【摘 要】英語的語態(tài)有主動和被動之分,兩者之間關系的較好轉換,可以收到意想不到的效果,但主動語態(tài)并非都能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài),筆者就此問題進行了分析。
【關鍵詞】英語 主動語態(tài) 被動語態(tài) 變換關系
【中圖分類號】H319 【文獻標識碼】A 【文章編號】1674-4810(2014)04-0058-01
英語的語態(tài)有主動和被動之分。主動語態(tài)之所以能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài),是因為它的動詞是一個及物動詞,或者說是一個能接賓語的動詞。是否所有的及物動詞的主動語態(tài)都有其相應的被動語態(tài),或者所有的及物動詞的被動語態(tài)都是由主動語態(tài)變來的呢?情況并非完全如此。筆者試就主動語態(tài)不能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)的情況,總結如下。
一 由于賓語的性質,不能用被動語態(tài)
第一,當賓語為反身代詞、相互代詞或賓語前有主語的物主代詞時,不能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)。例如:(1)John could see himself in the mirror.不能變?yōu)镠imself could be seen in the mirror by John.(2)We could hardly see each other in the fog.不能變?yōu)镋ach other could hardly be seen in the fog by us.(3)The handsome,bold doctor shook his head.不能變?yōu)镠is head was shaken by the handsome, bold doctor.
第二,當不定式作賓語時,一般不能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)。例如:(1)John hoped to kiss her.不能說To kiss her was hoped by John.(2)I like to get up early.不能說To get up early is liked by me.
第三,當賓語是缺乏實義的代詞it時,不能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)。(1)We will battle it out together.不能變?yōu)镮t will be battled out together by us.(2)No nation should lord it over other nations.不能變?yōu)镮t should be lorded over other nations by no nation.
二 由于某些動詞的性質,不能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)
第一,徐立吾在其所著的A Practical Grammar of Contemporary English中寫道:Some transitive verbs denoting state cannot be used in the passive.即“狀態(tài)”動詞不能用于被動語態(tài)。例如:(1)Sylvia resembles a Greek goddess.西爾維亞像個希臘女神。(不能說A Greek goddess is resembled by Sylvia.)(2)She possesses many good qualities.她有許多優(yōu)秀品質。(不能說Many good qualities are possessed by her.)
第二,當某些動賓關系十分緊密,不可分割時,或有些動詞后跟賓語,表示某種姿態(tài)或表情時,一般不能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)。例如:(1)The boy didn’t lose heart. 這孩子并沒有喪失勇氣。(2)She leaned her elbows on the table. 她把肘子靠在桌上。(3)He kept silence. 他保持沉默。(4)The little girl we helped bowed her gratitude. 我們幫助過的那個小女孩向我們鞠躬致謝。(5)She smiled her agreement. 她微笑表示同意。
第三,一般來說,帶有雙賓語(直接賓語和間接賓語)的動詞變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)時,既可將直接賓語也可將間接賓語變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)的主語。例如:They gave me a book.他們給了我一本書。(可變?yōu)镮 was given a book.或者A book was given to me.)但也并非完全如此。如:He wrote her a letter.這個句子變?yōu)楸粍泳鋾r,就只能將直接賓語轉化為主語,而且在保留的間接賓語前加上to,即此句只能變?yōu)椋篈 letter was written to her.不能是She was written a letter.
三 某些介詞動詞構成的及物動詞不能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)
某些由介詞動詞構成的及物動詞,作轉義解時有被動語態(tài),作本義解時無被動語態(tài)?;蛘哒f當原賓語是抽象名詞時可變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài),而當賓語是具體名詞時不能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)。試比較:如The engineers went very carefully into用the problem和The tunnel比較。(1)The problem was very carefully gone into by the engineers.(√)(2)The tunnel was very carefully gone into by the engineers.(×)
又如:They arrived at用the expected result和the splendid stadium比較。(1)The expected result was arrived at by them.(√)(2)The splendid stadium was arrived at by them.(×)
四 一些含有情態(tài)動詞的主動句,不能變?yōu)楸粍泳?/p>
第一,當can用作表示主語的“能力”而不是表示一種客觀的“可能性”或表示“允許”時,不能用被動語態(tài)。如:I can do it myself.我能獨立做這件事。該句的實際含義是I am able to do it或I am capable in doing it.“我有能力做某事”并不等于“某事有能力被我做”。所有此類句子不能簡單地變?yōu)镮t can be done by me.如遇It can be done這樣的句子時,應理解為:It’s possible to do it.做某件事是可能的。這與主語的能力無關。
第二,will作情態(tài)動詞表示“愿意”,反映主語的“意向”。如:He will marry her.他愿意娶她。此句不能簡單地變?yōu)椋篠he will be married to him.因為如將He will marry her.變?yōu)镾he will be married to him時,應理解為“will”表示將來時,是助動詞,即“她將嫁給他”,這句話的前提是:They decided to marry each other.
五 結束語
綜上所述,英語的主動語態(tài)并非都能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)。在學習和運用語法基本規(guī)則的時候,不能簡單地認為只要是及物動詞,其主動語態(tài)就能變?yōu)楸粍诱Z態(tài)。需要仔細分析“動詞和賓語”之間的關系及其性質,找出其區(qū)別和差異。只有這樣,才能靈活地掌握主動與被動之間的變換關系,以便更好地應用。
參考文獻
[1]張道真.實用英語語法[M]北京:外語教學與研究出版社,2004
〔責任編輯:龐遠燕〕