從句:定語從句的簡化規(guī)律
(一)改用“不定式”或“不定式短語”
如果定語從句的時態(tài)與主句的時態(tài)具有同時性(包括謂語有情態(tài)動詞)或之后性,則可以用“關系代詞或關系副詞+不定式”來簡化,或直接用“不定式”來修飾先行詞。要注意的是,此時的不定式一定要是及物動詞,如果是不及物,則需要在動詞后面加上相應的介詞,使之成為及物動詞短語。這個結尾的介詞可以提前到關系代詞前面,也可以繼續(xù)留在句尾。前者是正式說法,后者是非正式說法。
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.?計劃在今天下午舉行的會議一定會取得成功。
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,美國郵政總局局長約翰·E·波特在檀香山從句了農歷新年的紀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,它為農歷新年的系列紀念郵票寫下了完美的結局。(注意:與定語從句一樣,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”
介詞短語替代定語從句有兩種方式:(1)省略“關系副詞+主語+be動詞”,或“關系代詞+be動詞”;(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”和“過去分詞短語”
“現(xiàn)在分詞短語”作后置定語
此項要明白三點:(1)“現(xiàn)在分詞短語”與前面的名詞一定是主謂關系;(2)它隱含的時態(tài)為與謂語動詞同一階段的時態(tài)。例如:謂語是一般現(xiàn)在時或將來時,現(xiàn)在分詞所隱含的是現(xiàn)在時、現(xiàn)在正在繼續(xù)時;如果謂語動詞為一般過去時或將來時,現(xiàn)在分詞所隱含的時態(tài)為過去時、過去正在進行時;(3)being+-ed表示“正在進行時的被動語態(tài)”。如果信息的中心在什么時候可以用現(xiàn)在分詞呢?
(1)當被修飾的名詞為“不定代詞”、“泛指意義的名詞”或“專有名詞”,可用現(xiàn)在分句短語作后置定語
由于主語是泛指,句子的意思往往表達的是一條“道理”或一件“事實”,所以它們的隱含時為“一般現(xiàn)在時”,此時就可以用分詞短語作后置定語。為了看清分詞所隱含的時態(tài),配上定語。
為了讀者看得明白,配上定語從句,把分詞所替代的時間展示出來。
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態(tài)不是同步,則不可以用“現(xiàn)在分詞”去作后置定語,只能用“定語從句”。
例句Do?you know anybody who?has lost?a dog??
(2)?當被修飾的名詞為特指,即有the限定,可用現(xiàn)在分句短語作后置定語
此類與上面一類一樣,與被修飾詞之間的關系為主動關系,所不同的是它強調該動詞“正在進行”。
例1:Would you help me to pass this note to?the person?sitting?in the corner??
=?
注:同上一個“注”道理一樣,本項雖然主句的主語是特指,但兩個動作時態(tài)不是在同一階段時間內發(fā)生,所以也不能用“現(xiàn)在分詞”作定語,只能用“定語從句”。
例:The police?are questioning?the criminal who?robbed?the bank.?
(4)“Being+過去分詞”表示“正在進行時的被動語態(tài)”
“Being+過去分詞”作后置定語等同于含有“正在進行時+被動語態(tài)”的定語從句。請注意與下面的“過去分詞”作后置定語的區(qū)別,此項里的being是不可以省略的,否定表示現(xiàn)在時、完成時和過去時的被動關系了(詳見2)“過去分詞”作后置定語)。
例1:The dormitory?being built?is for girl students.?
例2:The baby?being taken care of?by my mother is mine.
“過去分詞短語”作后置定語
此項要明白三點:(1)“過去分詞短語”與前面的名詞一定是動賓關系;(2)主句為一般現(xiàn)在時或一般將來時,“過去分詞”所隱含的時態(tài)是“一般現(xiàn)在時”或“現(xiàn)在完成時”。如果有時間/地點狀語或有by引導的介詞,還可以替代過去時,因為時間/地點狀語以及by引導的狀語都是強調的是動作。當謂語動詞是“一般過去時或過去將來時”的時候,“過去分詞”所隱含的時態(tài)是“一般過去時”或“過去完成時”。下面同樣用分詞與定語從句對比的方式要看看“過去分詞”所替代的時態(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.?對于作出某項行動的決定,集體作的要比個人作的風險小。
=?
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襲擊的佛羅里達州人的手里。
例3:I’d like to make some comments on the meeting?held?(=which was held)yesterday.?我想對昨天召開的會議發(fā)表一點看法。
(四)改用“形容詞短語”
“形容詞短語”省略的理由和方式,與“分詞短語”作后置定語一樣。當它們不是句中的重點信息,就可以去掉關系代詞和be動詞。形容詞作后置定語同定語從句一樣,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”。
(五)改用“主語從句”或“名詞短語”
當which引導的定語從句指代主句全部內容時,可以把which改為it,作形式主語,把原來的主句改成正在主語?;蛘甙讯ㄕZ從句的整個信息改換為名詞短語作主語,使原來的定語從句變成簡單句。
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,這使他父母傷心至極。(主語從句)
或者:His indulgence in computer games all day?makes his parents extremely sad.?(名詞短語)