英語(yǔ)中獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)的再分析

張穎秋

(大連海事大學(xué) 外國(guó)語(yǔ)學(xué)院,遼寧 大連 116026)

獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)(nominative absolute construction)是英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)中一個(gè)不可忽視的語(yǔ)法項(xiàng)目,也是經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)在文學(xué)作品里的一種語(yǔ)言現(xiàn)象.但學(xué)習(xí)者對(duì)這一重要知識(shí)點(diǎn)的理解往往不透徹、不系統(tǒng).各類(lèi)語(yǔ)法書(shū)雖大都有講解,但限于篇幅,很難做到詳盡.而關(guān)于這方面的研究文章雖很多,但大部分出于應(yīng)試目的,通過(guò)大量例句進(jìn)行歸納總結(jié),缺乏本質(zhì)性的系統(tǒng)的研究.這容易導(dǎo)致學(xué)習(xí)者忙于機(jī)械記憶逐條分散的語(yǔ)法規(guī)則,知其然不知其所以然,而對(duì)于一些規(guī)則外的特例現(xiàn)象仍是茫然無(wú)措.本文力求從一個(gè)完整角度,對(duì)這一語(yǔ)法現(xiàn)象進(jìn)行系統(tǒng)闡述,旨在使讀者能對(duì)其有一個(gè)全面清晰的了解.

一、幾個(gè)概念性問(wèn)題

獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)是目前比較通行的一種說(shuō)法.此外,R.W.Zandvoord等人將其稱(chēng)為獨(dú)立分詞結(jié)構(gòu)(absolute participle construction),B.A.Ilyish稱(chēng)之為獨(dú)立主格分詞結(jié)構(gòu)(nominative absolute participle construction),M.Gashina等人又稱(chēng)之為獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu)(absolute construction)[1]2,Quirk則將其稱(chēng)為獨(dú)立分句(absolute clause).[2]785《劍橋英語(yǔ)用法指南》中, Pam Peters用"獨(dú)立結(jié)構(gòu)或分句"(absolute constructions or clauses)來(lái)處理這一稱(chēng)謂問(wèn)題.[3]

從稱(chēng)謂上,可以發(fā)現(xiàn)兩個(gè)問(wèn)題:獨(dú)立主格是短語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)還是分句?為什么稱(chēng)謂中有的帶"分詞"字樣,有的則沒(méi)有?

關(guān)于第一個(gè)問(wèn)題,可以選取兩個(gè)有代表意義的定義進(jìn)行比較:

(1)Longman Modern English Dictionary:nominative absolute:A grammatical independent construction consisting of a noun or nominative pronoun and a predicate without a finitive verb,used to modify the rest of the sentence,e.g.The key being lost,the box could not be opened.[4]

獨(dú)立主格:由一個(gè)名詞或主格代詞和一個(gè)沒(méi)有限定性動(dòng)詞的謂語(yǔ)組成的獨(dú)立語(yǔ)法結(jié)構(gòu),用來(lái)修飾句子的其余部分.例如:鑰匙丟了,箱子無(wú)法打開(kāi).

(2)A Comprehensive Grammar of the English L anguage:Nonfinite and verbless adverbial clauses that have an overt subject but are not introduced by a subordinator and are not the complement of a preposition are ABSOLUTE clauses,so termed because they are not explicitly bound to the matrix clause syntactically.Absolute clauses may be-ing,-ed,or verbless clause,but not infinitive clauses:

No further discussion arising,the meeting wasbrought to a close.

Lunch finished,the guests retired to the lounge.

Christmas then only days away,the family was pent up with excitement.[2]758

非限定性無(wú)動(dòng)詞狀語(yǔ)分句,有明顯主語(yǔ)但沒(méi)有從屬連詞引導(dǎo),不是介詞補(bǔ)語(yǔ),此類(lèi)分句稱(chēng)為獨(dú)立分句.如此稱(chēng)謂是因?yàn)樗鼈冊(cè)诰浞ㄉ喜⒉幻黠@依附于主句.獨(dú)立分句可以是現(xiàn)在分詞、過(guò)去分詞,或者無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句,但不是非限定性從句.如:

無(wú)人再提異議,會(huì)議便結(jié)束了.

吃罷午餐,客人們到休息室休息了.

那時(shí)離圣誕節(jié)只有幾天了,全家人都興奮不已.

從以上定義和示例中可以看出,無(wú)論是短語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)還是分句,都只是見(jiàn)仁見(jiàn)智的稱(chēng)謂問(wèn)題,討論對(duì)象都是一個(gè).而從句法上講,因?yàn)闊o(wú)連詞與其他部分相連,雖有自己的主語(yǔ)但謂語(yǔ)部分不完整,筆者更傾向于將其稱(chēng)為結(jié)構(gòu),而非分句.為了方便闡述,接下來(lái)本文將采用獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)這一普遍說(shuō)法.

關(guān)于第二個(gè)問(wèn)題,仍然回到兩個(gè)定義上.從這一結(jié)構(gòu)的第二部分可以得出,定義(1)中的"沒(méi)有限定性動(dòng)詞的謂語(yǔ)"---包括現(xiàn)在分詞、過(guò)去分詞以及動(dòng)詞不定式(尤其是前面兩種分詞形式)---對(duì)于現(xiàn)代英語(yǔ)用法來(lái)說(shuō)已經(jīng)難以完全概括.因?yàn)橹苯佑眯稳菰~、副詞、名詞和介詞(短語(yǔ))作為此結(jié)構(gòu)的第二部分在語(yǔ)言實(shí)踐中已經(jīng)普遍存在.如:

A young girl is walking towards me,her figure long and slim.(形容詞)[5](一位年輕的姑娘正向我走來(lái).她的身材高挑而苗條.)

Napoleon abdicated and went into exile,his empire at an end.(介詞短語(yǔ))[6](拿破侖退位去過(guò)流放生活,他締造的帝國(guó)隨之滅亡.)

His first shot a failure ,Dyke fired again and again at his enemy.(名詞)[7](戴克第一槍沒(méi)有打響,就朝他的對(duì)頭繼續(xù)一槍槍地打.)

Tea over and the tray removed,she again summoned us to the fire.(副詞)[8](吃完茶點(diǎn),端走了托盤(pán)后,她又招呼我們到火爐邊去.)

而定義(2)中"可以是現(xiàn)在分詞、過(guò)去分詞,或者無(wú)動(dòng)詞分句"就擴(kuò)大并涵蓋了當(dāng)前的普遍用法.再看功能相同的兩個(gè)例句"The key being lost,the box could not be opened."和"Lunch finished,the guests retired to the lounge."可以說(shuō)后句省略了現(xiàn)在分詞being.由此可以看出,通格名詞和主格代詞加分詞或分詞短語(yǔ)(分詞短語(yǔ)是指現(xiàn)在分詞或過(guò)去分詞與它的賓語(yǔ)或補(bǔ)足成分組成的結(jié)構(gòu),如"The boy lay on the grass,his eyes looking at the sky."中的looking at the sky)是這一結(jié)構(gòu)的"標(biāo)準(zhǔn)"構(gòu)成.只是在隨后的實(shí)際運(yùn)用中,分詞 being(having been)被逐漸省略,做表語(yǔ)的形容詞、副詞、名詞、介詞(短語(yǔ))及不定式"取而代之",才構(gòu)成今天被人們所普遍接受的"獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)"的主要構(gòu)成形式.這種演化意在言簡(jiǎn)意賅,突出關(guān)鍵詞語(yǔ),增強(qiáng)表現(xiàn)力.

因此,關(guān)于獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)的概念,可以總結(jié)為:是由通格名詞或主格代詞與非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)組成的具有邏輯上的主謂關(guān)系的獨(dú)立語(yǔ)法結(jié)構(gòu),在句子中做狀語(yǔ),用來(lái)修飾整個(gè)句子的其他成分.

二、獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)的語(yǔ)法功能

獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)的特點(diǎn)是有自己的通格名詞或主格代詞做邏輯主語(yǔ),并且和整個(gè)句子的主語(yǔ)不一致.后加7類(lèi)非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu),包括名詞、形容詞、副詞、介詞(短語(yǔ))、現(xiàn)在分詞、過(guò)去分詞以及動(dòng)詞不定式等詞或短語(yǔ),在句子中并不明顯依附于主干句而相對(duì)獨(dú)立,在整個(gè)句子中起修飾作用.功能相當(dāng)于一個(gè)原因狀語(yǔ)從句、時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句、條件狀語(yǔ)從句、伴隨狀語(yǔ)從句、讓步狀語(yǔ)從句或一個(gè)并列句,其邏輯主語(yǔ)相當(dāng)于狀語(yǔ)從句或并列句的主語(yǔ),后面部分相當(dāng)于它們的謂語(yǔ)或表語(yǔ).獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)的位置比較靈活,可置于句前、句中或句末,常由逗號(hào)將其與句子的其他部分分開(kāi).例如:

1.非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)為名詞

He appeared,his hair a wreck.(他出現(xiàn)時(shí)頭發(fā)亂七八糟.)(表伴隨狀況)

Seventy three people have been drowned in the area,many of them children.(有73人在這一地區(qū)溺水而亡,其中大部分是兒童.)(表補(bǔ)充)

2.非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)為形容詞

I don't know how I did it,he being twenty-five pounds heavier than I...(比較級(jí)形容詞)(我不知道我怎么做到的(把他提起來(lái)),他比我要重25磅呢……)(表原因)

In the nineteenth century,a novelist would bring his story to a conclusion by presenting his readers with a series of coincidences-most of them wildly improbable.(在19世紀(jì),小說(shuō)家會(huì)通過(guò)展現(xiàn)給讀者一系列的巧合來(lái)結(jié)束故事,而這些巧合大部分是萬(wàn)萬(wàn)不可能發(fā)生的.)(表補(bǔ)充)

3.非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)為副詞

He lay on the floor,face downward.(他臉朝下躺在地板上.)(表伴隨狀況)

The inspectionover ,the soldiers were ordered to return to their barracks.(檢閱結(jié)束后,士兵們領(lǐng)命返回了軍營(yíng).)(表時(shí)間)

4.非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)為現(xiàn)在分詞

So much money having been spent ,we have not seen any good result.(盡管花了這么多錢(qián),我們卻不見(jiàn)任何好結(jié)果.)(表讓步)

Weather permitting ,we'll have the match tomorrow.(如果時(shí)間允許,我們明天進(jìn)行比賽.)(表?xiàng)l件)

5.非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)為過(guò)去分詞

She was more than a little overweight,her thickankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes.(她體態(tài)臃腫,粗圓的腳踝上套著一雙低跟鞋.)(表并列)

All things considered ,he has done his best.(考慮到各種因素,他已經(jīng)盡了自己最大的努力.)(表原因)

6.非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)為介詞(短語(yǔ))

Sometimes we'd hook up on the subway going home,he with his tools,I with my books.(有時(shí)我倆一起坐地鐵回家,他提著工具,我拿著書(shū)本.)(表伴隨狀況)

Napoleon abdicated and went into exile,his empire at an end.(拿破侖退位去過(guò)流放生活,他締造的帝國(guó)隨之滅亡.)(表并列)

7.非謂語(yǔ)結(jié)構(gòu)為動(dòng)詞不定式

A number of officialsfollowed the emperor,some to hold his robe ,others to adjust his girdle ,and so on.(許多官員尾隨皇帝之后,有的拎著皇帝的衣袍,有的則給他整腰帶等.)(表伴隨狀況)

He suggested going for a picnic,Mary to provide the food.(他建議去野餐,瑪麗來(lái)準(zhǔn)備食物.)(表并列)

三、獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)的幾種特殊情況

(1)特殊類(lèi)型的獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu).

There being no bus,we had to walk home.(由于沒(méi)有公共汽車(chē),我們只好走回家.)

Such being the case,I'll go there alone.(既然如此,我只能一個(gè)人去了.)

因?yàn)榈寡b的緣故,主語(yǔ)的位置現(xiàn)在分別是副詞there和形容詞such.如果還原成句子,就是:

Because there was no bus,we had to walk home.

Since the case is such,I'll go there alone.

這類(lèi)形式經(jīng)過(guò)長(zhǎng)期使用,已經(jīng)成為一種固定格式.其中第一個(gè)例句還包括 That(This,It)being the case等形式.

(2)在"主語(yǔ)+介詞短語(yǔ)"構(gòu)成的獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)中,如果名詞用單數(shù),可以不用冠詞,同時(shí)介詞短語(yǔ)里的限定詞也可省略.

The music teacher stood at the door,violin in hand.(音樂(lè)老師站在門(mén)口,手里拿著一把小提琴.) (=The music teacher stood at the door,a violin in his hand.)

這里的冠詞和限定詞的省略,是出于語(yǔ)言的簡(jiǎn)化原因,也可以不省.

(3)在分詞為being,并且邏輯主語(yǔ)是代詞的情況下,being就不可以省略.例如:

It being Sunday,all the offices are closed.(因?yàn)槭侵苋?所有的辦公室都關(guān)門(mén)了.)

He being absent,nothing could be done.(由于他的缺席,什么也干不了.)

需要指出的是,分詞being的存留,有時(shí)在意義上是有一定的區(qū)別的.例如:

Dinner over,we decided to play bridge.

Dinner being over,we decided to play bridge.

第一句強(qiáng)調(diào)時(shí)間,意為"吃過(guò)飯后,我們決定打橋牌."第二句可以強(qiáng)調(diào)原因,意為"因?yàn)槌粤孙?我們才決定打橋牌."[1]470

四、幾個(gè)容易混淆的概念

獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)應(yīng)區(qū)別于下面幾種語(yǔ)法結(jié)構(gòu).

1.分詞做狀語(yǔ)及懸垂分詞

分詞包括現(xiàn)在分詞和過(guò)去分詞.以下是兩個(gè)分詞做狀語(yǔ)的例句:

Seeing from the hilltop,we can find the city more beautiful.(從山頂上看,我們覺(jué)得這個(gè)城市更美了.)

Seen from the hilltop,the city looks beautiful. (從山頂上看,這個(gè)城市更美了.)

區(qū)分分詞做狀語(yǔ)和"邏輯主語(yǔ)+分詞"的獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)最簡(jiǎn)單的方法就是將其還原為從句:

When we see from the hilltop,we can find the city more beautiful.

When it is seen from the hill,the city looks beautiful.

從上述兩個(gè)例句中可以看出,與有自己的獨(dú)立主語(yǔ)的獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)不同的是,做狀語(yǔ)的分詞,其邏輯主語(yǔ)必須和整個(gè)句子的主語(yǔ)一致.如seeing的主語(yǔ)是we,seen的受動(dòng)者是the city,否則就是病句,語(yǔ)法上稱(chēng)為懸垂分詞(dangling participle),也叫無(wú)依著分詞(unattached participle).例如:

A.Wondering irresolutely what to do,the clock struck twelve.

B.Having said that,it would be a pity to do it too often.

C.Now damaged in the stern,the captain ordered the ship back to port.

因?yàn)楦骶浞衷~(wondering,having said,damaged)的邏輯主語(yǔ)都和整個(gè)句子的主語(yǔ)不同,句子的意思就變得古怪難懂.垂懸分詞的產(chǎn)生源于錯(cuò)誤聯(lián)系,違反了主謂一致原則.即將分詞的主語(yǔ)與句子的主語(yǔ)錯(cuò)誤聯(lián)系,所以又叫做錯(cuò)關(guān)聯(lián)分詞(misrelated participle).

可以視情況用從句、獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)或統(tǒng)一動(dòng)詞邏輯主語(yǔ)的方法來(lái)糾正懸垂分詞現(xiàn)象.上述3個(gè)病句可試改為:

A.While Mary was wondering irresolutely what to do,the clock struck twelve.(正當(dāng)瑪麗猶豫不定該做什么的時(shí)候,時(shí)鐘敲響了12點(diǎn).)

B.Teacher having said that,it would be a pity to do it too often.(既然老師已經(jīng)說(shuō)過(guò)了,經(jīng)常這樣做就太遺憾了.)

C.Now damaged in the stern,the ship was ordered back to port by the captain.(由于船在實(shí)習(xí)的時(shí)候受損,船長(zhǎng)命令其返港.)

需要注意的是,有些懸垂分詞在使用中已經(jīng)成為被人們所接受的習(xí)慣用法.這些短語(yǔ)有:generally speaking(總的說(shuō)來(lái)),frankly speaking(坦率地說(shuō)), judging from(從……判斷),supposing(假設(shè))等.例如:

Generally speaking,the rule is very easy to understand.(總的說(shuō)來(lái),這條規(guī)則很容易懂.)

Judging from what he said,he must be an honest man.(由他所說(shuō)的來(lái)判斷,他一定是一個(gè)誠(chéng)實(shí)的人.)

這類(lèi)用法僅占少數(shù),要慎用.

2.with/without引導(dǎo)的介詞復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)

I now pay you half the sum,with the other half to be paid next week.(我現(xiàn)在先付你一半,剩下的一半下周付清.)

With the weather so close and stuffy,ten to one it will rain presently.(天氣這樣悶熱,十有八九要下雨.)

不難發(fā)現(xiàn),去掉上面兩個(gè)句子中的with,就變成了兩個(gè)獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu):

I now pay you half the sum,the other half to be paid next week.

The weather so close and stuffy,ten to one it will rain presently.

可以說(shuō),獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)是簡(jiǎn)化了的with-復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu).有些語(yǔ)法學(xué)家也將with-復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)列入獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)當(dāng)中.二者的區(qū)別是,with-復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)更口語(yǔ)化,而除了一些固定形式如weather permitting, present company excepted等,獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)僅適用于非常正式的場(chǎng)合,更多出現(xiàn)在書(shū)面語(yǔ)中.[9]

五、結(jié) 語(yǔ)

獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)是閱讀中比較常見(jiàn)的表達(dá)形式,其發(fā)展變化符合語(yǔ)言簡(jiǎn)化的原則和趨勢(shì).文學(xué)作品中,作家經(jīng)常通過(guò)應(yīng)用這一結(jié)構(gòu)使整個(gè)句子精煉、新穎,富于表現(xiàn)力.但因其書(shū)面語(yǔ)色彩較濃,對(duì)于不熟悉其結(jié)構(gòu)及功能的學(xué)習(xí)者來(lái)說(shuō),不免有陌生和費(fèi)解之感.因此應(yīng)該提高對(duì)這一結(jié)構(gòu)的敏感度,對(duì)其有一個(gè)整體的、清晰的認(rèn)識(shí),從而進(jìn)一步體會(huì)和掌握英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言的獨(dú)特表現(xiàn)力.

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[2]QUIRK R,GREENBAUM S,LEECH G,et.al.A comprehensive grammar of the English language[M].London: Longman,1985.

[3]PETERS P.The Cambridge guide to English usage[M]. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,2004:8.

[4]WATSON O.Longman modern English dictionary[M].2nd ed.London:Longman Group Limited,1976:1120.

[5]李蔭華.大學(xué)英語(yǔ)(全新版)綜合教程(1)學(xué)生用書(shū)[M].上海:上海外語(yǔ)教育出版社,2002:138.

[6]李蔭華.大學(xué)英語(yǔ)(全新版)綜合教程(4)學(xué)生用書(shū)[M].上海:上海外語(yǔ)教育出版社,2002:5.

[7]NORRIS F.The octopus[EB/OL].[2009-06-20].http://www.classicreader.com/book/1777/11/.

[8]BRONTE C.Jane Eyre[M].Beijing:Foreign Language Press,1994:62.

[9]GREENBAUM S,WHITEUT J.Longman guide to English usage[M].London:Longman Group UK Limited, 1988:6.