我们下面来分析of属格的逻辑语义关系。介词of可以表示很多种逻辑语义关系,读者最熟悉的应该是它表示的“所有关系”,译成“……的”,如上面的例句所示:
1 The mother of the boy in a red suit is president of our company. 穿红色西服的那个男孩的妈妈是我们公司的总经理。
除此以外,of还可以表示其他语义关系。经过研究,我总结出了十多种of的语义关系。在这里我们只讨论常见的三种of的语义关系:主谓关系、动宾关系和同位关系。
一、主谓关系:从右往左翻译
基本结构是N1+of+N2,这里N1是由 不及物动词 变化过来的名词,表示某个行为,这一行为是由N2来发出的。或者说,N2是N1行为的执行者。比如:
2 the arrival of my mother
妙语点睛 这里第一个名词arrival是由不及物动词arrive变化过来的,它表示一个行为;而第二个名词my mother则是这个行为的执行者,即相当于说my mother arrived。
精品译文 我妈妈到了
其他的例子如:
3 the emergence of a strong center party 一个强大的中间党派的出现
4 the rise of the U.S.Superpower 超级大国美国的兴起
我们看到,在以上这些例子中,第一个名词(如emergence和rise)都是由不及物动词变化过来的,此时只能是表示主谓关系,翻译时从右往左理解。再比如:
5 the arrival of the train 火车到达
6 the growth of agriculture 农业增长
二、动宾关系:从左往右翻译
其基本结构是N1+of+N2,这里N1是由 及物动词 变化过来的名词,与上述“主谓关系”相反,N2是N1行为的承受者,而不是执行者。比如:
7 America’s invasion of Iraq
妙语点睛 这里的invasion是由及物动词invade变化过来的,这个短语相当于说America invaded Iraq,即第二个名词Iraq是该动作的承受者。
精品译文 美国入侵伊拉克
其他更多的例子:
8 William’s conquest of England
妙语点睛 相当于说William conquered England,即动宾关系。
精品译文 威廉王征服英国
9 a statement of the facts
妙语点睛 相当于说someone stated the facts,即动宾关系。
精品译文 陈述事实
10 the discussion of the plan 讨论这个计划
我们看到,在以上这些例子中,第一个名词(如conquest,statement和discussion)都是由及物动词变化过来的,此时一般表示动宾关系,翻译时从左往右理解。
从以上的讨论我们看到,若动词是不及物动词,则必作主谓关系理解,如the arrival of the train。但如果动词既可作及物又可作不及物动词使用,则会产生麻烦。比如:
11 the shooting of the rebels
妙语点睛 这里的动词shoot既可作及物又可作不及物动词,因此,the shooting of the rebels既可以理解成动宾关系,即someone shoots the rebels,也可以理解为主谓关系,即the rebels were shooting。具体如何理解,就需要根据上下文来确定。
精品译文 主谓关系: 叛乱者开枪扫射
动宾关系: 开枪打死这些叛乱者
再比如:
12 The reminiscences of the Prime Minister were very amusing.
妙语点睛 我们就不知道是“这位总理在回忆”还是“别人在回忆这位总理”。对于这种情况,我们一般的原则是:凡是可以理解为动宾关系的of短语,就不妨这样理解,除非有相反的证明。如the examination of the fireman我们就作为动宾关系理解为“某人正在检查消防队员”。同样,the scrutiny of the tenants作为动宾关系理解为“在调查房客”。尽管对于上述短语,我们倒过来理解也是完全合理的,如分别理解成the firemen’s examination或the tenants’scrutiny。事实上,对某些词项来说,倒转过来理解更为可取,如the examination of the experts(专家们来检查)。
综上所述,对于不及物动词,则必然是从右往左按主谓关系翻译。而对于既可作及物又可作不及物的动词,则一般按动宾关系从左往右翻译,除非上下文语境有相反的证明。
三、同位关系
其结构是N1+of+N2,这里N2表示N1的具体内容,二者互为同位说明。比如:
13 the city of Rome
妙语点睛 相当于“Rome is a city.”或者说“The city that I mean is Rome.”。这与the people of Rome中的of表达的逻辑关系显然是不同的。
精品译文 罗马城市
14 the news of the team’s victory
妙语点睛 相当于说“The news was the team’s victory.”。
精品译文 该队胜利的消息
15 the news of the team’s having won
妙语点睛 意思是the news that the team had won或“The news was that the team had won.”。
精品译文 该队获胜的消息
判断下列短语或句子中of所表示的语义关系,并翻译成中文。
1.the imprisonment of the murderer
2.the use of solar energy
3.He called for the removal of the ban.
4.guidelines for the control of dogs in public places
5.the virtue of thrift
6.companionship of books
7.I would rather have had one breath of her hair,one kiss of her mouth,one touch of her hand than an eternity without it.
8.Gambling has been the ruin of many worthy families,the loss of many a man’s honor,and the cause of suicide.
9.She felt that women had no chance of gaining a professional career or of exercising their talents.
10.This twofold use of knowledge,that is,knowledge can be used equally for good or evil.
11.To affect change,there needs to be a motivation to change;there has to be a concept of how to change and then there has to be a means and program of implementation of this change.
12.The denial of these principles and the placement of man at the core of the universe results in a paralyzing mass selfishness,and the signs of it are already frightening evident.
一、本章学习思路
正如我们在本章一开始就提醒读者的,提起名词,就如同打开了“潘多拉的盒子(Pandora’s box)”,放出了一大堆有关名词用法的难题。原因很简单,这是由英汉两种语言的思维差异造成的。英语这门语言在描述和界定事物时,要比汉语精确,这反映在很多方面,其中英语对名词进行可数(countable)和不可数(uncountable)的分类就是集中体现之一。我们知道,用我们的汉语思维来看待名词,是不把名词分成可数和不可数的。英语则不然,对名词要分可数和不可数,并且把可数名词又区分为单数和复数。这两方面都是中国英语学习者的难点,因为它们不同于我们汉语的思维习惯。可以这么说,名词集中反映了中国人与以英语为母语的人的两种不同的物质世界观。
对于名词的学习,读者重点是要“理解”和“积累”。所谓“理解”,主要就是指要理解我们在1.2节中讨论的有关名词的可数与不可数,理解我提出来的名词可数性的“相对论”,理解可数与不可数之间相互转化的三大规律。所谓“积累”,就是指对名词单复数变化规则和变化形式要积累,包括下面七大方面的积累:
1.只用作单数的名词有哪些?(见1.3.2小节)
2.只用作复数的名词有哪些?(见1.3.3小节)
3.规则名词怎么变复数?(见1.3.4小节)
4.不规则名词又如何表达复数?(见1.3.5小节)
5.复合名词变复数的规则是什么?(见1.3.6小节)
6.单复数同形的名词(零复数名词)有哪些?(见1.3.7小节)
7.有新词义的复数名词有哪些?(见1.3.8小节)
二、本章重点及难点
需要具体掌握的重点内容:
1.基本能够区分常见的可数名词和不可数名词;
2.掌握名词复数的变化规则;
3.名词所有格的构成;
4.名词所有格的具体用法和含义。
本章难点内容集中在“名词的数”方面,具体来说就是1.2节中讨论的可数与不可数,以及1.3节中讨论的单数与复数。尽管难掌握,但凡是想要学好英语的读者,这两方面内容都是不得不熟练掌握的,否则在造句中就会错误百出。比如不知道该不该把某个名词变复数,也不知道该怎么变复数,进而影响到名词前面的限定词的修饰关系,以及名词后面的谓语的单复数问题。所以说,在整个名词短语中,名词是核心,限定词与形容词都是围绕名词展开的。而在整个英语语法当中,除了动词最重要外,其次就是名词的使用规则了。
三、本章学习时间安排
本章内容繁杂、琐碎,并且涉及英汉思维的差异,因此读者需要多花时间来研读和思考。建议读者用10天左右的时间来学习这一章。另外,本章的综合练习比较多,读者可以再花两天的时间来做练习,通过练习来巩固所学的内容。事实上,对于名词的学习,绝不是读完本章所写的四万多字的内容就完全掌握了,因为名词涉及英汉思维的差异,所以是需要我们在今后的英语学习过程中,一直都要时刻关注的。
综合训练 Key
一、选择最佳答案填空。
1.The old folk of the city is among the first to be evacuated by the five______.
A.aircraft
B.aircrafts
2.______is being built.
A.A steelwork
B.A steelworks
3.I have______to do.
A.a lot of work
B.a lot of works
4.This is a______to an end.
A.mean
B.means
5.In ancient______men usually lived in caves.
A.time
B.times
6.An ironworks______at the foot of the mountain.
A.stand
B.stands
7.No news______good news.
A.is
B.are
8.Jack has three jackets,but only______trousers.
A.one
B.one pair of
9.The police______making inquiries about the accident.
A.is
B.are
10.I saw four______at the exhibition.
A.Japanese
B.Japaneses
11.The Chinese people______a great people.
A.is
B.are
12.Two aircraft______badly damaged.
A.was
B.were
13.I opened the letter and it contained______.
A.an important information
B.an important piece of information
14.There______no means of learning what is happening.
A.is
B.are
15.Under no______would I tell a lie.
A.circumstances
B.circumstance
16.The public______requested not to leave cigarette ends in these woods.
A.is
B.are
17.That fellow is clever;he has______.
A.brain
B.brains
18.The cattle______grazing in the meadows.
A.is
B.are
19.______goods arrived in good order.
A.Those
B.That
20.Before liberation,he could hardly support his family with his______.
A.wages
B.wage
21.Warm______is comfortable in winter.
A.clothings
B.clothing
22.The number of doctors in our country______greatly increased since liberation.
A.has
B.have
23.One thousand pounds______a small sum to run a factory.
A.is
B.are
24.Li Hua’s new works______just been published.
A.has
B.have
25.The singer and dancer______attend our evening.
A.is to
B.are to
26.Tom drove past the______on his way to work.
A.police’s station
B.police station
27.During the power shortage,the______went out.
A.streets lights
B.street lights
28.He is an______.
A.economics teacher
B.economic teacher
29.The current______is extremely uncertain.
A.economics situation
B.economic situation
30.Xiao Li and Lao Wang put up the______decorations.
A.party
B.party’s
31.Liu Yi is the new______professor.
A.mathematic
B.mathematics
32.The students did not like the______.
A.dormitory’s rules
B.dormitory rules
33.He took many______when he was in Beijing.
A.language courses
B.languages courses
34.I need to buy a______.
A.plane ticket
B.plane’s ticket
35.Jane is taking an advanced______this semester.
A.physic course
B.physics course
36.______have sense organs in a canal known as the lateral line,which allows them to respond to changes in water pressure caused by nearby motion.
A.That the fish
B.Fish
C.When fish
D.If the fish
37.Because______is highly compressible,it is impossible to define a clear upper boundary of the atmosphere.
A.air
B.the air
C.an air
D.airs
38.I want______.
A.a dollar worth candy
B.a dollar worth’s candy
C.candy a dollar’s worth
D.a dollar’s worth of candy
39.I’ll go to the sea for______.
A.a holiday of a month
B.a month holiday
C.a months’holiday
D.a month’s holiday
40.I am afraid there isn’t______for you in my car.
A.room
B.place
C.seat
D.corner
41.In ten years’time,all those youngsters will become______.
A.grown-up
B.grown-ups
C.growns-up
D.growns-ups
42.Ten years had elapsed,I found she had______.
A.a few white hairs
B.much white hair
C.a little white hairs
D.few white hair
43.______are grazing in the fields.
A.Ten heads of cattle
B.Ten head of cattle
C.Ten heads of cattles
D.Ten head of cattles
44.The book contained a large______of information.
A.deal
B.amount
C.number
D.sum
45.Hardly a month goes by without______of another survey revealing new depths of scientific illiteracy among U.S.citizens.
A.words
B.a word
C.the word
D.word
46.Clint will give us______on our grammar study.
A.an advice
B.some advice
C.some advices
D.advices
47.There are many______on the scene of the accident.
A.lookers-on
B.lookers-ons
C.looker-ons
D.looker-on
48.I walked too much yesterday and______are still aching now.
A.my leg’s muscles
B.my muscles of leg
C.my leg muscles
D.my muscles of the leg
49.My home is only twenty______from New Oriental School.
A.minute walk
B.minutes walk
C.minutes’walk
D.minute’s walk
50.The woman over there is______mother.
A.Julia and Mary
B.Julia and Mary’s
C.Julia’s and Mary’s
D.Julia’s and Mary
51.He is very tired.He needs______.
A.a night rest
B.rest night
C.a night’s rest
D.rest of night
52.______is too much for a little boy to carry.
A.A bike’s weight
B.Bike’s weight
C.The weight of a bike
D.The weights of bikes
53.In this medical team there are______and______.
A.three man doctors,two woman nurses
B.three men doctors,two women nurses
C.three man doctor,two women nurse
D.three men doctor,two women nurse
54.The old house belongs to______.
A.Jack’s and his brother
B.Jack’s and his brother’s
C.Jack and his brother’s
D.Jack and his brother
55.Are these______who are playing volleyball over there?
A.the bikes of the students
B.the students’bikes
C.the bikes of the students’
D.the student’s bikes
56.The policeman is investigating the______about the traffic accident.
A.passer-by
B.passers-by
C.passer-bys
D.passers-bys
57.Suddenly______fire broke out in the warehouse and everything in it was on______fire.
A.×/a
B.the/×
C.a/×
D.×/the
58.The soldier left his______in the______.
A.arm,quarter
B.arm,quarters
C.arms,quarter
D.arms,quarters
59.The basketball team______baths now.
A.has
B.have
C.is having
D.are having
60.Statistics______one of the subjects that I study.
A.are
B.is
C.were
D.was
61.This is my______bicycle.
A.uncle Peter
B.uncle’s Peter
C.uncle Peter’s
D.uncle’s Peter’s
62.The______living-rooms are near their bedrooms.
A.child’s
B.children’s
C.childrens’
D.children
63.Our university has bought______for the laboratory.
A.a new equipment
B.a new piece of equipment
C.some new equipments
D.new equipments
64.Can you make change for a______?
A.twenty-dollars bill
B.twenty-dollar bill
C.twenty dollars bill
D.twenty dollar bill
65.I have to write a______this weekend.
A.one-thousand-words paper
B.one-thousand-word paper
C.one thousand words paper
D.one thousand word paper
66.______already been interviewed.
A.A number of applicants have
B.A number of applicants has
C.The number of applicants have
D.The number of applicants has
67.There______telephone calls today.
A.has been a number of
B.have been a number of
C.has been the number of
D.have been the number of
68.______dull.
A.This scissors are
B.These scissors is
C.This pair of scissors is
D.This pair of scissors are
69.He doesn’t have______money.
A.much
B.many
C.a few
D.fewer
70.There are______students in this room than in the next room.
A.little
B.few
C.less
D.little
71.There______bad news on television tonight.
A.is too much
B.are too much
C.is too many
D.are too many
72.______people left early.
A.A lot
B.A few
C.A little
D.Less
73.Would you like______sugar than this?
A.less
B.fewer
C.little
D.few
74.Only______dollars have been borrowed from the manager.
A.a few
B.few
C.some
D.little
75.The letter was short because there wasn’t______.
A.many news
B.much news
C.a lot news
D.a lot of news
76.There are______in the Central Park.
A.lots of children
B.lots of childs
C.a lot children
D.a lot childs
77.There are a lot of______in the field.
A.sheeps and cows
B.sheeps and cow
C.sheep and cows
D.sheep and cow
二、改错题。
78.The hind leg (A) of the gerbil are particularly (B) well adapted to (C) leaping across (D) its desert habitat.
79. Much (A) theories have been (B) developed concerning how (C) people learn about cultures from the myths and legends passed down from one generation to another (D).
80.Several comet (A) are discovered each year,but very few of them (B) are bright (C) enough to be seen (D) without the aid of magnification.
81.Rafting was an (A) essential mean (B) of transportation (C) from prehistoric times (D) to the nineteenth century.
82.The actor (A) James Earl Jones gained (B) Broadway stardom in The Great White Hope for his powerful (C) portrayal of prizefighter (D).
83.Large,multicolored insects with (A) four wings,dragonflies play (B) a very important role in the ecosystem of humid area (C) by controlling (D) the population of mosquitoes.
84.In 1889 Jane Addams,a social worker in Chicago,founded Hull House,an institution (A) devoted (B) to the improvement (C) of community life in poor neighborhood (D).
85.In the late nineteenth century,journalist and publisher William Randolph Hearst established (A) a vast publishing empire that included (B) eighteen newspapers (C) in twelve city (D).
86.The Architectural History Foundation was (A) established in 1977 to support (B) the publication (C) of important book (D) on architecture.
87. Most (A) bats roost in crevices,caves,or building (B) by day and are active (C) at night or (D) twilight.
88.The water (A) of Hanauma Bay in Oahu,Hawaii, are known (B) for the color,diversity,and abundance (C) of their (D) tropical fish.
89.Metalworkers use the term“machine tool”to refer to (A) a piece of an (B) equipment (C) used for shaping (D) metal.
90.The health (A) authority (B) announced that decision (C) two days ago (D) .
91.She now has authorities (A) over (B) the people she used to (C) take orders (D) from.
92.A good sleeping (A) bag is an (B) essential part (C) of every camper’s equipments (D).
93.To meet needs (A) of providing live (B) international television coverage (C) ,more and more communication (D) satellites have been launched.
94.In old times (A) there were many (B) monarches (C) in Europe (D).
95.The flock of sheep (A) is (B) straying in (C) all directions (D).
96. As many as (A) 50 percent of the income (B) from motion pictures produced in the United States comes from (C) marketing the films abroad (D).
97. The superintendent (A) of women nurse (B) for the Union Army during (C) the Civil War was (D) Dorothea Dix.
98.In the United States, presidential (A) elections are held once (B) every (C) four year (D).
99.Located in Canada,the Columbia Icefield covers (A) area (B) of 120 square miles and is 3.3 feet thick (C) in some places (D).
100.Because of its (A) vast tracts of virtually uninhabited northern forest (B) ,Canada has one of the lowest population (C) density (D) in the world.
101.An intrinsic part of the sound structure of poet (A) ,the repetition of a consonant sound (B) or sounds,may also be (C) exhibited in prose. (D)
102. Accounting (A) is described as art (B) of classifying, recording (C) ,and reporting significant (D) financial events.
103.The ability to talk (A) is one of the skill (B) that make humans (C) different from the rest of the animal (D) world.
104.Floyd Bennett was a pilot for (A) two of the Arctic expedition (B) of the 1920’s and the first (C) pilot to fly over (D) the North Pole.
105.North American bisons (A) differ (B) from domestic cattle in having (C) 14 rather than (D) 13 pairs of ribs.
106.Short-wave radios (A) that can receive and transmit signals (B) are used by pilots,the police (C) and amateur operator (D).
107.The data received (A) from the two spacecrafts (B) whirling around Mars indicate (C) that there is much evidence that huge thunderstorms are occurring (D) about the equator of the planet.
108.John’s chance of being elected (A) chairman (B) of the committee is far (C) greater than Dick (D).
109. The man (A) has used metals for centuries in gradually (B) increasing quantities,but it was not until the Industrial Revolution that they came to be employed (C) in real (D) vast quantities.
110. Starfish (A) move,feed,and breathes (B) with their (C) tube feet (D).
111.Because the tachinid fly is a parasite of harmful (A) insects, much (B) species have been (C) imported into the United States to combat (D) insect pests.
112.The purpose of traveler’s checks (A) is (B) to protect travelers from theft (C) and accidental lost (D) of money.
113. The (A) main advertising media include (B) direct mail (C) ,radio,television,magazines and newspaper (D).
114. Rabbits (A) have large front tooth (B) ,short tails,and hind legs (C) and feet adapted for (D) running and jumping.
115.Alaska is famous for (A) tall (B) mountains and (C) beautiful sceneries (D).
116. Born (A) in Texas in 1890,Katherine Anne Porter produced three collection (B) of short stories (C) before publishing (D) her well-known novel Ship of Fools in 1962.