上周三推送的《》這一篇,得到了大家的歡迎與肯定,這里也感謝大家!
有朋友在上面文章的留言區(qū)點(diǎn)了個(gè)題:
這個(gè)問(wèn)題,主要是句子的語(yǔ)序和特殊疑問(wèn)句強(qiáng)調(diào)這兩點(diǎn)所決定的。下面我們一個(gè)一個(gè)來(lái)看。
一、英語(yǔ)句子可以只有一種語(yǔ)序
我們舉幾個(gè)典型例句:
Tom is a good doctor. 湯姆是一位好醫(yī)生。
His wife loves and respects him. 他的妻子愛(ài)他,尊重他。
They can talk for hours about life and love. 他們聊起生活和愛(ài)情來(lái),可以一聊幾個(gè)小時(shí)。
這三個(gè)句子,分別代表了英語(yǔ)簡(jiǎn)單句中的“主系表”、“主謂賓”、“主謂結(jié)構(gòu)”三種基本句型。
并且,這三個(gè)句子都是陳述句,其語(yǔ)序表現(xiàn)為主語(yǔ)+(情態(tài)動(dòng)詞/助動(dòng)詞/連系動(dòng)詞)+行為動(dòng)詞,上面已經(jīng)用黑體標(biāo)出。
其他成分,如狀語(yǔ),即便位置改變,也不影響陳述句語(yǔ)序,比如:
About life and love, they can talk for hours.
1、陳述句,是一種四平八穩(wěn)、波瀾不驚的句型。
雖然日??谡Z(yǔ)中的確也有節(jié)奏、重音,但那有著相當(dāng)準(zhǔn)確的規(guī)律,即實(shí)詞一般是重讀的(單音節(jié)代詞除外),雙音節(jié)以上的虛詞,也是重讀的。
比如上面這三個(gè)句子,重讀的分布分別是這樣的:
`Tom is a `good `doctor.
His `wife `loves and re`spects him.
They can `talk for `hours a`bout `life and `love.
在這種情況下,只要說(shuō)話人不特意強(qiáng)調(diào)某個(gè)詞或某個(gè)成分,陳述句就這樣平穩(wěn)地說(shuō)明一件事情或一種情況。
如需強(qiáng)調(diào)某個(gè)部分,就需要增加一般重讀分布之外的重音。我們把這種增加上去的重音稱為“強(qiáng)調(diào)重音”。比如:
They can `talk for `hours a`bout `life and `love.
上面這句話,為了強(qiáng)調(diào)聊天的時(shí)間之長(zhǎng),特別重讀了hours,它的清晰、響亮程度和發(fā)音長(zhǎng)度就要比其他重讀音節(jié)更高、更長(zhǎng)。
如果是在書面語(yǔ)的陳述句中強(qiáng)調(diào)某個(gè)成分,作者就必須運(yùn)用某種特別的文字形式,比如斜體、下劃線或者加粗:
They can talk for hours about life and love.
2. 我們不可能總是平穩(wěn)地說(shuō)明一件事情、一種情況,總有需要表示疑問(wèn)和感嘆的時(shí)候,那怎么辦?
很簡(jiǎn)單,沿用陳述句語(yǔ)序,只是在需要的時(shí)候加入合適的疑問(wèn)詞,并在語(yǔ)調(diào)上加以調(diào)整——對(duì)所陳述的事實(shí)不確定,用升調(diào),對(duì)某個(gè)信息點(diǎn)不清楚,加入疑問(wèn)詞,用降調(diào):
Tom is a good doctor? 湯姆是一位好醫(yī)生?
His wife loves and respects him? 他的妻子愛(ài)他、尊重他?
They can talk for hours about life and love? 他們聊起生活和愛(ài)情來(lái),可以一聊幾個(gè)小時(shí)?
Tom is a good what?
Who loves and respects him?
They can do what for hours?
二、疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序是怎樣產(chǎn)生的?
我相信不少朋友看到上面“2”這一段的時(shí)候,會(huì)有點(diǎn)匪夷所思:這算什么?英語(yǔ)里有這樣表示疑問(wèn)的句子嗎?
不但有,還不少。來(lái)看看這個(gè):
1. Over the weekend, crowds gathered to remember, mourn, and honor the victims of a shooting at a synagogue in what U.S. city?
2. In what U.S. state was a suspect arrested in the FBI's nationwide manhunt for the sender of numerous suspicious packages addressed to public figures?
3. In what body of water, which was known to ancient Greeks as the "Inhospitable Sea," did researchers recently discover the world's oldest, intact shipwreck?
4. Angela Merkel, who announced on Monday that she would not seek re-election in 2021, is the leader of what nation?
5. Following a polarizing campaign season, Jair Bolsonaro was recently elected as president of what nation?
上面是CNN 10節(jié)目11月2日小測(cè)驗(yàn)的前五道題。這是官方出的題,不是我造的!
你們也都看到了,1、4、5三句就是用陳述句的語(yǔ)序加上疑問(wèn)詞來(lái)構(gòu)成問(wèn)題的。
但是,用陳述句語(yǔ)序構(gòu)成疑問(wèn)句,有很大的局限性。我們不難感覺(jué)到,“Tom is a good doctor? 湯姆是一位好醫(yī)生?”這樣一個(gè)問(wèn)句,帶有一種相當(dāng)明顯的反問(wèn)性質(zhì),并不適合用于表示真正的疑問(wèn)。
那如果我不想反問(wèn),就是想了解是不是、有沒(méi)有、行不行、好不好……呢?怎么辦?
這種局限性,在陳述句語(yǔ)序構(gòu)成的疑問(wèn)句中是相當(dāng)普遍的。
為了解決這個(gè)問(wèn)題,人們對(duì)陳述句語(yǔ)序進(jìn)行了改造:
對(duì)于謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞中有動(dòng)詞be(包括am is are was were)、can、could、will、would、shall、should、must等連系動(dòng)詞、情態(tài)動(dòng)詞和助動(dòng)詞的情況,就把這些詞移動(dòng)到主語(yǔ)前面,行為動(dòng)詞不動(dòng)(如果有),構(gòu)成疑問(wèn)語(yǔ)序,比如前面三個(gè)例句中的1、3:
Is Tom a good doctor?
Can they talk for hours about life and love?
這兩個(gè)句子的開頭黑體單詞,就是典型的疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序。
一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)和一般過(guò)去時(shí)的動(dòng)作句和少數(shù)狀態(tài)句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞是行為動(dòng)詞的原形/第三人稱單數(shù)形式或過(guò)去式,沒(méi)有助動(dòng)詞、連系動(dòng)詞或情態(tài)動(dòng)詞參與,如:
His wife loves and respects him.
They talked for hours about life and love.
對(duì)這樣的句子,要根據(jù)謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的形式不同,在主語(yǔ)前面添加do/does或did,并把行為動(dòng)詞改為原形加以配合:
Does his wife love and respect him?
Did they talk for hours about life and love?
上面這兩個(gè)句子的開頭黑體單詞,也是典型的疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序。
三、“一般”疑問(wèn)句還是“特殊”疑問(wèn)句,都建立在“疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序”的基礎(chǔ)之上
英語(yǔ)教學(xué)中所說(shuō)的“一般疑問(wèn)句”,英語(yǔ)里稱為“yes-no questions”,而“特殊疑問(wèn)句”則是“wh-questions”(包括how開頭的),不管是一般還是特殊,都是questions。事實(shí)上,這兩種疑問(wèn)句,其基礎(chǔ)都是疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序。
不過(guò),“特殊”疑問(wèn)句畢竟“特殊”:它們的關(guān)注點(diǎn)不在整體事實(shí)上,而在于某個(gè)信息點(diǎn)。
這樣,就要求把這個(gè)具體的信息點(diǎn)強(qiáng)調(diào)、突出出來(lái)。怎么辦?
很簡(jiǎn)單,把對(duì)應(yīng)的疑問(wèn)詞放到句首。比如:
What is Tom? What does his wife do? How long can they talk about life and love?
現(xiàn)在矛盾就出來(lái)了:1、特殊疑問(wèn)句的特點(diǎn)決定了疑問(wèn)詞要放到句首加以強(qiáng)調(diào);2、疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序也要求把助動(dòng)詞、情態(tài)動(dòng)詞、連系動(dòng)詞“移動(dòng)”、“添加”到句首;3、那么,究竟誰(shuí)放在句首?
答案是:疑問(wèn)詞(及其所在短語(yǔ))放在句首。
那么,助動(dòng)詞、情態(tài)動(dòng)詞、連系動(dòng)詞怎么辦?
很簡(jiǎn)單,放在主語(yǔ)前面,不能放到疑問(wèn)詞之前。
這也是特殊疑問(wèn)句的終極構(gòu)成原則。
現(xiàn)在我們對(duì)三個(gè)典型句子的劃線部分提問(wèn):
Tom is a good doctor.
His wife loves and respects him.
They can talk for hours about life and love.
顯然,對(duì)于主人公、也就是句子的主語(yǔ)進(jìn)行提問(wèn),應(yīng)該用who,并沿用陳述句語(yǔ)序:
Who is a good doctor?
Who loves and respects him?
Who can talk for hours about life and love?
如果不沿用陳述句語(yǔ)序,而是強(qiáng)行使用疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序,就會(huì)出現(xiàn)助動(dòng)詞、情態(tài)動(dòng)詞、連系動(dòng)詞跑到疑問(wèn)詞前面去的情況——疑問(wèn)詞是主語(yǔ)呀!這和上面所說(shuō)的特殊疑問(wèn)句終極構(gòu)成原則是相抵觸的。下文紅色X表示“錯(cuò)誤”。
XIs who a good teacher?
XDoes who love and respect him?
XCan who talk for hours about life and love?
如果是對(duì)主語(yǔ)(及其所在短語(yǔ))以外的成分進(jìn)行提問(wèn),用疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序來(lái)配合疑問(wèn)詞就不會(huì)出現(xiàn)這個(gè)問(wèn)題,因?yàn)橹髡Z(yǔ)是主語(yǔ),不難形成疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序,疑問(wèn)詞只管提到最前面去:
What is Tom?
Whom does his wife love and respect?
What can they talk for hours about?
事實(shí)上,在CNN 10小測(cè)驗(yàn)題的下面這兩題當(dāng)中,之所以用了疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序,就是因?yàn)?strong>疑問(wèn)詞(所在短語(yǔ))提前到句首了:
2. In what U.S. state was a suspect arrested in the FBI's nationwide manhunt for the sender of numerous suspicious packages addressed to public figures?
3. In what body of water, which was known to ancient Greeks as the "Inhospitable Sea," did researchers recently discover the world's oldest, intact shipwreck?
到此,我們就把最前面的問(wèn)題說(shuō)明白了:
對(duì)陳述句的主語(yǔ)進(jìn)行提問(wèn),那么句子應(yīng)該沿用陳述句語(yǔ)序,因?yàn)?strong>疑問(wèn)詞在句首,不能調(diào)整為疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序,否則句首詞語(yǔ)順序會(huì)發(fā)生混亂;
對(duì)陳述句的謂語(yǔ)、賓語(yǔ)、定語(yǔ)、狀語(yǔ)、補(bǔ)語(yǔ)等主語(yǔ)以外的成分進(jìn)行提問(wèn),需要選用恰當(dāng)?shù)囊蓡?wèn)詞并提前到句首,并將句子調(diào)整為疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序加以配合。
四、幾點(diǎn)說(shuō)明
細(xì)心的朋友會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn),特殊疑問(wèn)句的“終極構(gòu)成原則”好像有時(shí)也不能得到完全應(yīng)用,比如:
2. In what U.S. state was a suspect arrested in the FBI's nationwide manhunt for the sender of numerous suspicious packages addressed to public figures?
3. In what body of water, which was known to ancient Greeks as the "Inhospitable Sea," did researchers recently discover the world's oldest, intact shipwreck?
這里,what這個(gè)疑問(wèn)詞前面不是還有個(gè)in嗎?這是為什么呢?
其實(shí)很簡(jiǎn)單,英語(yǔ)里“介詞+賓語(yǔ)”是一種緊密結(jié)構(gòu),除非有特殊需要,一般不拆開。比如海明威的名著《喪鐘為誰(shuí)而鳴》,英文就是“For Whom the Bell Tolls”,介賓短語(yǔ)for whom就是不拆開的。
那么,同樣是緊密結(jié)構(gòu)的動(dòng)賓短語(yǔ),為什么在提問(wèn)的時(shí)候就能拆開呢?很簡(jiǎn)單:動(dòng)賓短語(yǔ)里的動(dòng)詞一般是句子的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞,不拆開的話,疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序就無(wú)法構(gòu)成呀。
另外,朋友們還會(huì)注意到上面我用了“疑問(wèn)詞(及其所在短語(yǔ))”放在最前這樣一個(gè)說(shuō)法,而不僅僅“疑問(wèn)詞”。這是怎么回事呢?很簡(jiǎn)單:
Whose wife loves and respects him?
How many students have seen this notice?
在上面這兩個(gè)問(wèn)句中,我們并不是直接對(duì)主語(yǔ)提問(wèn),而是對(duì)主語(yǔ)所在的短語(yǔ)(his wife,fifty students)進(jìn)行提問(wèn)。在這種情況下,遵循特殊疑問(wèn)句的“終極構(gòu)成原則”,我們還是沿用陳述句語(yǔ)序,不換用疑問(wèn)句語(yǔ)序。
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“白話英語(yǔ)”系列文章2017年總目錄(含2016年總目錄鏈接)
關(guān)于英漢、漢英筆譯,來(lái)談?wù)勎业摹皬臉I(yè)”歷程和體會(huì)(上) - 白話英語(yǔ)0173
下周話題:
warm-hearted和English-speaking這樣的形容詞,為什么用不同的分詞類別?為什么spoken English又用過(guò)去分詞?
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