第三節(jié)　無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句研究綜述

一、概述

按結(jié)構(gòu)形式將英語(yǔ)從屬分句劃分為限定從屬分句(finite subordinate clause)、非限定分句(non-finite clause)和無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句(verbless clause)．

無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句基本上是一個(gè)省略的強(qiáng)動(dòng)詞分句。它除了無(wú)動(dòng)詞外，通常也沒(méi)有主語(yǔ)，與非限定性分句相比，它進(jìn)一步省略了分句的成分，省略的限定性動(dòng)詞一般可以認(rèn)為是動(dòng)詞be的一定形式。就其深層結(jié)構(gòu)來(lái)說(shuō)屬于強(qiáng)動(dòng)詞分句SVC型或SVA型。實(shí)質(zhì)上，它是由相應(yīng)的限定從屬分句生成的。例如：

An excellent speaker，he was never at a loss for a word．(As he was an excellent speaker，he was never at a loss for a word．)

Young in years，the new cadre enjoys prestige．(Although he is young in years，the new cadre enjoys prestige．)

在有些情況中，也可以認(rèn)為無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句是非限定性分句的壓縮。如：

A notorious burglar，Bob Rand found it easy to force open the lock．(Being a notorious burglar，Bob found it easy to force open the lock．)

無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句與SVC型或SVA型限定從屬分句有著密切的內(nèi)在聯(lián)系，前者是由后者生成的。它與主句的主語(yǔ)關(guān)系密切，而且一般是一種“內(nèi)包關(guān)系”(intensive relation)。因此它的“隱含邏輯主語(yǔ)”(implied logical subject)通常就是主句的主語(yǔ)，如若不然，就會(huì)形成類似懸垂/無(wú)依著修飾語(yǔ)(dangling/unattached modifier)的結(jié)構(gòu)。

無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句通常只有隱含邏輯主語(yǔ)，它是通過(guò)與主句共有主語(yǔ)而依附于主句，但它可將自己的主語(yǔ)表示出來(lái)。由于它在結(jié)構(gòu)上是相對(duì)獨(dú)立的，所以傳統(tǒng)語(yǔ)法稱它為“獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu)”(absolute construction)，例如：

People have been drowned in the area，many of them children．

She marched briskly up the slope，the blanket across her shoulder．

無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句在意義上除了相當(dāng)于限定從屬分句外，還相當(dāng)于一個(gè)并列分句(coordinate clause)，也可以說(shuō)是由相應(yīng)的并列分句生成的，如：

Pale and breathless，Mr．White left the meeting hall．(Mr．White left the meeting hall，and he was pale and breathless．)

Eager to begin the climb，the men rose at first light．(The men were eager to begin to climb and they rose at first light．)

二、結(jié)構(gòu)類型

就結(jié)構(gòu)模式來(lái)說(shuō)，無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句分為不帶從屬連詞、帶有從屬連詞和帶有自己主語(yǔ)的三大類。

1．不帶從屬連詞的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句

這類無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句可理解為省略了限定從屬分句中與主句一致的主語(yǔ)，同時(shí)又將從屬分句的從屬連詞與強(qiáng)動(dòng)詞Be省略，從而生成不帶從屬連詞和主語(yǔ)的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句。其表現(xiàn)形式有：

1)由形容詞詞組表示：這類無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句可僅由一個(gè)形容詞中心詞構(gòu)成，可由兩個(gè)以上的形容詞構(gòu)成，可由形容詞+介詞詞組/動(dòng)詞不定式/that分句構(gòu)成，也可由形容詞比較級(jí)或最高級(jí)構(gòu)成。例如：

Fearless，they fought the last battle．(They fought the last battle as they were fearless．)

Anxious for a quick decision，the chairman called for a vote．

Glad that school was finished，the students ran out of the room．

Most important of all，his analysis is directly incompatible with our view．

2)由名詞詞組表示：這類無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句通常由限定詞+(前置修飾語(yǔ))+中心詞+(后置修飾語(yǔ))構(gòu)成，也可由零冠詞+名詞+or+no+名詞構(gòu)成，還可由零冠詞+名詞+or+not構(gòu)成。例如：

An even-tempered man，Paul nevertheless became extremely angry when he heard what had happened．

Bank loan or no bank loan，we'll buy the house．

Night or day，you can find people working or playing in the big city．

2．帶有從屬連詞的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句

這類無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句是一種結(jié)合類型，可理解為通過(guò)省略限定從屬分句中與主句一致的主語(yǔ)，同時(shí)將從屬分句中的Be動(dòng)詞省去，從而生成帶從屬連詞不帶主語(yǔ)的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句。引導(dǎo)這類分句的從屬連詞常有while，whenever，wherever，whether．．．or，when，although，though，as if，as，even if，once，if，unless，however，no matter what，等。這類結(jié)合類型的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句的形式為：從屬連詞+名詞詞組/形容詞詞組/介詞詞組/副詞詞組。例如：

Though no good swimmer，Mary splashed about happily in the sea．

Whether right or wrong，he always come off worst in argument．

While never in doubt，we had to have proof of your identity．(While/Although we are never in doubt，we had．．．)

Once below，he takes off his jacket and pulls up to the chart table．

由從屬連詞if，when，whenever，wherever引導(dǎo)的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句，其邏輯主語(yǔ)有時(shí)可以指代主句全句或主句部分的意思。例如，If possible，you should test all moving parts中的邏輯主語(yǔ)和謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞是it is，主語(yǔ)it指代主句中謂語(yǔ)部分(prediction)test all moving parts。又如，fill in the blanks where necessary中的主語(yǔ)和謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞是it is，it表示主句全句fill in the blanks的含義。

3．帶有自己主語(yǔ)的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句

這類無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句也屬于一種結(jié)合類型，可理解為當(dāng)限定從屬分句的主語(yǔ)與主句的主語(yǔ)不一致時(shí)，則省略從屬分句中的從屬連詞與謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞Be，從而生成不帶從屬連詞但帶主語(yǔ)的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句，傳統(tǒng)語(yǔ)法稱之為獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu)。這類結(jié)合類型的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句通常由名詞詞組+名詞詞組/形容詞詞組/副詞詞組/介詞詞組構(gòu)成。如：

She talked about her friends，all of them television stars．

The old man sat down，his face pale with pain and traces of tears still on his cheeks．

He put on his socks wrong side out．

In jolly，spirits，whip in one hand and reins in the other，they urged the horses on．

和分詞分句的情況一樣，這類無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句的主語(yǔ)常常由with引導(dǎo)。例如：

He died with his daughter yet a school girl．(He died when his daughter was yet a school girl．)

It was dark outside with the moon not yet up．(It was dark outside because/when the moon was not yet up．)

With the tree now tall，we get more shade．(As the tree is now tall，we get more shade．)

He sat there thinking，with his head on his hands．(He sat there thinking and his head was on his hand．)

三、句法功能

1．狀語(yǔ)

無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句主要用作修飾性狀語(yǔ)(adjunct)，但也可起評(píng)注性狀語(yǔ)(disjunct)與連接性狀語(yǔ)(conjunct)作用。

1)修飾性狀語(yǔ)

無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句作修飾性狀語(yǔ)時(shí)，可表示時(shí)間、地點(diǎn)、原因、條件、結(jié)果、讓步、方式或伴隨狀況等意義。例如：

He sat down beside Chritina，feeling the warmth of the sun against his face，able to relax for the first time in days．(result)

Although common a hundred years ago，red wolves are now increasingly rare．(concession)

He talks as if perfect in the subject．(manner)

He sat at the table，collar off，head down，and pen in position，ready to begin the long letter．(accompanying circumstance)

2)評(píng)注性狀語(yǔ)

無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句可對(duì)整個(gè)句子進(jìn)行說(shuō)明或解釋，表示說(shuō)話人的看法或態(tài)度，對(duì)句子起評(píng)說(shuō)作用。作這類用法時(shí)，其邏輯主語(yǔ)通常不是主句的主語(yǔ)，而是整個(gè)主句的內(nèi)容。例如：

Even more important，we should not let it happen．

More remarkable still(what is more remarkable)he is in charge of the project．

某些作評(píng)注性狀語(yǔ)的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句可有相應(yīng)的評(píng)說(shuō)分句(comment clause)或起評(píng)說(shuō)分句作用的句子性關(guān)系分句(sentential relative clause)。例如，上面的句子可改寫(xiě)為：What is more important，we should not let it happen或we should let it happen，which is more important．

3)連接性狀語(yǔ)

作為連接性狀語(yǔ)，無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句能在句子或分句之間起連接作用，在句際間表示承接意義。例如：

You can write to him about it．Better still，write to his writer．

It is possible that Britain might condone the terrorist's activity．Worse still，she might agree to give way to their demands．

2．名詞修飾語(yǔ)

作為名詞修飾語(yǔ)，多數(shù)情況下無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句在深層結(jié)構(gòu)上相當(dāng)于非限制性關(guān)系分句，對(duì)名詞詞組作某種補(bǔ)充說(shuō)明或表示意義上的增補(bǔ)。少數(shù)情況下相當(dāng)于一個(gè)限制性關(guān)系分句，對(duì)名詞詞組起限定與修飾作用。例如：

They found a ledge narrow enough for one man．(They found a ledge which was narrow enough for one man．)

The summit，bare and black，towered above them．(The summit，which was bare and black，towered above them．)

A 17-year-old student，Ping was living with his uncle when the eruption took place．(Ping，who was a 17-year-old student，was living with his uncle when the eruption took place．)

有時(shí)，這類結(jié)構(gòu)到底是分句還是詞組作名詞修飾語(yǔ)并無(wú)絕對(duì)界線。比如，His hands，numb from the cold，could not find the sky中的numb from the cold，既可看做形容詞詞組作后置修飾語(yǔ)，也可看做無(wú)動(dòng)詞的非限制性關(guān)系分句。又如在上例中，既可把a(bǔ) 17-year-old student看做名詞詞組的同位語(yǔ)，也可看做無(wú)動(dòng)詞的非限制性關(guān)系分句。

四、位置特征

帶有從屬連詞與不帶從屬連詞的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句，其邏輯主語(yǔ)通常是主句的主語(yǔ)。這類分句的位置比較靈活，可置于句首或句末，有時(shí)還可采取中位，意義沒(méi)有什么差別。例如：

The heir to a fortune，Bob's friend did not need to pass examinations．(Bob's friend did not need to pass examinations，the heir to a fortune/Bob's friend，the heir to a fortune，did not need to pass examinations．)

While still at school，he wrote his first novel．(He wrote his first novel，while still at school．/He，while still at school，wrote his first novel．)

由形容詞構(gòu)成的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句置于句末時(shí)，有時(shí)會(huì)產(chǎn)生歧義。比如：The man restricted the woman，aggressive．句中的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句的邏輯主語(yǔ)是主句的主語(yǔ)，相當(dāng)于：The man，who is aggressive，restricted the woman，而The man restricted the woman，aggressive．中的無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句的邏輯主語(yǔ)則是主句的賓語(yǔ)，相當(dāng)于： The man restricted the woman，who was now aggressive．可以看出，當(dāng)無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句的邏輯主語(yǔ)是主句的賓語(yǔ)時(shí)，其位置通常只能在句末。