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 thewater .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 thering . (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 uncertaintemper . (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。