劉發(fā)金
摘要:英語中,英語的主動(dòng)語態(tài)表明句子主語是動(dòng)作行為的發(fā)出者。需要強(qiáng)調(diào)或突出動(dòng)作執(zhí)行者時(shí),就用主動(dòng)語態(tài)?,F(xiàn)實(shí)中,主動(dòng)語態(tài)比被動(dòng)語語態(tài)使用頻率高。被動(dòng)語態(tài)表明句子主語是接受或承接謂語動(dòng)詞表示的動(dòng)作。當(dāng)出現(xiàn)需要突出動(dòng)作承受者、動(dòng)作承受者不明確、考慮到禮貌、措辭或句子主語太長(zhǎng)等情況時(shí),就必須使用被動(dòng)語態(tài)。理論上,及物動(dòng)詞都有主動(dòng)語態(tài)和被動(dòng)語態(tài)兩種形式,并且可根據(jù)語體、表達(dá)需要、強(qiáng)調(diào)的重點(diǎn)等選擇使用不同的語態(tài),主動(dòng)語態(tài)也都可以轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)楸粍?dòng)語態(tài),主動(dòng)語態(tài)和被動(dòng)語態(tài)相互對(duì)應(yīng),同一意思可用兩種語態(tài)來表達(dá),但現(xiàn)實(shí)情況并非如此。由于受動(dòng)詞含義、賓語、意義、語體、話題、想象性等內(nèi)容的限制,部分英語主動(dòng)語態(tài)的句子是不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)的,這一語法現(xiàn)象應(yīng)加以注意。
關(guān)鍵詞:制約 主動(dòng)語態(tài) 被動(dòng)語態(tài) 轉(zhuǎn)換
中圖分類號(hào):H314? 文獻(xiàn)標(biāo)識(shí)碼:A? 文章編號(hào):1009-5349(2020)10-0210-03
英語中,英語主動(dòng)語態(tài)和被動(dòng)語態(tài)在大多數(shù)情況下可以相互對(duì)應(yīng)。理論上講,所有及物動(dòng)詞的主動(dòng)語態(tài)都可以變成被動(dòng)語態(tài),但實(shí)際應(yīng)用中,因?yàn)閯?dòng)詞、賓語、意義、話題、中心、語體和語境等的制約,有些主動(dòng)語態(tài)不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
一、制約因素
1.動(dòng)詞意義的限制
(1)在某些特定意義上,一些表示相對(duì)靜止?fàn)顟B(tài)的動(dòng)詞的主動(dòng)語態(tài)不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。這類動(dòng)詞大部分是表示“相互作用”的動(dòng)詞(reciprocal verbs),比如表示“相象”的動(dòng)詞或短語,resemble,look like,equal,favour(to look like);表示“容納”概念的動(dòng)詞及其反義詞,contain,hold,comprise,lack;表示“適合”的動(dòng)詞,become,suit,fit,befit;表示“被占有”意義的動(dòng)詞,have,own,possess,retain,及l(fā)ast(to be enough for,夠……之用),befall(to happen to發(fā)生,降臨),fall,want[to be without;not have enough (of)缺乏],suffice [(esp.of food),satisfy 滿足],fail(to be unsuccessful失?。?,mean(to intend打算),表示計(jì)量的動(dòng)詞,weigh,cost,last,own等。句子主語不是這些動(dòng)詞所表示動(dòng)作的執(zhí)行者,而且賓語不受動(dòng)作的影響,不是動(dòng)作的承受者。但若詞義發(fā)生變化,則主動(dòng)語態(tài)可變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
The jeans do not become the boy.(becometo suit or to be suitable for合身;適合)
Mr Cliff Young prefers Beijing opera very much.(preferlike better更喜歡)
The Terras have two big houses in the center of the city.(haveto possess;own 擁有)
(2)不及物動(dòng)詞本來不能用于被動(dòng)語態(tài),但一些副詞或介詞與某些不及物動(dòng)詞相結(jié)合,構(gòu)成短語動(dòng)詞,其中有些實(shí)際上相當(dāng)于一個(gè)及物動(dòng)詞,則可以將主動(dòng)語態(tài)變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。一個(gè)短語動(dòng)詞又可能有數(shù)個(gè)不同的含義,在某一意義上是不及物的,而在另一意義上是及物的,需仔細(xì)辨別;因?yàn)橹挥挟?dāng)它是及物的時(shí),才能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。這可以從下面例子中看出。
The daughter-in-law broke in with some fresh ideas of her own.
[break in(intransitive)to interrupt打斷,插嘴]
Half an hour of drill in advance should be enough to break you in.
(Half an hour of drill in advance should be enough for you to be broken in.)
[break in(transitive)accustom to a certain activity or occurrence 使……適應(yīng)某種活動(dòng)或情況]
Jackson doesnt care for his new car.
[care for(intransitive)to like,or to want喜歡;想要]
The health authorities will care for his wife and son properly.
(His wife and son will be properly cared for by the health authorities.)
[care for(transitive)to be responsible for;to take care of負(fù)責(zé);照顧]
(3)“動(dòng)詞+介詞”構(gòu)成的短語動(dòng)詞,通常既可以按其原有的字面意義使用,也可以按引申意義使用。通常只有按其引申意義解釋時(shí),才可以變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
a.When the couple arrived at the bus stop,the bus was moving.
[arrive at? to reach (a place)到達(dá)(某地)]
b.The couple quarrelled and quarrelled,but finally they arrived at a decision.
[arrive atto reach (a conclusion,a decision etc.達(dá)成,作出(結(jié)論、決定等)]
a.Must you look into my drawer?
b.Perhaps they were looking into a case at that time.(look into investigate調(diào)查)
上述每組a例是按照需要表達(dá)的意思,由“動(dòng)詞+介詞”靈活搭配,且詞義是“動(dòng)詞+介詞”的原有字面意義,因此,不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。b例則不同,該短語是固定的習(xí)語,按短語動(dòng)詞的引申意義解釋,因此,能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
(4)雖然謂語動(dòng)詞依然帶有賓語,但某些“動(dòng)詞+名詞”構(gòu)成的動(dòng)詞短語,結(jié)構(gòu)緊密,已成為不可割裂的整體,不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。常見的這類短語有:take place(發(fā)生),lose heart (灰心),speak ones mind(直率地發(fā)表意見),keep guard(放哨),keep ones word (守信),keep watch(監(jiān)護(hù)),break ones word(失信、失言),have words(爭(zhēng)吵、吵架); eat ones words(收回前言;承認(rèn)說錯(cuò));hold water(有道理),change hands(轉(zhuǎn)手、易手)等。
The teacher changed her colour.
The house has changed hands many times last five years.
(5)在“及物動(dòng)詞+賓語+不帶to的不定式”結(jié)構(gòu)中,絕大部分適用于這一句型的動(dòng)詞都能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài),但是少數(shù)幾個(gè)動(dòng)詞,如have,notice和watch等使役動(dòng)詞和知覺動(dòng)詞(verbs of perception)卻不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài),這在閱讀和寫作中應(yīng)加以注意。
Parker is supposed to have his daughter repair the laptop.
×His daughter is supposed to be had to repair the laptop.
The crowd noticed the car slip off the road.×The car was noticed to slip off the road.
(6)表示“喜愛、厭惡、偏愛、致使”等意義的動(dòng)詞,如:beseech(懇求),bear(忍受、容忍),cause(使……遭受),get(使……),like(喜歡),love(熱愛),prefer(更喜歡),promise(許諾),trouble(使苦惱、使憂慮),want(想要),wish(希望)等,后接一個(gè)“名詞或代詞+不定式”結(jié)構(gòu)時(shí),不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
The old lady liked me to visit her.×I was liked to visit her.
The girl wished her boyfriend to have a merry Christmas Day.
×Her boyfriend was wished to have a merry Christmas Day.
(7)完成進(jìn)行體和情態(tài)完成進(jìn)行體的被動(dòng)語態(tài)結(jié)構(gòu)笨拙、別扭,使用頻率低,因此,習(xí)慣上這兩類完成進(jìn)行體主動(dòng)語態(tài)不需要變成被動(dòng)語態(tài),盡管句子結(jié)構(gòu)正確,但極為罕見。
MrSmith has been teaching English in China for ten years.
?English has been being taught by MrSmith in China for ten years.
Pauls parents must have been persuading him the whole morning.
?Paul must have been being persuaded by his parents the whole morning.
2.賓語的限制
及物動(dòng)詞的賓語屬于下面所列的詞語或結(jié)構(gòu)時(shí),主動(dòng)語態(tài)不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
(1)反身代詞和相互代詞。
The lovely kid hurt himself on the face.
The twins are always helping each other with their homework.
For years the father and his son encouraged one another(each other).
(2)賓語是和動(dòng)詞意義相同的同源賓語。
Last week Mr Kevin died a sudden death.
The Chinese people are now living a happy life.
除同源賓語外,這類動(dòng)詞還可接其他賓語。在這種情況下,則可變成被動(dòng)語態(tài),但實(shí)際上用得比較少。
A company of foot(一連步兵)fought a great battle.
A great battle was fought(by a company of foot).
(3)賓語前有與主語有照應(yīng)關(guān)系的物主限定詞時(shí),或者當(dāng)賓語是執(zhí)行者(即主語)身體的某一部位時(shí),主動(dòng)語態(tài)不能變成被動(dòng)語態(tài)。
Mr Simonparked hiscar in the main square and left hastily.