论英语中的独立主格结构
何清富
一:引言
独立主格结构(Absolute Construction)在句子中作状语,对主句补充说明。
有自己的逻辑主语,表达相对独立的意思,独立主格的实质是带有自己主语的非限定性分句和无动词分句,通常是以主句的一定成分作为自己的逻辑主语,从而依附于主句,但并非真正独立,它还是一种从属分句。
二:类型
独立主格结构按照结构形式可以分为①名词/代词+不定式②名词/代词+v-ing分词③名词/代词+v-ed分词④名词/代词+介词短语(也称为无动词独立结构⑤名词/代词+adj./adv.⑥名词/代词+n./num.
1.The two boys said goodbye to each other, one to go home, the other to go to
his friend’s.(不定式表示将来)
2.There being nothing else to do, we left.(现在分词表示正进行的动作或者状
态)
3.Everything taken into account, they ought to have another chance.(过去分词
表示已经发生的动作,逻辑主语和分词间为动宾关系)
4. Gun in hand, he went off.( 名词/代词+介词短语)
5.Its door open, she stood silent in the noon sunlight.(名词/代词+adj.)
6.The meeting over, we left the meeting room.( 名词/代词+adv.)
7.Smith has two children, son ten, daughter eight. (名词/代词+num.)
三:用法和意义
1.表时间:The shower over, we continued to march.
2.表原因:Her right leg broken, she could not move.
3.表条件:Weather permitting, we will go climbing.
4.表方式:He sat at the table, head down.
5.表伴随:Without anyone noticing, I slipped through the window.
四:位置
独立主格结构的位置不仅灵活(句首,句中,句末),而且可以用逗号或破折号与主句隔开,如果有几个独立结构,把概括意义的放在句末。
1. Being a teacher, I am happy.(句首)
2. He stood in the doorway, her wet cloak dripping water on the rug,and waited
for some sign of recognition.(句中)
3. I followed him here, knif in hand.(句末)
4.The profesor was slammed against the wall, his body frisked, his wrists
handcuffed, his dignity lost.(几个独立结构的情况)
五:注意事项
独立主格前均可加上with,构成with引导的介词复合结构,with本身无意义,但使表达更口语化。
如:Don’t sleep with the windows open.
He was lying on the bed with all his clothes on.
He fell asllep with the candle burning.
其次,在无动词独立主格结构中,逻辑主语与介词中的名词如果都是单数可数名词时,名词前冠词要省略。
另外,做主语的名词词组有时还可以省
略限定词。
六:结语:
独立主格常见于正式语体,尤其是文学体裁,在口语中较罕见。
在文学语言和正式文体中,可以使句子结构紧凑,用词精炼,生动,形象,具体,是文学语言常用修辞方法。