conference?which will be held?this afternoon is bound to be a great success.?計(jì)劃在今天下午舉行的會(huì)議一定會(huì)取得成功。
改為:The conference?which?to be held?this afternoon is bound to be a great success.
或者:The conference?to be held?this afternoon is bound to be a great success.
例4:At a ceremony in Honolulu on Dec. 29, Postmaster General John E. Potter gave a preview of the Lunar New Year Commemorative Stamps Souvenir Sheet, the grand finale of the Lunar Year stamp series,?which will be available?in 2005.?
12月29日,美國(guó)郵政總局局長(zhǎng)約翰·E·波特在檀香山從句了農(nóng)歷新年的紀(jì)念郵票小型張的揭幕儀式,這枚小型張將于2005年正式發(fā)行,它為農(nóng)歷新年的系列紀(jì)念郵票寫下了完美的結(jié)局。(注意:與定語(yǔ)從句一樣,也可以采用非限制性形式)
改為:At a ceremony in Honolulu on Dec. 29, Postmaster General John E. Potter gave a preview of the Lunar New Year Commemorative Stamps Souvenir Sheet, the grand finale of the Lunar Year stamp series,?to be available?in 2005.
(二)改用“介詞短語(yǔ)”
介詞短語(yǔ)替代定語(yǔ)從句有兩種方式:(1)省略“關(guān)系副詞+主語(yǔ)+be動(dòng)詞”,或“關(guān)系代詞+be動(dòng)詞”;(2)根據(jù)從句的意思改編。
例1:We have never forgotten?the days?(when we were)?at college.
例2:I don’t know?the person?(who is)?in your office.
例3:Those?who have high expectations but do not have those relationship skills?are likely to be brought down to earth fairly quickly as their Prince or Princess Charming falls off their pedestal.
改為:Those?with high expectations but without those relationship skills?are likely to be brought down to earth fairly quickly as their Prince or Princess Charming falls off their pedestal.
例4:He is not?a person?who likes to haggle over every ounce.
改為:He is?a person?above personal interests.?
(三)改用“現(xiàn)在分詞短語(yǔ)”和“過(guò)去分詞短語(yǔ)”
“現(xiàn)在分詞短語(yǔ)”作后置定語(yǔ)
此項(xiàng)要明白三點(diǎn):(1)“現(xiàn)在分詞短語(yǔ)”與前面的名詞一定是主謂關(guān)系;(2)它隱含的時(shí)態(tài)為與謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞同一階段的時(shí)態(tài)。例如:謂語(yǔ)是一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)或?qū)?lái)時(shí),現(xiàn)在分詞所隱含的是現(xiàn)在時(shí)、現(xiàn)在正在繼續(xù)時(shí);如果謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞為一般過(guò)去時(shí)或?qū)?lái)時(shí),現(xiàn)在分詞所隱含的時(shí)態(tài)為過(guò)去時(shí)、過(guò)去正在進(jìn)行時(shí);(3)being+-ed表示“正在進(jìn)行時(shí)的被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)”。如果信息的中心在什么時(shí)候可以用現(xiàn)在分詞呢?
(1)當(dāng)被修飾的名詞為“不定代詞”、“泛指意義的名詞”或“專有名詞”,可用現(xiàn)在分句短語(yǔ)作后置定語(yǔ)
由于主語(yǔ)是泛指,句子的意思往往表達(dá)的是一條“道理”或一件“事實(shí)”,所以它們的隱含時(shí)為“一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)”,此時(shí)就可以用分詞短語(yǔ)作后置定語(yǔ)。為了看清分詞所隱含的時(shí)態(tài),配上定語(yǔ)。
為了讀者看得明白,配上定語(yǔ)從句,把分詞所替代的時(shí)間展示出來(lái)。
例1:Anyone?touching?that wire will get an electric stock.?
=?
例2:The only real and lasting solution is to convince people that driving is?a skilled taskrequiring?(=which?requires)?constant care and concentration.
例3:Charles and Sydney,?looking?(=who look)so much like each other, are often considered to be twins.
注:雖然被修飾的詞是泛指意義的詞,但是如果從句里的時(shí)態(tài)不是同步,則不可以用“現(xiàn)在分詞”去作后置定語(yǔ),只能用“定語(yǔ)從句”。
例句Do?you know anybody who?has lost?a dog??
(2)?當(dāng)被修飾的名詞為特指,即有the限定,可用現(xiàn)在分句短語(yǔ)作后置定語(yǔ)
此類與上面一類一樣,與被修飾詞之間的關(guān)系為主動(dòng)關(guān)系,所不同的是它強(qiáng)調(diào)該動(dòng)詞“正在進(jìn)行”。
例1:Would you help me to pass this note to?the person?sitting?in the corner??
=?
注:同上一個(gè)“注”道理一樣,本項(xiàng)雖然主句的主語(yǔ)是特指,但兩個(gè)動(dòng)作時(shí)態(tài)不是在同一階段時(shí)間內(nèi)發(fā)生,所以也不能用“現(xiàn)在分詞”作定語(yǔ),只能用“定語(yǔ)從句”。
例:The police?are questioning?the criminal who?robbed?the bank.?
(4)“Being+過(guò)去分詞”表示“正在進(jìn)行時(shí)的被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)”
“Being+過(guò)去分詞”作后置定語(yǔ)等同于含有“正在進(jìn)行時(shí)+被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)”的定語(yǔ)從句。請(qǐng)注意與下面的“過(guò)去分詞”作后置定語(yǔ)的區(qū)別,此項(xiàng)里的being是不可以省略的,否定表示現(xiàn)在時(shí)、完成時(shí)和過(guò)去時(shí)的被動(dòng)關(guān)系了(詳見2)“過(guò)去分詞”作后置定語(yǔ))。
例1:The dormitory?being built?is for girl students.?
例2:The baby?being taken care of?by my mother is mine.
“過(guò)去分詞短語(yǔ)”作后置定語(yǔ)
此項(xiàng)要明白三點(diǎn):(1)“過(guò)去分詞短語(yǔ)”與前面的名詞一定是動(dòng)賓關(guān)系;(2)主句為一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)或一般將來(lái)時(shí),“過(guò)去分詞”所隱含的時(shí)態(tài)是“一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)”或“現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)”。如果有時(shí)間/地點(diǎn)狀語(yǔ)或有by引導(dǎo)的介詞,還可以替代過(guò)去時(shí),因?yàn)闀r(shí)間/地點(diǎn)狀語(yǔ)以及by引導(dǎo)的狀語(yǔ)都是強(qiáng)調(diào)的是動(dòng)作。當(dāng)謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞是“一般過(guò)去時(shí)或過(guò)去將來(lái)時(shí)”的時(shí)候,“過(guò)去分詞”所隱含的時(shí)態(tài)是“一般過(guò)去時(shí)”或“過(guò)去完成時(shí)”。下面同樣用分詞與定語(yǔ)從句對(duì)比的方式要看看“過(guò)去分詞”所替代的時(shí)態(tài)。
例1:The?risk?associated with?a particular course of action?may be lessened?by use of a group rather than an individual decision-maker.?對(duì)于作出某項(xiàng)行動(dòng)的決定,集體作的要比個(gè)人作的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)小。
=?
例2:In fall 1992, people in Iowa?sent?truckloads of water to help?Floridians?hit(=which was hit)?by a hurricane.
在1992年的秋天,愛荷華州的居民將好幾輛卡車的水送到受颶風(fēng)襲擊的佛羅里達(dá)州人的手里。
例3:I’d like to make some comments on the meeting?held?(=which was held)yesterday.?我想對(duì)昨天召開的會(huì)議發(fā)表一點(diǎn)看法。
(四)改用“形容詞短語(yǔ)”
“形容詞短語(yǔ)”省略的理由和方式,與“分詞短語(yǔ)”作后置定語(yǔ)一樣。當(dāng)它們不是句中的重點(diǎn)信息,就可以去掉關(guān)系代詞和be動(dòng)詞。形容詞作后置定語(yǔ)同定語(yǔ)從句一樣,可以分為“限制性”和“非限制性”。
例1:I bought this comic book?hot off the press.?我買了這本剛剛出版的漫畫書。
例2:She is a kind lady,?ready to help others.?她是一個(gè)善良的女人,?總是幫助別人。
例3:Companies?large and small?the world over have been developing their own “corporate universities”.?全世界大大小小的公司都一直在辦自己的“公司大學(xué)”。
(五)改用“主語(yǔ)從句”或“名詞短語(yǔ)”
當(dāng)which引導(dǎo)的定語(yǔ)從句指代主句全部?jī)?nèi)容時(shí),可以把which改為it,作形式主語(yǔ),把原來(lái)的主句改成正在主語(yǔ)。或者把定語(yǔ)從句的整個(gè)信息改換為名詞短語(yǔ)作主語(yǔ),使原來(lái)的定語(yǔ)從句變成簡(jiǎn)單句。
例4:?He indulges himself all day in computer games, which makes his parents extremely sad.
改為:It?makes his parents extremely sad?that he indulges himself all day in computer games.
他整天沉湎于電腦游戲,這使他父母?jìng)闹翗O。(主語(yǔ)從句)
或者:His indulgence in computer games all day?makes his parents extremely sad.?(名詞短語(yǔ))