初中英语教材中,有一些相同的句型结构,却蕴含了不同的语法意义和句子意思。如果我们不仔细地去分析理解它们,就不能正确把握句子涵义。使我们在做题、阅读、翻译、写作时容易出现差错。现在笔者列举几个比较具有代表性的例句,供同学们参考。
1.I'm sorry+宾语。试比较:
①I'm sorry to hear that.
②I'm sorry I'm late.
③I'm sorry he is out.
分析:例①表同情或难过。例②表歉意或自责。例③表惋惜或借以礼貌地搪塞,近似于:I'm afraid.../I think...。
2.句子+if从句。试比较:
①I will tell him if he asks me.
②She asked her father if she could buy it.
分析:例①中if从句是条件状语从句。例②中的if从句为宾语从句。
3.句子+since从句。试比较:
①Perhaps we'd better ask someone else since you can't answer the question.
②It's been years since I enjoyed so much as last night.
分析:例①中,since从句为原因状语从句,意为“既然/由于……”表示一种既成事实。例②中的since从句为时间状语从句,意为“自从……以来”。
4.句子+so that从句。试比较:
①My pencil fell under my desk,so that I couldn't see it.
②I'm going to the lecture early so that I may get a good seat.
分析:例①中so that引导的从句表示结果,意为“以致于/所以……”。例②中so that引导的从句表示目的。大多数情况下,尤其是当从句中谓语动词前有情态动词can/could,must,may/might和助动词will,should等时,它多表示目的。
5.主语+be+v-ing。试比较:
①Look!Someone is swimming.
②Her hobby is reading.
③The film is exciting.
分析:例①为现在进行时态,表示现在或目前一段时间内正在进行或发生的动作。例②为动名词作表语,其主语是抽象概念“task,job,way,hobby”等。例③为现在分词作表语,此时v-ing已经形容词化了。其主语通常也是物,它本身不能产生动作,此时的表语是用以说明主语的特征或功能的,前面可以加副词,且不像例②那样主、表语位置可以互换。例①、②中的v-ing前不可加副词。
6.主语+行为动词+to do sth.。试比较:
①I want to buy a new pen.
②I went to buy a new pen yesterday.
分析:例①为动词不定式短语作宾语。例②为动词不定式作状语。以上两句中动词不定式短语的逻辑主语都是全句的主语。一般情况下,在及物动词(hope,need,want,help,like等)后面的动词不定式(短语)作宾语,而在不及物动词(run,walk,go,come,live,fly,stop等)后的动词不定式(短语)作状语,用以表原因、结果、目的、时间等。
7.主语+谓语(be动词除外)+宾语+v-ing。试比较:
① I know the man talking with my teacher.
②I heard the man talking with my teacher.
分析:例①为现在分词短语作定语,用以限制它前面的宾语,没有这个分词短语,句子意思也是完整的。例②则为现在分词短语作宾语补足语,用以进一步补充说明宾语,没有这个现在分词短语,句子意思不完整、不准确。它们的逻辑主语都是句子的宾语。例②这类句子的谓语通常是feel,watch,see,smell,hear,notice,observe等感官动词。
8.代词/名词+从句。试比较:
①I watched everything(that)he did.
②I know the news that we are having a holiday tomorrow.
分析:例①中that从句为定语从句,作定语修饰、限制它前面的everything。例②中that从句则为宾语的同位语,为同位语从句。以上两种从句前都有一个先行词。先行词在定语从句中充当句子成分。同位语从句的先行词在从句中不作任何成分,从句与先行词没有修饰与被修饰、限制与被限制的关系,它只用于说明或解释前面的名词。同位语从句中的先行词多是fact,news,idea,report,question等类的词。另外,以上两种从句中的关系词可以由who,which等充当。
9.句子+with短语。试比较:
①He works on the GREat Green Wall with many other people.
②I have never seen a cup with three legs.
③Let's fill the bag with these books.
④She smiled with pleasure.
分析:例①中“with短语”表示“跟……一起”干某事。例②中“with短语”表示“带有;有”。例③的“with短语”表示方式,意为“用……”。例④中“with短语”表示原因,意为“因为/由于……”。
10.句子+as从句。试比较:
①As he loved animals,he continued his education.
②They would go with him in his car every day as he went to the farms to heal sick animals.
③He likes her as much as he likes his sisters.
④All six students do as the teacher says.
分析:例①中“as从句”为原因状语从句,意为“由于/因为……”。例②中“as从句”为时间状语从句,意为“当……的时候;在……期间”。例③中的“as从句”用于“as...as”句型中,表比较,意为“……与……一样”。例④中“as从句”表示方式,意为“按照……”。
遇到以上这些情况,同学们不可草率地下结论,而要想到它(们)可能出现的不同的语法涵义和句子意思,然后根据上下文的语境加以辨别和判断。