了解“主系表”句型结构之后,下面将举例说明该句型如何演变为一个结构较为复杂的难句,以使读者了解简单句与复杂句之间的联系。请看例句:
1 Vitamins are organic compounds.
妙语点睛 这个句子的主语是vitamins,谓语是系动词are,名词短语organic compounds是表语。
精品译文 维生素是一种有机化合物。
这个句子很简单,但现在要逐步将其复杂化。比如在名词compounds后面添加一个后置定语,如下句:
2 Vitamins are organic compounds necessary for the normal growth of life .
妙语点睛 这里我们添加了一个形容词短语necessary for the normal growth of life,将其后置修饰名词compounds。
精品译文 维生素是一种有机化合物,是生命正常生长所必不可少的。
我们进一步把后置定语复杂化,比如下句:
3 Vitamins are organic compounds necessary for the normal growth and maintenance of life of animals, including man .
妙语点睛 这里的形容词短语是necessary for the normal growth and maintenance of life of animals, including man,依然将其后置修饰名词compounds。
精品译文 维生素是一种有机化合物,是所有动物(包括人类)正常生长和生命延续所必不可少的。
我们还可以把上句进一步复杂化,比如下句:
4 Vitamins are organic compounds necessary in small amounts in the diet for the normal growth and maintenance of life of animals, including man .
妙语点睛 本句子取自一道考研真题。这里是在necessary和for之间添加了介词短语in small amounts in the diet,整个形容词短语是necessary in small amounts in the diet for the normal growth and maintenance of life of animals, including man,依然将其后置修饰名词compounds。
精品译文 维生素是一种有机化合物,尽管在饮食中的含量很少,但却是所有动物(包括人类)正常生长和生命延续所必不可少的。
比较上面各句可以发现,最后一句话显然要比第一句复杂得多,但是基本句型并没有改变,其核心结构依然是vitamins are organic compounds这一主系表句型。所以读者应该看到,对于难句的分析和解读,关键在于对句型结构的分析。
本节重点讨论了四类不同的系动词,读者应该对其有所了解,尤其是对近似于不及物动词的半系动词,遇到时要能够正确理解句子的意思。
一、请翻译下列句子。
1. She lived the life of and died a spinster.
2. He arrived in Beijing a penniless 18-year-old and now is the CEO of a multinational company.
3. This book falls overdue a week; I must be fined.
4. Mr. Smith died a university president.
二、请比较下面两个句子含义的区别。
5. He acted stupid.
6. He acted stupidly.
三、请选择最佳答案填空。
7. I’m ashamed I acted ______.
A. fool
B. foolish
C. foolishly
8. Lily acted ______ just to play hooky.
A. sick
B. sickly
C. sickness
9. He looked ______.
A. nervously
B. around nervous
C. around nervously
10. He has been working out in the gym to stay ______.
A. healthily
B. healthy
C. health