汪春英
摘 要:英語學(xué)習(xí)者寫譯中存在高頻率雷同的語法錯誤:句子結(jié)構(gòu)不正確,數(shù)個動詞按中文順序排列,主謂層次不清,使讀者難以領(lǐng)會其意義。此問題可歸因?yàn)榉侵^語動詞使用的缺失。鑒于非謂語動詞的使用能增強(qiáng)語言表達(dá)的靈活性,學(xué)習(xí)者有必要借助大量閱讀掌握其用法,并且在寫譯中通過簡化從句、定語分詞化、狀語分詞化等方式,養(yǎng)成習(xí)慣性使用非謂語動詞的意識。
關(guān)鍵詞:非謂語動詞;使用缺失;慣?;窂?/p>
中圖分類號:H314.3? 文獻(xiàn)標(biāo)識碼:A? 文章編號:1673-2596(2019)11-0131-04
一、引言
學(xué)英文不可避免繞不開非謂語動詞。非謂語動詞短語、獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu)等概念往往給學(xué)習(xí)者帶來莫名的困惑。下文將簡單闡釋其概念和習(xí)慣用法,以達(dá)到簡易明了常態(tài)運(yùn)用非謂語動詞的目的。學(xué)習(xí)者想要徹底弄清它,還需要大量閱讀地道的英文書籍和雜志等。
根據(jù)英語語法學(xué)知識,非謂語動詞有三種形式:不定式(infinitive)、-ing分詞(-ing participle)、-ed分詞(–ed participle)。它們在句中可擔(dān)任除了謂語之外的任何句子成分,例如主語、賓語、定語、狀語等,所以被稱為非謂語動詞。不定式、-ing分詞和-ed分詞均有動詞的性質(zhì),又有非動詞的性質(zhì)。非動詞性質(zhì)表現(xiàn)在:它們有時候相當(dāng)于名詞,有時候相當(dāng)于形容詞,有時候相當(dāng)于副詞[1]。
簡單地說,它們的句法功能可列舉如下:
主語:可選用-ing分詞、帶定冠詞the的-ed分詞、不定式及其短語;但往往用It作形式主語,分詞或不定式短語等真正的主語放在句子末尾。
賓語:可選用-ing分詞、不定式及其短語;也往往用It作形式賓語,分詞或不定式短語放在句末。
主語補(bǔ)足語:可選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞、不定式及其短語。
賓語補(bǔ)足語:可選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞、不定式及其短語。
前置定語:可選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞及其構(gòu)成的復(fù)合形容詞(由分詞之前附加一個名詞、形容詞或副詞構(gòu)成)。
后置定語:可選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞、不定式及其短語。
狀語:可選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞、不定式及其短語或獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu)(由with +名詞 + -ing / -ed分詞或不定式短語構(gòu)成)。
二、非謂語動詞使用是地道英文的標(biāo)記
非謂語動詞重要性可以體現(xiàn)在多方面,它的大量使用是地道的英文書面語一大特色。當(dāng)我們大量閱讀時,會發(fā)現(xiàn)英文書面語中非謂語動詞的使用無處不在。為了印證這一點(diǎn),不妨以《新視野大學(xué)英語》第四冊課本[2]為例,總共8單元合計16篇文章,平均每篇978個字,大概50個句子。每篇文章里都有大量的-ing分詞和-ed分詞作定語、狀語以及-ing分詞作主語、賓語和補(bǔ)足語的用法。至于不定式的使用,前2單元4篇文章里就有48個句子與此有關(guān)。具體事實(shí)列舉如下:
1.-ing分詞作前置、后置定語,共有84個句子。例如:
(1)You? need? to? have appealing product or service and a compelling strategy.
(2)Every night several hundred planes bearing a purple, white, and orange design touch down at Memphis Airport, in Tennessee.
2.-ing分詞作目的、伴隨等各種狀語,共有70個句子。
(3)Gamblers with a high threshold for risk put money into a slot machine hoping for a big return, but with each pull of the lever they lose some money playing the odds.
(4)“Wow, what presumption! Ill put it in a way someone as brilliant as you can understand,” retorted Polly, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
3.-ing分詞作主語、賓語,共有105個句子。
(5)Understanding how and in what situations they occur can give you an awareness of your own limitations and allow you to factor them into your decision-making.
(6)They might decide that they had better keep spending money at the machine.
4.-ing分詞作主語補(bǔ)足語、賓語補(bǔ)足語,共有7個句子。
(7)Most of the toys that young boys have played with were weir-looking, like the one called Buzz-Off that was part human, part flying insect.
(8)Even then I could see how exhausting it was for a mother to cater all day to the needs of young children.
5.-ed分詞作前置、后置定語,共有97個句子。
(9)Immediate and well-deserved outrage;
(10)Since the retention and retrieval of memories is biased toward vivid, sensational, or emotionally charged examples, decisions based on them can often lead to strange, inaccurate conclusions.
6.-ed分詞作原因、結(jié)果等各種狀語,共有16個句子。
(11)Cured of the disease by the age of 10, he became a star athlete in high school, playing football, basketball, and baseball.
(12)Extreme makeovers are all the rage these days, with too many people addicted to Botox injection parties and reality shows.
7.不定式作后置定語占了10/48的比例、作目的狀語占了5/48的比例。
(13)When the boss asks him what his qualifications are, he says he has six children to feed.
(14)I? could? dispense? her enough pearls of wisdom to make her “well-spoken”.
除了上述大學(xué)教材之外,我們曾在中國日報網(wǎng)(英文版)很隨意地選取一篇文章[3],全文總共30個英文句子。運(yùn)用了-ing分詞、-ed分詞的句子就有19個;運(yùn)用了不定式作后置定語、目的狀語等句子就有13個。可見用英文表達(dá)無論何時都離不開非謂語動詞的使用。然而,我們又不得不承認(rèn)下列事實(shí)。
三、非謂語動詞使用缺失是學(xué)習(xí)者英文表達(dá)的軟肋
無論何時何地,只要瀏覽大學(xué)生所寫的英語作文和漢譯英翻譯,就會發(fā)現(xiàn)這類普遍的錯誤:句子結(jié)構(gòu)不正確,一個句子中有幾個謂語動詞,且按中文的順序排列,讓讀者理不清句子層次關(guān)系,當(dāng)然也就無法快速理解句子所表達(dá)的意義。例如:
*They think they are parents are speak more with the age increase.
*The long holiday is becoming a chance of people can get together with their parents.
*Most people choose to go home take with their families.
*They think cost more time to play games or watch TV about students is a mistake.
以上這些都是大二年級學(xué)生所寫的錯誤句子,類似的句子實(shí)在太多。我們曾在電腦里登記了166條。對于這類錯誤,學(xué)界眾多學(xué)者也早有關(guān)注和研究,例如:
書先生在“浙大語趣”一文里寫道:“流水句run-on sentence是中國英語學(xué)習(xí)者最常犯的錯誤之一。這也是翻譯中最顯眼的錯誤。所謂流水句,是指兩個或多個動詞之間沒有任何顯性的連接標(biāo)志來顯示其關(guān)系。兩個動詞間的關(guān)系可能是平行的,這被稱為并列句,比如:They are the predecessors and they explored the unknown.(這里and就是顯性標(biāo)記。)一個動詞可能依賴另一個動詞存在,這有兩種情況,一是從句:They are the predecessors who explored the unknown.(這里引導(dǎo)詞who就是顯性標(biāo)記。)二是非限定動詞結(jié)構(gòu),比如:They are the predecessors exploring the unknown.(這里現(xiàn)在分詞形式doing就是顯性標(biāo)記,因?yàn)閜redecessors和explore是主動關(guān)系,所以用exploring。)英文中兩個動詞之間的連接方式,有且只有這三種,而且可以互相轉(zhuǎn)換。”[4]問題的關(guān)鍵是部分大學(xué)生弄不清楚兩個動詞之間的第二種依賴關(guān)系:非限定動詞結(jié)構(gòu),即非謂語動詞結(jié)構(gòu)的用法。
呂瑞昌提出的翻譯策略是:“當(dāng)漢語中同一個主語后有兩個或兩個以上的動詞出現(xiàn)時,在翻譯成英文時,首先必須正確的判斷幾個動詞在意義上的相互關(guān)系。然后根據(jù)英語的特點(diǎn),將表示主從關(guān)系里的主要動詞譯成英語的謂語,將其它動詞譯成不定式、-ing分詞、-ed分詞等。”[5]言下之意,用英文表達(dá)遇到多個動詞出現(xiàn)時,離不開非謂語動詞的使用。
“英語中一個句子通常不能有兩個(以上)謂語動詞”[6]。根據(jù)這一原則,我們可以確定何時使用非謂語動詞,何時不使用非謂語動詞??傊坏貌幻鎸退伎歼@種事實(shí):一方面,在地道的英文篇章里,非謂語動詞的使用相當(dāng)普遍;另一方面,學(xué)習(xí)者在用英文寫譯時很少使用非謂語動詞,不能正確處理一個句子里有多個動詞同時出現(xiàn)的層次關(guān)系,致使此類語句錯誤層出不窮,出現(xiàn)在一屆又一屆學(xué)生的書面作業(yè)中。因此,我們需要去關(guān)注非謂語動詞的使用,而且這么做是有價值的。
四、非謂語動詞使用慣?;乃季S路徑
(一)從句可簡化,選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞或不定式
我們在書面表達(dá)時最常用的從句有賓語從句、定語從句、狀語從句。其實(shí)這些從句都可以用-ing分詞、-ed分詞或不定式取而代之,簡化語句。田貴森教授曾概括出現(xiàn)代英語詞匯選用的特征是:現(xiàn)代社會人們越來越傾向于使用名詞、名詞短語、非謂語動詞短語等而不是從句,曾經(jīng)充斥著整篇文章的定語從句、狀語從句現(xiàn)在都最大程度地削減或被取代[7]。例證如下:
1.定語從句可換成-ing分詞、-ed分詞或不定式短語
(15)The people who are sitting there in the sun are tourists. → The people sitting there in the sun are tourists.
(16)There are many difficulties that will have to be overcome. → There are many difficulties to overcome.
2.狀語從句可換成-ing分詞、-ed分詞或不定式短語
(17)If you work hard,? you? will succeed. → Working hard, you will succeed.
(18)He spoke loudly so that he himself could be hard. → He spoke loudly so as to be heard.
3.賓語從句可換成-ing分詞或不定式短語
(19)I hope? that? Ill be able to come. → I hope to be able to come.
(20)We consider that he is very trustworthy. → We consider him to be very trustworthy.
-ing分詞、-ed分詞短語指的是動詞的-ing或-ed形式后面跟有其賓語或狀語;不定式短語指的是不定式符號“to”后面的動詞帶有賓語或狀語。選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞或不定式短語的大體依據(jù)是:-ing分詞表示一般的、抽象的、泛指的概念;或表示某種用途或主動或正在進(jìn)行的意義;-ed分詞則表示被動或已經(jīng)完成的意義;不定式表示具體的個別的動作或有將來含義的動作或做事的整個過程[8]。
(二)定語修飾限制名詞,可選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞或不定式
定語涉及到前置還是后置,限制性還是非限制性這幾種情況,不妨先區(qū)分它們的概念:前置定語指的是出現(xiàn)在中心詞之前的修飾成分,后置定語指的是出現(xiàn)在中心詞之后的修飾成分。限制性定語是被修飾詞在意義上不可缺少的定語,如果去掉,整個句子的意思就不完整或失去意義,這種定語和被修飾詞之間的關(guān)系十分密切,寫時不用逗號分開。相反,非限制性定語和被修飾詞之間的關(guān)系不十分密切,只是對其作些附加的說明,如果去掉,句子的意思仍然清楚。這種定語和句子其它部分之間往往用逗號分開。
1.用-ing分詞、-ed分詞或復(fù)合形容詞作前置定語
-ing分詞、-ed分詞之前可附加一個名詞、形容詞或副詞,構(gòu)成復(fù)合形容詞。附加詞與分詞之間通常有連詞符號,此復(fù)合形容詞應(yīng)放在所修飾的名詞之前。例如:Damaging situations; a dogged, brilliant lawyer; a cost-cutting measure; a newly-opened small restaurant.
2.用-ing分詞、-ed分詞短語作后置定語或非限制性定語
這種情況使用頻率相當(dāng)高,在第四冊16篇文章里總共出現(xiàn)了181次。有時候,主語與謂語之間插入-ing分詞或-ed分詞短語,且用逗號隔開,便是非限制性定語。例如:
(21)A small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, can make millions think.
(22)Wolves, once feared and killed, are being reintroduced into the environment.
用不定式短語作后置定語的情況也常見,例如:
(23)The note? was? a? simple request for a porter to be sent to the room.
(24)He has a wish to travel round the world.
(三)狀語修飾限制動作或狀態(tài),可選用-ing分詞、-ed分詞或不定式
1.直接用–ing分詞、-ed分詞或不定式短語作狀語
它們可放在句首或句末,做各種狀語,表示原因、伴隨等。例如:
(25)Expecting a spectacular display, the crowd eagerly awaited the fireworks.
(26)Inspired? by the reach of the woods and the magnificent view, he was able to finish his novel.
但是,表達(dá)目的狀語時,一般使用不定式短語,不定式符號“to”甚至可換成“in order to”, “so as to”等;表達(dá)結(jié)果狀語時,用不定式,且在“to”前加上“only”則表達(dá)意料之外的結(jié)果。例如:
(27)I could? dispense? her? enough pearls of wisdom to make her “well-spoken”.
(28)They spent a lot of time negotiating for a pay increase, only to get fired.
2.用–ing分詞或-ed分詞獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu)作狀語
“with+名詞/代詞+–ing分詞或-ed分詞短語”構(gòu)成的獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu)在句子中作各種狀語,這是最多見的獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu),可放在句子的句首或句末,與主句之間用逗號隔開。例如:
(29)With the snow? having stopped,? we were able to continue our journey.
(30)The audience bored, many began to go to sleep.
當(dāng)然,在用英文寫譯的時候,還涉及到主語、賓語、主語補(bǔ)足語、賓語補(bǔ)足語可從不定式、-ing分詞或帶定冠詞the的-ed分詞中選用的情況。限于篇幅和易于掌握的原因,此處作了省略,學(xué)習(xí)者可通過大量英文閱讀悟出其用法。
五、結(jié)論
綜上所述,我們得出非謂語動詞的實(shí)質(zhì):由于英語的句法規(guī)則是任何句子無論長短都只能有一個謂語,所以非謂語動詞的存在和使用就是讓寫譯者拿來巧妙處理多個動詞同時出現(xiàn)的問題,從而增強(qiáng)語言表達(dá)的靈活性、多樣性和便捷性。因此建議學(xué)習(xí)者關(guān)注非謂語動詞,少用從句,取而代之用非謂語動詞;多用非謂語動詞擔(dān)任定語和狀語,尤其是定語分詞化、狀語分詞化;同時大量閱讀英文書刊留意其用法,在英文寫譯中養(yǎng)成不由自主地使用非謂語動詞的習(xí)慣。
參考文獻(xiàn):
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〔3〕“Overriding task in Hong Kong is to stop violence”.http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/20190 8/08/WS5d4b180ea310cf3e3556477f.html.
〔4〕書先生.語趣:浙大校慶翻譯的“九宗罪”[EB/OL].http://www.360doc.com/content/17/0526/19/7479083_657521255.shtml.
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〔6〕虞錦武.從“高考錯句之最”談非謂語動詞的基本用法[J].語數(shù)外學(xué)習(xí)(高中版高二年級),2007,(10):52.
〔7〕Leon CAI(美),田貴森.新編英語詞匯學(xué)教程[M].北京:外語教學(xué)與研究出版社,2013.24,175.
〔8〕張道真.大學(xué)英語語法[M].濟(jì)南:山東科學(xué)技術(shù)出版社,2008.367-371.
(責(zé)任編輯 賽漢其其格)
Abstract: In the non-English majors' composition writing and Chinese-English translation exercise, there is a high-frequently occurred English language grammar error, which exists year in and year out and can be summarized as follows: Sentence is often wrong with a few verbs appeared simultaneously and arranged in the order of Chinese sentence structure without any conjunction, so that readers are unable to make clear its subject and predicate components instantly, thus cannot grasp the sentence meaning either. This sentence error may be attributed to being lacking in the use of non-finite verb. Since non-finite verb plays an important role in increasing the flexibility and variety of expressing in English, English learners have to master its usage by extensively reading, and then try to use it in writing and translation as often as possible, by using non-finite verb phrases to replace clauses, to act as a modifier or an adverbial in a sentence. Gradually learners will develop the habit of using it consciously or unconsciously.
Keywords: Non-finite Verb; Lack of Non-finite Verb Use; Ways of Habitually Using Non-finite Verb