三、分词
1. 分词作定语
1) 分词作定语既可以放在所修饰的词之前,作前置定语,也可以放在所修饰的词后面,作后置定语.其作用相当于一个定语从句.例如:
Where are the reserved seats? (=Where are the seats which have been reserved?)
预定的座位在哪里?
This is a pressing problem. (=This is a problem which is pressing.)
这是一个紧迫的问题.
2) 分词作后置定语可分为限制性(紧跟在所修饰的中心词之后)和非限制性(用逗号与其所修饰的中心词分开)两种,其作用分别相当于一个限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句.例如:
The funds raised (= which have been raised) are mainly used for helping the homeless.
筹集的资金主要用来帮助那些无家可归的人.
There are many students waiting (= who are waiting) to get examined.
有许多学生在等待检查.
This book, written (= which is written) in simple English, is suitable for beginners.
本书是用浅显的英语写的,适合初学者.
3) 分词常和形容词、副词或名词构成合成形容词作定语.例如:
The flower-carrying girl must be waiting for someone.
那位手持鲜花的姑娘一定在等人.
The newly-built building is our office building.
这座新建的大楼是我们的办公楼.
4) 有些不及物动词的过去分词作定语,并不表示被动的意思而是表示完成.这类过去分词常作前置修饰语.例如:
There are a lot of fallen leaves in autumn.
秋天有许多落叶.
The film describes the story about the police who pursue an escaped man.
这部电影描述的是警察抓逃犯的事.
常用的这一类词有:fallen, faded, returned, retired, risen, grown up, vanished等.
2. 分词作宾语补足语
1) 跟分词作宾补的动词有:catch, have get, keep, hear, find, feel, leave, make, want, start, notice, observe, watch, set等.例如:
When they returned home from the holiday, they found their house stolen.
当他们度假完回到家时,发现房子被盗了.(过去分词表示被动)
2) 在复合宾语中,用现在分词作宾补,说明宾语是动作的发出者,形成逻辑上的主谓关系;用过去分词作宾补,表示宾语是动作的承受者,构成逻辑上的动宾关系.例如:
There was so much noise that the speaker couldn't make himself heard.
由于十分吵闹,讲话人没法让人听到他的声音.
When he awoke, he found himself being looked after by an old woman.
他醒来的时候发现一位老大娘正在照顾他.
3. 分词作状语
1) 分词或分词短语作状语时,可以表示时间、原因、让步、条件、方式或伴随状况.通常可转换成相应的状语从句;表示方式或伴随状况的可以转换成并列句或非限制性定语从句.例如:
Confined to bed (= Because she was confined to bed), she needed to be waited on in everything.
她卧病在床,什么事都需要人伺候.(作原因状语)
Having only book knowledge (= If you only have book knowledge), you will not be
able to work well.
如果只有书本知识,你就不可能做好工作.(作条件状语)
They stood there waiting for the bus. (=They stood there and waited for the bus.)
他们站在那里等公共汽车.(作方式状语)
2) 现在分词和过去分词作状语时的用法比较
不管是现在分词还是过去分词作状语,如果单独作状语,其逻辑主语必须和主句的主语一致.分词作状语通常可以转换成一个相应的状语从句,如果状语从句中的谓语动词为被动结构,就用过去分词;如果状语从句中的谓语动词为主动结构,就用现在分词.有时为了强调,分词前可带连词when, while, if, though, as if, unless等一起作状语,以便使句子的意思更清楚、更连贯.例如:
Working hard (If you work hard), you will succeed.
如果你努力,你会成功的.
Defeated (= Though he was defeated), he remained a popular boxer.
虽然他被击败了,但他仍然是一个受人喜爱的拳击手.
4. 分词的独立结构
1) 分词作状语时,要特别注意其逻辑主语必须和谓语动词的主语一致.否则,分词必须有自己的主语,这种带主语的分词被称为分词的独立结构,或叫独立主格.在句中作状语,表示时间、原因、条件等.例如:
The project finished, they had a two weeks' leave.
完成那个计划后,他们休了两周假.
He being absent, nothing could be done.
由于他缺席,什么事也没法干.
2) 独立结构有时也可以用"with/ without +名词(或代词的宾语)+ 分词"的结构,表示伴随状况.例如:
They sat there silently, (with) their eyes fixedon the lake.
他们静静地坐在那里,眼睛看着湖面.
With him helping me, I felt lucky.
有他的帮助,我感到很幸运.
5 . 容易混淆的现在分词和过去分词
像 interesting 和 interested 一类的分词在意义和用法上很容易混淆,一般可作如下区分:
( 1 )一部分表示"情感;心情"等意义的动词的现在分词有"令人……的;具有……性质的"的意思,常用来说明人或事物的特征或性质.如:
The president made an inspiring speech at the meeting yesterday.
( 2 )它们的过去分词有"感到……的"的意思,用来指人的感觉或所处的状态,因而它的主语一般不可能是指物的词.如:
He was too excited to fall asleep.
这类容易混淆的分词常见的有: encouraging, encouraged; disappointing, disappointed; exciting, excited; inspiring, inspired; interesting, interested; puzzling, puzzled; astonishing, astonished; surprising, surprised 等.