英语语句中的主语修饰语
英语句子中的任何实词都可以带形容词修饰语,并且以主语修饰语最为重要。简单主语可以被形容词,形容词短语或形容词从句,以及分词,动词不定式,所有格和同位语修饰。
形容词,形容词短语及形容词从句
简单主语可以被形容词,形容词短语或形容词从句修饰。例如:
{Ivory trinkets | Trinkets of ivory | Trinkets which were carved from ivory} lay scattered about。
这个句子的主语trinkets分别被形容词,形容词短语和形容词从句修饰。
大多数形容词短语是介词短语。而形容词从句可以由关系代词或关系副词引导。
1、关系代词
- The architect who designed this church was a man of genius.
- The book from which I got this information is always regarded as authoritative.
- A friend in whom one can trust is a treasure beyond price.
- The boys with whom he associates do him no good.
2、关系副词
- The spot where the Old Guard made their last stand is marked by a bronze eagle.
- The morning when I arrived in Rome is one of my pleasantest memories.
- The year after Ashton left home brought fresh disaster.
- The land whence Scyld drifted in his magic boat will never be known.
应注意,介词和关系代词往往能替代关系副词。因此,第2个例句中的when可以用on which代替。
3、分词
主语可以用分词修饰(有或没有修饰语/补足语)
- Exasperated beyond endurance, the captain cut the rope.
- John, obeying a sudden impulse, took to his heels.
- Having broken one oar, Robert had to scull.
- The natives, fearing captivity above all things, leaped into the river.
- Albert left the room, looking rather sullen.
在第1个例子中,分词被副词短语修饰;第2和第3个例子中,它有一个宾语;在第4个例句中,它有一个宾语和一个修饰语;第5个例子中,它跟随表语形容词sullen。在分析时,可以把整个分词短语(由分词和伴随词汇组成)当做修饰主语的形容词短语对待;但把分词作为修饰词,然后分别列举它自己的修饰语更简单一些。
因此,在第4句中,简单主语natives被分词fearing修饰,而fearing带一个补足语captivity(直接宾语),并被副词短语“above all things”修饰。
应注意,尽管分词是主语的修饰词,同时还与谓语有特殊关系,因为它可以替代副词从句的位置。因此,第7句中的fearing等同于从句“because they feared”;如果用这个从句替代分词,当然是修饰谓语动词leaped。分词的这一双重功能与它具有形容词和动词两方面自然特性有关。在分析句子时,我们把分词看做名词的一个形容词修饰词,因为它的功能之一是替代副词从句,是不同固定风格的一个重要手段。
4、动词不定式
主语也可以用不定式修饰。
- Ability to write rapidly is a valuable accomplishment.
- Howard’s unwillingness to desert a friend cost him his life.
在第1个例子中,动词不定式有一个副词修饰词(rapidly);第2个例子中,它有一个补足语friend(也是它的宾语)。这些例子也可以像对待分词短语一样使用两种分析方法,
5、所有格
主语可以被所有格中的实词修饰。这种实词叫做所有格修饰语。
- Napoleon’s tomb is in Paris.
- A man’s house is his castle.
- One’s taste in reading changes as one grows older.
- A moment’s thought would have saved me.
在这些例句中,所有格中的实词修饰主语,并像形容词一样精确限制它的意思。
应注意,形容词短语经常被所有格替代。因此,在第一个例句中,可以用“the tomb of Napoleon”替代“Napoleon’s tomb”。
6、同位语
主语还可以用替代实词的同位语修饰。
- Meredith the carpenter lives in that house.
- Herbert, our captain, has broken his leg.
- The idol of the Aztecs, a grotesque image, was thrown down by the Spaniards.
- Many books, both pamphlets and bound volumes, littered the table. [这里的主语books被两个同位语修饰]
同位语往往有自己的修饰语。
carpenter被形容词the修饰,captain被所有格our修饰,image的修饰语是形容词a和grotesque。
在分析时,整个同位语短语(由同位语和附加词汇)可以被视为主语的修饰语。然而,更好的做法是把同位语作为修饰语,然后分别列举修饰同位语本身的形容词。
名词性从句可以当做同位语使用,因此也有可能是形容词修饰语。
- The question whether Antonio was a citizen was settled in the affirmative. [这里的斜体从句被当做名词与question同位]
- The statement that water freezes seems absurd to a native of the torrid zone. [从句“that water freezes”是statement的同位语]
同位语位置上的形容词通常被叫做形容词同位语。例如“A sword, keen and bright, flashed from the soldier’s scabbard.”