想当然类错误
所谓想当然,即凭主观推测认为事情大概如此或应该如此。既然是凭主观作出的推测,自然就难免有出错的时候。有趣的是,犯想当然错误的不仅仅是我们的同学们,有时也可能是教师甚至专家们。
我们首先来看一例专家犯的想当然错误:国内不少词典曾把 eatone’s words 译为“食言”,但是我们查《现代汉语词典》,“食言”指不履行诺言或失信,而英语中eat one’s words是什么意思呢? 我们查《朗文当代英语词典》,eat one’s words的意思 to admit to having said something wrong (承认说过错误的话);再查《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》(第四版),eat one’s words 的意思是 to admit that what one said waswrong(承认自己说错话)。很显然,将 eat one’s words 译为汉语的“食言”是不对的,是想当然译出来的。
笔者曾在一本杂志读过这样一个笑话,说的是一位英国著名的翻译家在翻译我国的古典名著《水浒传》时,遇上了这样一句“放你妈的狗屁”,他竟想当地将其译为Your mother passes wind like adog (你妈妈放屁像狗一样),真是天大的笑话。
下面我们再来看看同学经常犯的想当然错误吧:
◇Every minute should be made full use of _________ the lessons.
A. to studyB. studyC. studying D. studied
一看题干,许多同学会想当然地认为此题肯定选C,因为空格前有介词 of,其后的动词 study 用作介词 of 的宾语,当然要用动名词。你真的这样认为吗?那你就错了。
◇_________ is hard is to do good all one’s life and never do anything bad.
A. He B. It C. That D. What
【分析】此题的最佳答案是B吗?句首应填一个形式主语 it 吗?如果你这样想,又错了。为什么?
本节为同学们搜集了不少想当然错误的典型例题,快快往下读吧。
1.下面这道题:
If a book is in English, _________ means slow progress for you.
A. asB. which C. whatD. that
【分析】此题容易误选 A或B,想当然地根据空格前的逗号认为这是非限制性定语从句。这样分析的同学,主要是忽略了前一句句首的 if。其实此题应选D,逗号前是一个条件状语从句,逗号后是该状语从句的主句,that 在此代表前文所述的意思,用作主句的主语。同样地,下面几题也应选 that,而不选 which:
(1) If he’s only interested in your looks, _________ just shows how shallow he is.
A. asB. which C. whatD. that
(2) If you want to go, _________is quite all right with me.
A. thatB. which C. and it D. so
(3) When I say two hours, _________ includes time for eating.
A. asB. which C. whatD. that
(4) If you want a double room , _________ will cost another £15.
A. asB. which C.whatD. that
(5) If you have the money, _________ will be OK.
A. asB. which C. and it D. that
下例也选 that 而不选 which,其中 that 表示“那”:
Unless I’m very much mistaken, _________ is my watch you’re wearing!
A. asB. which C. whatD. that
2. _________ is hard is to do good all one’s life and never do anything bad.
A. He B. It C. ThatD. What
【分析】此题容易误选B,认为这是考查形式主语。其实,此题的正确答案是D,句首的 What ishard 是主语从句,注意 what is hard 后的谓语动词 is。假若没有此 is,则应选B,即说成 It is hardto do good all one’s life and never do anything bad. 请做以下类似试题(答案均为C):
(1)a. _________ is difficult to persuade her to stay.
b. _________ is difficult is to persuade her to stay.
A. It, It B. What, WhatC. It, What D. What, It
(2)a. _________ is interesting to watch children play games.
b. _________ is interesting is to watch children play games.
A. It, It B. What, WhatC. It, What D. What, It
(3)a. _________ is dangerous to play with fire.
b. _________ is dangerous is to play with fire.
A. It, It B. What, WhatC. It, What D. What, It
3. The chemistry teacher required the students _________ more attention _________ the labclean.
A. to pay, to keepB. to paying, to keeping
C. to pay, to keeping D. paying, keeping
【分析】此题容易误选A,认为空白处应填两个不定式。其实正确答案是C,第一空填不定式,即套用 require sb to do sth (要求某人做某事)句型,而第二空则应填 to keeping,因为 pay attentionto(注意)中的to 是介词,不是不定式符号,所以其后接动词时要用动名词。类似地,以下各结构中的 to 也是介词,不是不定式符号,后接动词时应用动名词,而不是动词原形:
devote one’s time to doing sth 把某人的时间用于(奉献于)做某事
be [get] used to doing sth习惯于做某事
be equal to doing sth 等于做某事,能胜任做某事
What do you say to doing sth 你认为做某事怎么样
be accustomed to doing sth 习惯于做某事
look forward to doing sth 盼望做某事
be opposed to doing sth 反对做某事
object to doing sth反对做某事
stick to doing sth 坚持做某事
get down to doing sth 开始做某事
take to doing sth 喜欢上做某事
admit to doing 承认做了某事
pay attention to doing sth 注意做某事
4. _________ is a good form of exercise for both young and old.
A. Walk B. WalkingC. The walk D. To walk
用作名词的 walk表示“散步”,是可数名词,指的是一次一次的具体的散步,而不表示抽象意义或泛指意义的“散步”,要表示此义,须用动名词 walking。比较:
Let’s go out for a walk. 我们出去散散步吧。
Walking does good to your health. 散步对你的健康有益。
类似地, dance 和 dancing 以及 swim 和 swimming 的区别也是一样:
(1) 名词的 dance表示“跳舞”,是可数名词,指的是一次一次的具体的跳舞,而不表示抽象意义或泛指意义的“跳舞”,要表示后者的意思,要用动名词转化来的名词 dancing。比较:
Let’s have one more dance before we go home. 我们回家前再跳一曲舞吧。
Now most of the young people are fond of dancing. 现在大多数年轻人都喜欢跳舞。
(2) 名词的 swim表示“游泳”,是可数名词,指的是一次一次的具体的游泳,而不表示抽象意义或泛指意义的“游泳”,要表示后者的意思,要用动名词转化来的名词 dancing。比较:
I’ll take you for a swim. 我将带你去游泳。
Do you think swimming is allowed in this pool? 你认为这个水池允许游泳吗?
5. “Is your car equal _________ hers in speed?” “No, mine is faster. But my old one equals _________ hers in speed.”
A. to, to B. 不填,不填C. to, 不填D. 不填,to
【分析】此题容易误选A 或B,其实应选C。第一空前的equal 是形容词,用于be equal to 时,表示“等于”;第二空前的 equal 是动词,且为及物动词,意为“等于……”或“与……相等”,注意不要受形容词用法的影响,在用作动词的 equal 后误加介词 to。
6. I was excited at his idea _________ rid of the habit _________.
A. to get, to smokeB. of getting, of smoking
C. to get, of smoking D. of getting, to smoke
【分析】此题容易误选A,许多同学认为 one’s idea to do sth, the habit to do sth 等结构读起来很顺口的,感觉也是对的。其实正确答案应是B。英语中有些名词(如time 时间,wish 想法, courage 勇气,decision 决定,ambition 雄心,等)后习惯上接不定式作定语,有些名词(如 idea 想法,habit 习惯,hope 希望, danger 危险,possibility 可能性,等)后习惯上接“of+动名词”作定语,而有些名词(如 way 方法,chance 机会,opportunity 机会,等)则两类结构均可接。如:
I have no wish to go. 我不想去。
I have no hope of going. 我没有去的希望。
This is the best way to do [of doing] it. 这是做此事最好的方法。
7. They insisted _________ a car over to fetch us.
A. to sendB. sendingC. on sending D. in sending
很多同学想当然地认为 insist 后接动词时要用动名词,从而误选B。其实动词 insist 后既不能接不定式也不能接动名词,因为insist 通常用作不及物动词;若语义上需接宾语,要借助介词 on或upon,即用于 insist on [upon] (doing) sth;有时它也用作及物动词,但其宾语通常只能是 that 从句,而不能是普通的名词、代词或动名词。有的同学可能是根据 insist on doing sth 这一结构,想当然的认为 insist 后要接动名词,忽略了其间的介词 on。正确答案应选C。
8. When I entered she was reading _________ newspaper, with _________ in her eyes.
A. a, tear B. a piece of, tears C. a, tearsD. a piece of, tear
【分析】此题容易误选D,想当然地认为news (消息)和 paper(纸)均为不可数名词,所以newspaper(报纸)也应是不可数名词;同时认为“眼泪”即“泪水”,“水”不可数,“泪水”和“眼泪”也应该不可数。但非常有趣,newspaper(报纸)和 tear(眼泪)却是两个可数名词,如可说 anewspaper, two newspapers, a tear, two tears 等。注:若不是将 newspaper 当作是供阅读或传递信息的一种东西,而只是把它当成一种“纸”来看待,也可用作不可数名词,如:Wrap it in (a sheetof) newspaper. 把它用张报纸包起来。