根据我们刚接触英语语法时的理解,试判断下列例句:
I go through my exam paper carefully. (对)
I go through my exam paper careful. (错)
同学们不难分辨上述两句话的正误。的确,从一般语法角度来看,副词往往出现在句末,作状语,起修饰作用。但是可不可以就此推论,出现在句末起修饰作用的状语都是副词呢?
新概念英语给出了答案:
且看第三册L44 Speed and Comfort 里出现的不按“常理”出牌的句式:
1)An aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly.
2)Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.
第一句话里是我们常见的副词放句末,但对于第二句话中形容词放在句末的现象我们怎么理解呢?
其实这里的exhausted是作伴随状语成分,它的逻辑主语是you,确切说它是修饰主语you的。该类句子一般可以还原成并列句或主从复合句,还原后译文就是:Inevitably you arrive at your destination and you are almost exhausted或者Inevitably when you arrive at your destination, you are exhausted.
而第一句话中的rapidly并非修饰主语an aeroplane,而是修饰句中谓语动词get, 修饰谓语动词,当仁不让的自然是副词。
再欣赏一例:
Fruits should be eaten fresh.= Fruits should be eaten when they are fresh.
其中fresh作为形容词,修饰的是句子主语fruits,并非修饰谓语eat也不是修饰整句话。比较Fruits should be eaten usually, 这里的副词usually做谓语eat的状语,旨在突出eat的频率,而不是fruits了。
由此可见,我们不能一概而论地认为放在句末的必定是副词了,形容词或形容词短语也会悄然出现在句末,只要分清他们修饰的句子成分,就可以清楚地辨别词性。副词一般修饰谓语动词或整句话,而形容词或形容词短语则往往修饰主语,作为主语的补充描述。而这一类形容词或形容词短语在很多句式中还有更加灵活的位置,比如句首,句中等。下面我们来看看形容词或形容词短语作状语的各种情形:
一、形容词或形容词短语作伴随状语
I opened the cupboard door and then stood in front of it petrified.
(新概念英语第三册 L24 A skeleton in the cupboard)
You arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled.
(新概念英语第三册 L44 Speed and comfort)
If they had only one more child, the fact would have passed unnoticed.
(新概念英语第三册 L45 The power of the press:有时候Ved分词也可视为是形容词的一种变体)
They sting or bite without provocation; they fly uninvited into our rooms on summer nights.
(新概念英语第三册 L54 Instinct or cleverness)
二、形容词或形容词短语作原因状语
Tired of sleeping on the floor, a young man in Teheran saved up for years to buy a real bed.
(新概念英语第二册 L49 The end of a dream)
Very excited, the party dug a hole two feet deep.
(新概念英语第二册 L55 Not a gold mine)
Sure that I had passed, I was almost beginning to enjoy my test.
(新概念英语第二册 L69 But not murder)
三、形容词或形容词短语作其他状语成分
We do know, however, that for thousands of years, food was always eaten cold and raw. (方式状语) 2017年秋季中级口译考试
Ripe,these cherries are sweet. (时间状语)
= When they are ripe, these cherries are sweet.
After a long journey, he went back home, tired and hungry. (结果状语)
The boy was shot and fell down dead. (结果状语)
Sure enough, a policeman arrived on the scene and politely asked the workmen to go away. (承接作用) 新概念第三册L40 Who is who
对于很多英语学习者而言,最初的语法句式常常先入为主,产生惯性思维,比如上文说到的副词在句末的情况,看到不按“常理”出牌的句式,往往手足无措,开始怀疑“定论”。其实,英语学习本就是循序渐进螺旋上升的,我们只有更多阅读思考,博闻广记,才能不断拓宽视野,突破语法瓶颈,掌握更多的语法句式。
竺婵桢
集团20周年功勋教师,早年毕业于上海外国语大学,TESOL国际英语教学证书。
主讲:初高中新概念三册