混用句型类错误
英语句型包含的内容是很丰富的。从大的方面看,如按结构分,可分为简单句、并列句、复合句和并列复合句;从某一方面的用法看,可以有强调句型、倒装句型等;从具体某个结构来看,还有 so…that…, such…that…, not…until…, too…to… 等众多的句型。这些不同的句型,各有各的特点,同学们在学习时须引起注意。下面举几个例子来说明:
◇下面有三个试题,你能准确地选出最佳答案吗?
(1) He wrote a lot of books, and most of _________ were popular.
A. themB. whomD. thatD. which
(2) He wrote a lot of books, most of _________were popular.
A. themB. whomD. thatD. which
(3) He wrote a lot of books, most of them _________ popular.
A. was B. wereD. beingD. to be
有的同学认为第(1)题选D,第(2)题选A,第(3)题选B,你同意吗?如果你同意,那你就全错了,想知道这是为什么吗?
◇许多同学都知道,汉语中类似“因为下雨,所以我没去”,“虽然我很累了,但我仍继续工作”这类句子,不能直译为 Because it was raining, so I didn’t go. Thought I was tired, but I went onworking. 为什么呢?有的同学总结为:英语中的 because 不能与 so 连用,thought / although 不能与 but 连用。当然这样归纳也还实用,且有助于记忆。但是,你知道它们为什么不能连用吗?换句话说,你知道其中的 why 吗?下面两个句子中就将 though 与 but 用在一起了,它们错了吗?
But I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later.
I tried doing the accounts, but although I knew some maths I found it very difficult.
想知道以上问题的详细解释吗?快往下看。
1. He wrote a lot of novels, most of _________ were popular.
A. them B. whomD. that D. which
【分析】此题最佳答案为D,但很容易误选A。假若单独看 He wrote a lot of novels 和 Most ofthem were popular 这两句话,它们并不错,但将它们放在一起用逗号连接就不甚妥当了。因为,英语句子按其结构来划分,可分为简单句、并列句、复合句和并列复合句四种,也就是说,一个规范的英语句子,从结构上说,它必须隶属以上四类句型之一。但上面一题若选A,则它既不是简单句(因为它有两个主谓结构),也不是并列句(因为它没有并列连词),也不是复合句(因为它没有主从句之分),当然它更不是并列复合句,所以选A是错误的。可以选D,是因为空白处填了 which 之后,后一句即成了一个非限制性的定语从句,前一句即为主句,整个句子即为一个复合句。比较以下各句:
(1) He wrote a lot of books, and most of them were popular.
句中用了并列连词,整个句子为并列句。
(2) He wrote a lot of books, most of which were popular.
后一句用了 which,使之成为定语从句,整个句子为复合句。
(3) He wrote a lot of books, most of them being popular.
后一句用了非谓语动词 being,故逗号处不用并列连词,整个句子为简单句。
2. Just because they make more money than I do, _________ they seem to look down on me.
A. soB. andC. butD. 不填
【分析】此题正确答案为D,但容易误选A,将汉语的“因为……所以……”直译为 because … so …,但是按英语语法,because 为从属连词,用以引导原因状语从句,它表明整个句子为复合句;而 so 在表示“所以”时,它是并列连词,用以连接两个简单句使之成为并列句。由于在同一句中既用了从属连词 because,又用了并列连词 so,使得该句一半像复合句,一半像并列句,从而导致错误。正确的做法是,任意去掉 because 和 so 中的一个,使之要么成为复合句,要么成为并列句。
3. Although he had only entered the contest for fun, _________ he won first prize.
A. butB. andC. evenD. 不填
【分析】此题容易误选A,将汉语的“虽然……但是……”直译为 although … but …,但是按英语语法,although 为从属连词,用以引导让步状语从句,它表明整个句子为复合句;而 but 在表示“但是”时,它是并列连词,用以连接两个简单句使之成为并列句。由于在同一句中既用了从属连词 although,又用了并列连词 but ,使得该句一半像复合句,一半像并列句,从而导致错误。正确的做法是,任意去掉 although 和 but 中的一个,使之要么成为复合句,要么成为并列句。其实,此题与上面一题的分析思路是一样的。这里顺便说一句,许多同学(包括许多老师和教学参考书)为了便于记忆,将此题与上面一题的知识点简单地归纳为“按英语习惯,because和so不可连用,although 与 but 不可连用”。这种说法在通常情况下无疑是对的,也是有效的,但同学们一定要在明白以上道理的情况下来使用此规则,如果只是死记该规则,有时遇到一些语言特例仍然会出错。如:
But I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later. 但我当时的确不知道此事,尽管后来我还是知道了。
此句既用了并列连词 but,又用了从属连词 although,但它并未造成错误,原因是此句与上面所讨论的情形有所不同,即此句 but 用于 although 之前,but 在此仅起到与上文转折的作用,but 后的 I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later. 仍为一个复合句。
I tried doing the accounts, but although I knew some maths I found it very difficult. 我试着算这些账,但尽管我懂点数学,仍感到很困难。
此句将 but 与 although 用在一起,但此句也没有错误。该句从总体来看,它是一个以并列连词 but 连接的并列句,而在该并列句的后面一句又是一个包含让步状语从句 although I knew somemaths 的复合句——这种句型就是所谓的并列复合句。此句也可改写为 I tried doing the accounts, but I found it very difficult although I knew some maths.
4. If they don’t understand it the first time, _________ over it again until they do.
A. going B. to goC. goneD. go
【分析】此题正确答案选D,其余几项均有可能被误选。空格前 if 引导的是一个条件状语从句,而在空格处无论是填A、B或C,它都是一个非谓语动词短语,而不是一个句子,这样一来,整个句子没有主句,从而导致结构不完整。若选D,则 go over it again until they do 则是一个句子(祈使句),在此用作主语。又如:
(1) If he likes to eat it, _________ him some more.
A. give B. giving C. givenD. to give
(2) If anyone calls, _________ them I’m not at home.
A. tell B. telling C. toldD. to tell
(3) When your mother comes back, _________ her to come to school at once.
A. askB. askingC. asked D. to ask
(4) While the baby is sleeping, _________ your work as soon as possible.
A. finish B. finishing C. finishedD. to finish
答案均选A,空格前分别为 if, when, while 引导的状语从句,空格处填动词原形,构成祈使句,用作句子主语。