三、分词用法解剖:表示一个什么样的动作
1、现在分词一般体(doing)核心意义:主动的动作
所谓的主动和被动,不是动作本身的概念,而是事物与动作之间的一种内在的关系。如eat这个动作本身,无所谓主被动,而只有说We eat to live时,才能说we和eat是一种主动关系。
那么,现在分词的“主动”,究竟是谁与谁的关系呢?回答是不可一概而论。其在句中作不同的成分时,主体也不相同。我们分开来看。
1) 作主语:与句子紧密相关的名词形成主动关系或者是泛指主语 Collecting information about children’s health is his job. 收集有关儿童健康的信息是他的工作。(此处collect与his job中所暗含的he形成主动关系,与另外的名词children和job都无直接的逻辑关系。)
Collecting stamps is a popular hobby. (此处为泛指主语,people/we之类皆可与之形成主动关系。)
Reading is learning, but using is also learning.
Seeing is believing.
It’s interesting planning a holiday.
动名词复合结构作主语时,逻辑主语不论是名词还是代词,常用属格,如:
Her going there won’t do any harm.
It is no use Mary’s pretending that she didn’t know the rules.
2)作表语:与主语之间是主动关系。
This story is quite interesting. (this story与interest之间的内在的关系是主动的,也就是我们可以说this story interests people, 因而用现在分词形式。注意要理解这一点,需要明白interest这个动词的意思是“使……感兴趣”,而非“兴趣”。)
The journey without you will be boring.(内在关系为the journey bores people.)
3)宾语:与主语形成主动关系 I can’t risk missing the train. (I miss)
I don’t mind buying another one. (I buy)
作宾语的时候有一个非常有意思的问题。那就是:哪些动词后面跟不定式,哪些跟现在分词。哪些两个都能跟,但是意思不同。
我们先看传统的讲法。
1、下列动词跟不定式做宾语:
want, wish, hope, expect, ask, pretend, care, decide, happen, long, offer, refuse, fail, plan, prepare, order, cause, afford, beg, manage, agree, promise等。
2、只接动名词作宾语的动词有:be used to, consider, delay,. dislike, enjoy, escape, excuse, feel like, finish, give up, cannot help, imagine, keep (on), look forward to, mind, miss, practise, put off, resist, pardon, risk, suggest, permit, allow, forbid, advise, set about等。
3、接动名词和不定式作宾语都可以的动词有:
1) 动名词和不定式意义基本一致的动词:like, love, hate, begin, start, continue, prefer, need, want, deserve等;
Jack loves listening / to listen to pop music.
My hair needs cutting.= My hair needs to be cut.
2) 动名词和不定式意义有些差别的动词:remember, forget, try, help,mean, stop, go on等。
I remember posting the letter.
I will remember to post the letter.
I’ve quite forgotten putting it there.
I forgot to put it there.
He tried to write better.
He tried writing better with a brush.
I couldn’t help finishing reading the book.
I’m sorry I can’t help finish doing the job.
Do you mean to tell me you didn’t post it?
If you didn’t do it, it will mean waiting for a long time.
They stopped talking.
They stopped to talk.
He went on pointing out mistakes in the paper.
He went on to point out mistakes in the paper.
以这样的方式讲述,分辩动词后面的宾语形式成了一个对记忆力的测试。通常最后的结果只有两个:一是记不住这么多;二是确实记住了,但最后还是用不上。
如果我们回顾一下前一回与这一回的内容,确实用不定式还是用现在分词只在一念之间:不定式表示的后发生或未发生的通常是主观性的动作,而现在分词则不然,是已发生或正在发生的事实行为。
这样我们再来观察上面所总结的跟不定式的动词:want(想), hope(希望), wish(希望), expect(期望)等等,不都是主观性的动词吗,或者如ask(要求)必然意味着后面是未发生或后发生的动作吗?
再看forget to do, forget doing, 一个是忘记之前的动作一个是忘记要做一个动作。何者为何,用得着记忆吗?
再来任何一个动词,其宾语如何,完全用不着见过,知道意思就行。
3)作定语:与被修饰的名词关系为主动
现在分词所表示的动作与被修饰的名词形成主动关系。
其实,非谓语动词在作定语时在效果上相当于一个定语从句。现在分词也不例外。用另外一种方式来表达就是:一个非谓语动词短语都可以还原成为一个等价的定语从句。而现在分词所还原成的从句,其主语是被修饰的名词,而主谓之间是主动的。
The man following was obviously in a hurry。(被修饰的名词the man与动词follow之间形成主动关系,即the man follow, 故用的现在分词。相当于从句:who followed, 注意从句中的followed是谓语动词,为过去式,不是过去分词。)
They acted just like a conquering army。(内在关系:army conquer, 相当于定语从句:that conquered)
Do you know the man standing over there by the motor car?(内在关系:the man stand, 相当于定语从句who stand over there by the motor car.)
Last night, we caught a thief stealing John's bike.(内在关系: a thief steal, 相当于定语从句who stole John’s bike.)
The name Nebraske comes from the Oto Indian word “ebrathka”.meaning flat water.(the word “ebrathka” mean, 相当于定语从句which mean flat water.)
4)作宾语补足语: 动词与宾语这间形成主动关系
I noticed him slipping away before the end of the meeting.(宾语him与slip为主动关系:he slip)
I can smell turkey roasting,and it's making me hungry.(turkey roast)
What A saw just now set me thinking of my shildhood in the countryside.(I think)
Please don't keep the machine running while you are away.(machine run)
5)作状语: 与句子主语为逻辑上的主动关系
如上所述,现在分词作定语,相当于一个定语从句,可还原为一个等价的定语从句,从句中的谓语动词与被修饰的名词形成主动关系。状语也与之相类:现在分词作状语相当于一个状语从句,可以还原成一个状语从句,状语从句的主语是句子的主语,与动作是主动关系。
Rushing out of the room,be has knocked down by a car.(句子主语he与动词rush之间为主动关系,he run, 故用现在分词,相当于When he rushed out of the room,he was hnocked down by a car.)
Working harder,you will pass the entrance exam.(you work hard, 相当于If you work harder,you will pass the entrance exam.)
Having won the championship,he was awarded a million dollars.(he have won the championship, 相当于Because he had won the championship,he was awarded a million dollars.)
Even if taking a taxi,I will still be late for the meeting.(I take a taxi, 相当于状语从句even if I take a taxi.)
特别提示:也有例外的情况:现在分词的逻辑主语是前面整个句子所述的内容。
The road is under construction, thus causing the delay.(The road is under construction, and this caused the delay. )