英语省略句㈥

取录自《英语自学参考系列·句法手册》第四章 英语句型中的变式句 第三、四节 省略句

编者 川竹 樑翁

 

（续前：二、各类句式省略例析 3.复合句之定从或宾从中的省略）

4. 复合句之状语从句中的省略

如果比较状从、方式状从、时间状从、让步状从、条件状从等从句的主语(多为it)和主句的主语所指一致，而且从句的谓语含有be动词的某种形式如am、is、are、was、were等，可同时省略从句的主语和be动词的某种形式；也有的是省略行为动词谓语，或谓语与其主语同时省略。

⑴比较状语从句中的省略

当不同的主语进行比较时，一般省略从句中的谓语；当从句中的主语与谓语【be动词除外】和主句中的主语与谓语相同时，通常省略从句中的主语和谓语，只保留比较部分。

①“the+比较级……，the+比较级……”——比较级固定省略结构。

例：The more (there are), the better (it is). 越多越好。

The higher the temperature (is)，the greater the pressure (is)．温度越高，压力越大。

In Studying a foreign language, the more practice (there is), the better (it is)．学习外语，练习越多越好。

 

②在连词than、as之后的be或it be也可省略。

例：He is taller than his brother (is). 他比他的哥哥高。

He’s taller than I thought (that he was). 他比我想像的要高。

This line is longer than that one (is long)．这条线比那条线长。

We do not use more material than (it is) necessary．我们使用的材料没有超出需要量。

This one is as large as that one (is)．这个和那个一样大。

I have as much as confidence in you as (I have confidence) in him. 我对你和对他一样有信心。

 

③在含than的状语从句中主谓语的省略——从句与主句相同的主语省略，不同者不省略；谓语省略。

例：He speaks Chinese better than (he speaks) English．他讲汉语比讲英语好。

She has finished the work earlier than (it was) expected. 她完成工作的时间比预期有要早。

We know that light travels faster than any flying machine (travels)．我们知道，光比任何飞行器走得快。

 

⑵时间状从或让步状从中的省略

①时间状语从句的省略——由when或while引导的时间状语从句中，当从句的主语和主句的主语或宾语一致时，“主语+be”省略。

例：When (water is) pure, water is a colorless liquid．水纯时，水是无色的液体。

Do be careful when (you are) crossing the street.  当你穿过街道的时候一定要小心。

When (I am) in trouble I always turned to her for help．我困难时总是找她帮助。

While (you are) cycling, don’t forget the traffic lights. 骑车时，不要忘记看红绿灯。

He hurt himself while (he was) playing basketball. 他在打篮球时受了伤。

While (I was) at college, I began to know him. 当我在大学时，我开始了解他。

Wood gives much smoke while (wood is) burning. 木头燃烧时，它就放出很多烟。

While (we were) there we were thinking of you all the time．在那儿时我们一直想念你们。

 

②让步状语从句中，如果从句主语与主句的主语相一致，在though、although、whether、no matter who／what／whether／how等之后的it be同时省略；但若从句的主语和主句的主语不一致，只省略从句中的be动词形式

例：He was happy, though／although (he was) poor. 他虽然穷但却很快乐。

She is very good at dancing, though (she is) very old. 她虽然老了，但仍然善于跳舞。

He works very hard, though (he is) still rather weak．他尽管体弱，但仍十分努力地工作。

Alhough (they are) reduced in numbers, they are still strong. 虽然人数减少了，但他们仍很强大。

Whether (she is) sick or well, she is always cheerful.  (她)无论生病还是健康，她总是高高兴兴的。

No matter who (he may be), he must do his duty. 不管他可能是谁，他都必须尽到他的责任。

We will do what is right, no matter what the consequences(are).只要是对的我们就作，不管有什么后果。

但：No matter how／However hard the task (is), we must fulfill it in time. 无论任务多么艰难，我们必须及时完成。

 

⑶方式状从或条件状从中的省略

可省略主语和系动词，这样as if后面就只剩下名词、不定式、形容词(短语)、介词短语或分词了。

例：He acts as if (he was／were) a fool. 他做事像个傻子。

The boy looked as if (he was) afraid of nothing. 那男孩看上去好象什么也不怕。

She covered her face with her hands as if (she were) crying.  她用手蒙住脸，仿佛她在哭。

She left the room hurriedly as if(she was／were) angry. 她匆匆忙忙离开房间好像生气的样子。

Tom raised his hand as if (he was／were going) to say something. 汤姆举起手好像要说什么。

He stood up as if he wanted) to leave. 他站了起来，好象要离开似的。【as if／though + to do表示一个将来的动作】

He rubbed his eyes and yawned as if／though (he was) waking up after a long sleep.

他又揉眼睛又打哈欠，好像睡了一大觉刚醒似的。

 

②由if、unless、once引导的条件状语从句中，也常省略“主语+be动词”结构。

例：If (water is) heated, water will boil.  水(如果)被加热就会沸腾。

If (that is) so, I will call you back at 5:00 pm. 如果是这样的话，我会在下午5点给你回电话

If (it is) properly treated, waste will do no harm to the environment. 如果处理得当，废物就不估危害环境。

Once (you are) caught stealing in a supermarket, you will be punished.一旦在超市偷窃被抓，就一定会受到惩罚。

I’ll not go to the party unless (I am) invited.  如果我没有受到邀请，我是不会去参加那个舞会的。

Substances have no tendency to expand unless (they are) heated.  除非受热，物质不会有膨胀的倾向。

He is a man of few words. He never speaks unless (he is) spoken to.

他是一个沉默寡言的人，除非别人同他说话，否则他从不说话。

 

⑷虚拟条件句中连词if的省略

①在虚拟条件句中，如含有had、were、should等助动词，if可省略，句子倒装。

例：Were I【If I were】you, I wouldn’t do such a thing. 如果我是你的话，我就不会做这样的事。

Were I【If I were】a teacher, I would be strict with my students. 假若我是教师，我会严格要求我的学生。

Should it【If it should】rain tomorrow, I should stay at home. 如果明天下雨，我就呆在家里。

Should the machine【If the machine should】break down again,send it back to us.

如果该机又坏了，就把它送还给我们吧。

 

②在suggest(建议)、propose(建议)、move(提议)、require(要求)、order(命令)、urge(催促)、insist(坚持)等表示建议、要求、命令之类动词后面的宾语从句中，或在由先行词it引出的主语从句中，表示作者的意愿、主张、建议而又尚未成为事实，这时从句中谓语可用“should+动词原形”，其中should可省略。

例：It is natural that we (should) prove the theorem first. 很自然，我们首先要证明这条定理。【主语从句】

It is necessary that the problem (should) be settled in some or other way．这个问题必须用某种方法解决。

They required that I (should) go there tonight. 他们要求我今晚到那里去。【宾语从句】

The committee moved that the meeting (should) be adjourned. 委员提议休会。

My friends urged that I (should) apply for the job. 朋友们力劝我申请那份工作。

Our teacher insisted that we (should) not talk in class. 老师坚持不准我们上课讲话。

The chairman proposed that they (should) stop the meeting . 主席建议他们应停止会议。

We suggest that the task (should) be fulfilled by 12 o'clock．我们建议这次任务要在12点以前完成。

He ordered that everything (should) be ready before beginning the test．他命令一切都要在试验开始前准备好。

 

③以lest (唯恐／以免)或for fear that (惟恐／免得)引导的目的状语从句中，谓语动词“should+动词原形”也可省略其中的should。

例：I obeyed her lest she (should) be angry. 我得顺着她，以免她生气。

We shall remind him lest／for fear that he (should) forget. 我们要提醒他，免得他忘记。

We shall start early, lest／for fear that we (should) be late．我们早点动身，惟恐迟到。

 

⑸复合句中的其它省略形式

①有时，可以见到某个主从连词还着整个从句被省略

例：He gave the same answer as (he had given) before. 他做出了和过去同样的答复。

You are working much harder (than you did before). 你现在学习(比原来)努力多了。

What would you do(if you were in my situation)? (如果你在我的处境下)你会怎么做？

—Where is my book? 我的书哪里去了？

—How should I know (where your book is)! 我怎么会知道(你的书在哪里)!

 

②在以if、when、whenever、as soon as等引导的状语从句中，若主语为it，谓语是系词be，且表语是necessary、possible时，“it+be”常常是同时省略。

例：If (it is) necessary, ring me at once. 如有必要，立刻打电话给我。

If (it is) necessary, we shall send a telegram home. 如有必要，我们就往家里发电报。

If (it is) possible, this instrument may be installed at once. 如有可能，该仪器可立即安装。

Please send over the signals as soon as (it is) possible．请尽快把信号发过去。

Go and get the book as soon as (it is) possible when it is in stock. 当这本书有货的时候，立刻去买。

When (it is) necessary you can help us to do something．必要时你可以帮助我们做些事。

Whenever (it is) possible, he will come to my help. 他一有可能就来帮助我。

Fill in the blanks with the names of the machines wherever (it is) necessary．

在必要的地方将那些机器的名称填入空格中。

 

③复合句省略而成简单句——有些省略结构的句子实际原是省去了从句的复合句。

例：Oh, that reminds me (that…).【that从句的内容由具体情况而定】

噢，这使我想起了一件事。

(If you were in my position,) You would do the same.【省了虚拟条件句】

(如果你处在我这位置,) 你也会这样做的。

You have done better this time (than you did before).

这一次你(比以前)做得好些了。【省去比较状语从句】

—Where is my cat? 我的猫在哪儿？

—How should I know (where your cat is)?【省了宾语从句】 我怎么知道(你的猫在哪里)？

 

省略形式多样, 从单词、短语到分句, 都可以省略, 而且各有一定的衔接关系, 不容臆断。

英语中运用省略的结果，不仅能使句子结构更加精练，而且可起到连接上下文并使相邻词语达到强调的作用，往往能收到一定的修饰效果。在写作时，若能恰当地使用省略句，便可让文章看上去简洁而地道。

（省略句未完待续）