Lecture 27 Modification x ■修饰(一):词组中的修饰语 ■修饰”( Modification)是扩展基本句型使之成 为生动的、能表达丰富思想的重要语法手段。 我们知道,基本句型多半是一些不带修饰语的 骨架,而实际使用中的句子则像活人一样总都 是有血有肉的,带有各式各样的修饰语,比如 说, Rain fel这样一个句式,从结构上看,是个 完整的SV句型,但它并没有表达多少意思。 ■如果在该句的主语和谓语中各加一点修饰语,A gentle rain fell steadily,那末“绵绵细雨下个不 停”的意思就基本上表达出来了,这就是修饰 的表意作用
Lecture 27 Modification ◼ 修饰(一):词组中的修饰语 ◼ 修饰”(Modification)是扩展基本句型使之成 为生动的、能表达丰富思想的重要语法手段。 ◼ 我们知道,基本句型多半是一些不带修饰语的 骨架,而实际使用中的句子则像活人一样总都 是有血有肉的,带有各式各样的修饰语,比如 说,Rain fell这样一个句式,从结构上看,是个 完整的SV句型,但它并没有表达多少意思。 ◼ 如果在该句的主语和谓语中各加一点修饰语,A gentle rain fell steadily,那末“绵绵细雨下个不 停”的意思就基本上表达出来了,这就是修饰 的表意作用
■1修饰语概说 在句子中,几乎每个部分都可增添修饰语,修饰语可 以采取多种多样的形式:词、词组、从句都能充当修 饰语,而修饰语本身又还可以带有自己的修饰语,这 就可能形成多层次修饰,表达更加丰富的思想。例如: a The wild animals which had escaped from the zoo were recaptured early today when officials from the park rounded up the last weary lion walking down Main Street ■今天早些时候,动物园管理人员将在大街上游荡的最 后一头困乏的狮子围捕入笼,至此从动物园逃跑的野 生动物都已重新捕获 我们可以把上句中的修饰语和被修饰语表示如下:
◼ 1 修饰语概说 ◼ 在句子中,几乎每个部分都可增添修饰语,修饰语可 以采取多种多样的形式:词、词组、从句都能充当修 饰语,而修饰语本身又还可以带有自己的修饰语,这 就可能形成多层次修饰,表达更加丰富的思想。例如: ◼ The wild animals which had escaped from the zoo were recaptured early today when officials from the park rounded up the last weary lion walking down Main Street. ◼ 今天早些时候,动物园管理人员将在大街上游荡的最 后一头困乏的狮子围捕入笼,至此从动物园逃跑的野 生动物都已重新捕获。 ◼ 我们可以把上句中的修饰语和被修饰语表示如下:
The wild animals which had escaped from the zoo were recaptured early today when officials from the park rounded up the last weary lion walking down Main Street 被修饰语 修饰语 animals the wild which had escaped from the zoo were recaptured early today when officials. Main street had escaped from the zoo officials from the park lion the last weary walking down Main Street ■ walking down main street
◼ The wild animals which had escaped from the zoo were recaptured early today when officials from the park rounded up the last weary lion walking down Main Street. ◼ 被修饰语 修饰语 ◼ animals the ◼ wild ◼ which had escaped from the zoo ◼ were recaptured early today ◼ when officials…Main Street ◼ had escaped from the zoo ◼ officials from the park ◼ lion the ◼ last ◼ weary ◼ walking down Main Street ◼ walking down Main Street
2两类修饰语 由以上例句可以看出,修饰语可以分为两大类: 类是词组里的修饰语,如wild, which had escaped from the zoo; 另一类是作为句子成分的修饰语,即“状语”( Adverbial), pearly today, when officials. down Main Street ■‘状语”当然也是一种修饰语,但它和词组中的修饰语不在同 层次上,前者为句子(分句)成分,而后者仅为词组的组成部 分,两者是有本质区别的。试观察下列诸句中的修饰语 al The farmer was digging the ground in the garden 那农夫在园圃里掘地 in the garden是状语,修饰 was digging the gro ound a [2] The man in the garden is the owner of the farm 园圃里的那个人是农场主。 in the garden是名词修饰语; [3] He made me thoroughly angry.他使我非常生气。 thoroughly修饰 angry;
◼ 2 两类修饰语 ◼ 由以上例句可以看出,修饰语可以分为两大类: ◼ 一类是词组里的修饰语,如wild,which had escaped from the zoo; ◼ 另一类是作为句子成分的修饰语,即“状语”(Adverbial), 如early today,when officials …down Main Street。 ◼ “状语”当然也是一种修饰语,但它和词组中的修饰语不在同一 层次上,前者为句子(分句)成分,而后者仅为词组的组成部 分,两者是有本质区别的。试观察下列诸句中的修饰语: ◼ [1] The farmer was digging the ground in the garden. 那农夫在园圃里掘地。 ◼ in the garden是状语,修饰was digging the ground; ◼ [2] The man in the garden is the owner of the farm. 园圃里的那个人是农场主。 ◼ in the garden 是名词修饰语; ◼ [3] He made me thoroughly angry. 他使我非常生气。 ◼ thoroughly修饰angry;
[4 The policemen searched the criminal's house thoroughly 警察彻底地搜查了罪犯的家。 thoroughly是状语,修饰 searched the criminal's house; [5] He knows this place well.他很熟悉这个地方 wel是状语,修饰 knows this place 6 I can't reach it; it's well above my head 我够不到它,它远远高过我的头。 wel修饰介词 above,是介词词组的一部分 [7 On her small income they live very simply 靠她那点收入,他们生活简朴 very simply是状语,修饰live; 8 I simply couldn,'t understand his lecture 我简直无法理解他的讲演 simply修饰 couldn t understand,是动词的修饰语,是动词词组的 部分
◼ [4] The policemen searched the criminal's house thoroughly. 警察彻底地搜查了罪犯的家。 ◼ thoroughly是状语,修饰searched the criminal's house; ◼ [5] He knows this place well.他很熟悉这个地方。 ◼ well是状语,修饰knows this place; ◼ [6] I can't reach it;it's well above my head. 我够不到它,它远远高过我的头。 ◼ well修饰介词above,是介词词组的一部分; ◼ [7] On her small income they live very simply. 靠她那点收入,他们生活简朴。 ◼ very simply是状语,修饰live; ◼ [8] I simply couldn't understand his lecture. 我简直无法理解他的讲演。 ◼ simply修饰couldn't understand,是动词的修饰语,是动词词组的 一部分
■3动词修饰语和状语 ■动词修饰语不同于状语,前者仅修饰动词,是词组成 分,而后者则修饰谓语,即修饰“动词词组+补足成 分”。例如: a He utterly denied that he had done it 他完全否认曾干过那桩事。 He angrily denied that he had done it 他愤怒地否认曾干过那桩事 ■在以上两句中,utry是动词修饰语,而 angel则是方 式状语,作为状语, angrily可在分裂句中作中心成分, 加以强调,比如可以说: It is angrily that he denied having done it.却不可以说: It is utterly that he denied having done it
◼ 3 动词修饰语和状语 ◼ 动词修饰语不同于状语,前者仅修饰动词,是词组成 分,而后者则修饰谓语,即修饰“动词词组+补足成 分” 。例如: ◼ He utterly denied that he had done it. 他完全否认曾干过那桩事。 ◼ He angrily denied that he had done it. 他愤怒地否认曾干过那桩事。 ◼ 在以上两句中,utterly是动词修饰语,而angrily则是方 式状语,作为状语,angrily可在分裂句中作中心成分, 加以强调,比如可以说: ◼ It is angrily that he denied having done it.却不可以说: ◼ It is utterly that he denied having done it.
作为状语, angrily可用于选择疑问句( Alternative Question)和 正一负的选择,比如可以说 Did he deny it angrily or calmly 他是愤怒地还是平静地否认此事? Did he deny it angrily or not angrily? 他是愤怒地还是不愤怒地否认此事? 却不可以说: Did he deny it utterly or partly? s Did he deny it utterly or not utterly? ■作为状语, angrily可用于How问句的简短回答,而作为动词修饰 语的utte却不可以这样用: ■ How did he deny it? Angrily 由此可见,不可以把动词、形容词、副词、介词等的修饰语和 状语混为一谈:按照层次分析法,它们不在同一层次上,它们 分别为词组成分和句子(分句)成分
◼ 作为状语,angrily可用于选择疑问句(Alternative Question)和 一正一负的选择,比如可以说: ◼ Did he deny it angrily or calmly? ◼ 他是愤怒地还是平静地否认此事? ◼ Did he deny it angrily or not angrily? ◼ 他是愤怒地还是不愤怒地否认此事? ◼ 却不可以说: ◼ * Did he deny it utterly or partly? ◼ * Did he deny it utterly or not utterly? ◼ 作为状语,angrily可用于How问句的简短回答,而作为动词修饰 语的utterly却不可以这样用: ◼ How did he deny it? -Angrily. ◼ 由此可见,不可以把动词、形容词、副词、介词等的修饰语和 状语混为一谈:按照层次分析法,它们不在同一层次上,它们 分别为词组成分和句子(分句)成分
4修饰的一般原则 由上例可以看出,修饰语不论在词组里,还是在句子里,通常遵循两条原则。 ■第一条原则:修饰和被修饰的关系必须清楚,如果有了修饰语,却找不到或 者不能确定被修饰语,那就成了“无依着修饰语”( Dangling Modifier), 这在修辞上是个忌讳,在通常情况下是要避免的。例如: Walking along the trestle, a train suddenly appeared To be considered for college, an aptitude test must be taken 上述第一例 walking along the trestle在句中找不到合适的逻辑主语。是谁走在 栈桥上呢?是火车吗?显然不可能。因此,在这个句子里, walking along the trestle是个无依着的修饰语,应该把它的修饰对象明确起来: Walking along the trestle, I suddenly saw a train 我走在栈桥上,突然看见一列火车 As I was walking along the trestle, a train suddenly appeared 正当我走在栈桥上,一列火车突然出现。 在上述第二例中 to be considered for college与主句挂不起钩来,是谁要上大 学呢?不可能是“能力测验”要上大学。因此这个句子中的不定式结构也应 消除“无依着”现象: To be considered for college, a student must take the aptitude test 学生要上大学,必须参加能力测验 在这里,学生参加能力测验,他的目的是上大学
◼ 4 修饰的一般原则 ◼ 由上例可以看出,修饰语不论在词组里,还是在句子里,通常遵循两条原则。 ◼ 第一条原则:修饰和被修饰的关系必须清楚,如果有了修饰语,却找不到或 者不能确定被修饰语,那就成了“无依着修饰语”(Dangling Modifier), 这在修辞上是个忌讳,在通常情况下是要避免的。例如: ◼ Walking along the trestle,a train suddenly appeared. ◼ To be considered for college,an aptitude test must be taken. ◼ 上述第一例walking along the trestle在句中找不到合适的逻辑主语。是谁走在 栈桥上呢?是火车吗?显然不可能。因此,在这个句子里,walking along the trestle是个无依着的修饰语,应该把它的修饰对象明确起来: ◼ Walking along the trestle,I suddenly saw a train. ◼ 我走在栈桥上,突然看见一列火车。 ◼ As I was walking along the trestle,a train suddenly appeared. ◼ 正当我走在栈桥上,一列火车突然出现。 ◼ 在上述第二例中to be considered for college也与主句挂不起钩来,是谁要上大 学呢?不可能是“能力测验”要上大学。因此这个句子中的不定式结构也应 消除“无依着”现象: ◼ To be considered for college,a student must take the aptitude test. ◼ 学生要上大学,必须参加能力测验。 ◼ 在这里,学生参加能力测验,他的目的是上大学
■第二条原则:修饰语必须尽可能地贴近它的修饰对象。根据这 条原则,修饰语在句中的不同位置往往引起句子意义的变化 例如: a The notice said only (=said merely) that clients were invited to see the exhibits on the third floor 通知只是说,邀请顾客们参观三楼展品。 a The notice said that only clients (=clients alone) were invited to see the exhibits on the third floor 通知说,只邀请顾客们参观三楼展品 a The notice said that clients were invited only (=invited for the one purpose) to see the exhibits on the third floor 通知说,邀请顾客们,只是为了让他们参观三楼展品。 The notice said that clients were invited to see the exhibits on the third floor only (=on the third floor alone ■通知说,邀请顾客们只参观三楼展品
◼ 第二条原则:修饰语必须尽可能地贴近它的修饰对象。根据这 条原则,修饰语在句中的不同位置往往引起句子意义的变化。 例如: ◼ The notice said only (=said merely)that clients were invited to see the exhibits on the third floor. ◼ 通知只是说,邀请顾客们参观三楼展品。 ◼ The notice said that only clients(=clients alone)were invited to see the exhibits on the third floor. ◼ 通知说,只邀请顾客们参观三楼展品。 ◼ The notice said that clients were invited only(=invited for the one purpose)to see the exhibits on the third floor. ◼ 通知说,邀请顾客们,只是为了让他们参观三楼展品。 ◼ The notice said that clients were invited to see the exhibits on the third floor only(=on the third floor alone). ◼ 通知说,邀请顾客们只参观三楼展品
由上述诸例可以看出,ony的修饰对象都是它最贴近的词语。如果一个修饰 语不贴近它的修饰对象,那就有可能引出歧义。比如说,“辆彩车沿街开 过”,如果把这句话说成 a car drove down the street decked with ribbons ■这显然是不合原意的,因为 decked with ribbons,本应修饰acar,却贴近了the street,从而这句话的意思变成了“一辆汽车开过了彩带飘扬的街道”。如果 要准确地表达原意,就得移动修饰语的位置,使之贴近被修饰语: A car decked with ribbons drove down the street 由上述诸例可以看出,在现代英语中关于运用修饰手段的两条原则是非常重 要的:违反了这两条原则,就会意义不明;如果遵循了这两条原则,那末, 不管用了多少修饰语,也不管句子多么复杂,句子的意义仍然是明白的。试 观察下面的句子 All of a sudden and without any warning the terrible flood came, a foaming, furious, thundering torrent, that destroyed houses, streets and whole villages drowning men, women, children, cats, dogs and cattle and turning the whole region into a lake, dotted here and there with tree-tops and houseroofs with men and women on them like drowned monkeys ■突然间,事先没有任何预警,可怕的洪水来到了,激流雷震,浊浪排空,人 畜屋庐尽遭淹没,洪水使整个地区一片汪洋,水面上只露出三三两两的树梢 和屋顶,男男女女就像落水猴于一样攀援在屋顶和树梢上 这是一幅多么惊心动魄的水灾惨象,然而,这么多的思想内容却通过各种修 饰手段纳入了仅仅一个句子。由此可以进一步看出“修饰”这一语法手段的 重大表意作用
◼ 由上述诸例可以看出,only的修饰对象都是它最贴近的词语。如果一个修饰 语不贴近它的修饰对象,那就有可能引出歧义。比如说,“一辆彩车沿街开 过”,如果把这句话说成: ◼ A car drove down the street decked with ribbons. ◼ 这显然是不合原意的,因为decked with ribbons,本应修饰a car,却贴近了the street,从而这句话的意思变成了“一辆汽车开过了彩带飘扬的街道”。如果 要准确地表达原意,就得移动修饰语的位置,使之贴近被修饰语: ◼ A car decked with ribbons drove down the street. ◼ 由上述诸例可以看出,在现代英语中关于运用修饰手段的两条原则是非常重 要的:违反了这两条原则,就会意义不明;如果遵循了这两条原则,那末, 不管用了多少修饰语,也不管句子多么复杂,句子的意义仍然是明白的。试 观察下面的句子: ◼ All of a sudden and without any warning the terrible flood came,a foaming, furious,thundering torrent,that destroyed houses,streets and whole villages, drowning men,women,children,cats,dogs and cattle and turning the whole region into a lake,dotted here and there with tree-tops and houseroofs with men and women on them like drowned monkeys. ◼ 突然间,事先没有任何预警,可怕的洪水来到了,激流雷震,浊浪排空,人 畜屋庐尽遭淹没,洪水使整个地区一片汪洋,水面上只露出三三两两的树梢 和屋顶,男男女女就像落水猴于一样攀援在屋顶和树梢上。 ◼ 这是一幅多么惊心动魄的水灾惨象,然而,这么多的思想内容却通过各种修 饰手段纳入了仅仅一个句子。由此可以进一步看出“修饰”这一语法手段的 重大表意作用