句型一:主语+系动词+表语我们先来分析该句型谓语动词的特点,然后举例说明这种结构的句子如何演变为复杂的难句。
因此,本节内容安排如下:1.2.1 谓语动词的特点1.2.2 简单句叠加成复杂难句1.2.1 谓语动词的特点该句型的谓语动词是系动词(linking verb)(如be或其他系动词)。
系动词,又叫连系动词,顾名思义,这种动词并没有具体的动作,而只是起连接主语和后面成分的作用。
这种动词后面所接的成分是用来说明主语的特点,表明主语的性质特征的,因此被称之为主语补足语或表语(能表示主语特征的成分),这就是读者熟悉的“主系表”句型。
在展开具体讨论之前,请读者先来看下面这个小故事,这个故事也许对各位读者学习英语会有所启示:1 Losers look for quick fixes.There are two ways of getting rid of weeds in your yard: the easy way and the not-so-easy way. The easy way may be to run a lawnmower and the yard looks fine for a while, but that is a temporary answer. Soon the weeds are back. But the not-so-easy way may mean getting down on your hands and knees and pulling out the weeds by the roots. It is time-consuming and painful, but the weeds will stay away for a longer time. The first solution appeared easy, but the problem remained. Thesecond solution was not so easy, but took care of the problem from the roots. The key is to get to the root of the problem.The same thing is true of our attitude in life. The problem with people today is that they want instant answer. They are looking for one-minute solutions to everything. Just like instant coffee, they want instant happiness. There are no quick fixes. This attitude leads to disappointment or even failure.妙语点睛在这篇短文中,“主系表”结构的句子有很多。
比如:1) The easy way may be to run a lawnmower.2) The yard looks fine for a while.3) But that is a temporary answer.4) Soon the weeds are back.5) It is time-consuming and painful.6) The first solution appeared easy.7) The second solution was not so easy.8) The key is to get to the root of the problem.这些句子谓语动词前面的名词短语都是主语,后面的则是表语。
用作表语的形式有很多,可以是不定式(比如to run a lawnmower和to get to the root of the problem)、形容词(比如fine, time-consuming and painful, easy)、名词短语(比如a temporary answer)、副词(比如back)等。
另外,这里的系动词主要是be的各种形式,如may be, is, are和was等,但除了be以外,还有其他系动词,如looks和appeared。
精品译文失败者寻找捷径除掉院子里的杂草可以有两种方法:简便方法和不简便方法。
简便方法可以是开动锄草机,然后院子里的草就没了。
这可以管一阵子的事,但只是权宜之计,不久后杂草又长出来了。
不简便的方法就意味着你自己得双膝跪地,然后用双手把杂草连根拔除。
这既费时间又费力气,比较痛苦,但是杂草能够在很长一段时间内不会再长出来。
第一个除草方案似乎简单易行,但只能治标不能治本,问题并没有真正解决。
第二个方案比较费力,但是能根除问题。
关键是要解决根本问题。
我们面对人生的态度也是如此。
现代人的问题在于,他们想投机取巧,对一切事情都想快速解决。
这就像速溶咖啡一样,他们想要的只是“幸福快餐”,而这样的幸福只是暂时的。
生活中没有捷径,想找捷径最终会导致失望。
相信读者看完这个短文之后,应该有所启示,那就是学习英语的道理完全一样,要想真正学好它,是没有捷径可走的。
学习英语可以有方法,但没有捷径,更不能投机取巧。
英语学习是一个漫长的、需要点滴积累的“痛并快乐着”的过程。
接下来,我们来分析英语中的系动词的不同分类。
主要有下面四大类:一、单纯表示主语的特征、状态的这样的系动词有feel, look, sound, taste, smell, seem和appear等。
请看例句:2 The iron feels hot. 这块铁摸起来很热。
3 The rose doesn't smell much. 这玫瑰花不是很香。
二、表示主语由一种状态转变为另一种状态的这样的系动词有become, grow, get, turn, fall, go和come等。
例如:4 The leaf will turn yellow in autumn. 叶子秋天就会变黄。
5 The teacher became angry. 老师生气了。
对于fall, go和come等词作为系动词时,这些系动词与形容词连用一般具有固定的搭配关系。
请先看下面含有fall的例子:6 Our supplies of sugar and rice fell short. 我们的糖、米供应不足。
7 The jokes fell flat. 玩笑毫无效果。
8 I've got to return the book this afternoon; it falls overdue a week. 我今天下午得还书,已经过期一周了。
9 fall due 到期10 fall asleep 睡着因为这里的fall都是作为系动词,所以其后面不能接副词,比如不能说fall shortly或fall flatly等。
请看go作为系动词的例子:11 go hungry 饿了,挨饿12 go mad 变疯了13 go bad 坏掉了14 go crazy 变得疯狂15 go sour 变酸16 go wrong 出错了从上面的例子可以发现,go作为系动词时,一般用于贬义,即表示主语是朝着坏的或消极的一面改变。
相反,come作为系动词,则是表示褒义的,即表示主语是朝着好的或积极的一面改变。
请看例句:17 Hope your dreams will come true. 祝你好梦成真。
18 The dream has come true. 梦想已经实现。
19 come right 纠正了,正确了三、表示主语保持某种状态的这样的系动词有continue, remain, stay, keep, hold, rest和prove等。
请看例句:20 He has fallen into the habit of doing morning exercises to stay healthy.妙语点睛不要说stay healthily,因为副词不能作表语。
精品译文为了保持健康,他已经养成了晨练的习惯。
21 If you don't stay busy, you die. I don't want to die right now.妙语点睛不要说stay busily,因为副词不能作表语。
精品译文如果你不辛勤忙碌,就等于死亡。
我可不想现在就死去。
22 You may rest assured that he will come to the party.妙语点睛rest assured是一个固定搭配。
精品译文尽管放心,他会来参加聚会的。
23 The weather continued fine for several days. 天气连续几天都很晴朗。
24 He held silent for the whole day. 他一整天都沉默不语。
四、近似于不及物动词的系动词近似于不及物动词的系动词有sit, act, arrive, blush, marry, die和be born等。
有人将其称为“半系动词”,因为它们介于不及物动词和系动词之间。
读者对这些系动词只需了解,并且在遇到相关句子时能够正确理解即可。
我们先来看下面这篇介绍阿诺德·施瓦辛格的短文:25 Arnold Schwarzenegger grew up in Australia. His father was a policeman and his mother a housewife. Home didn't have a flush toilet or refrigerator until Arnie was 14. He arrived in the U. S. a penniless 21-year-old. His wife, Maria Shiver, is an anchor woman on U. S. TV news and niece of assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Andy Warhol and Grace Jones were among the 500 guests at their wedding. Others invited who were unable to attend included the Pope and theReagans. His hobbies include reading, collecting art and attending classical music festivals.我们来分析其中的一句话:He arrived in the U. S. a penniless 21-year-old.妙语点睛首先,介词短语in the U. S. 显然是表示地点的,修饰谓语arrived,即是一个地点状语,表示“他到达了美国”。