先來看幾道歷年的高考題:
1. twice,the postman refused to deliver our letters unless we chain our dog.(2009高考英語北京卷34)
A.Being bittenB.BittenC.Having bittenD.To be bitten
【答案】B
【解析】考查分詞辨析。語意為:因為被狗咬兩次以后,郵遞員再也不想給我們送信除非我們拴了狗。考查分詞作原因狀語,因為被狗咬,故填bitten。此句可以變為:Because the postman was bitten twice by our dog,he refused to deliver our letters unless we chain it.
2.The old man asked Lucy to move to another chairhe wanted to sit next to his wife.(2010高考英語遼寧卷,29)
A.althoughB.unlessC.becauseD.if
【答案】C
【解析】考查連詞辨析。語意為:那個老人讓Lucy去坐另一張椅子,因為他想挨著他妻子坐。后面的從句表示原因,故填because。此句可以變為:The old man asked Lucy to move to another chair because?he wanted to sit next to his wife.
3.by the growing interest in nature,more and more people enjoy outdoor sports.(2010高考英語上海春季卷,34)
A.Influenced B.Influencing
C.Having influenced D.To be influenced
【答案】A
【解析】非謂語動詞。非謂語動詞的解題關鍵是找準其邏輯主語。在本題中,influence的邏輯主語是“more and more people”,它們之間是動賓關系,所以用過去分詞形式。D項表示將來,不符合語意。所以這里選A項。此句可以變為:Because they are influenced by the growing interest in nature,more and more people enjoy outdoor sports.
從以上的高考試題可以看出,英語中表示原因的方式很多,有分詞或分詞短語、連詞、介詞和介詞短語、動詞不定式等,下面談談英語中表示原因的幾種常見構成方式。
一、從屬連詞because/as/since/和并列連詞for
如:
(1)I did it because they asked me to do it.我做了這件事是因為他們請我做的。
(2)As it was raining,you’d better take a taxi.天在下雨,你最好乘出租車去。
(3)Since we have no money,we can’t buy it.我們沒有錢,所以我們沒法買。
(4)I asked her to stay to tea,for I had something to tell her.我請她留下來喝茶,因為我有點事要告訴她。
解析:1.這四詞語氣逐級遞減。2.because表示直接的原因或理由,重點在從句,常譯為“因為”;since表示對方已知,無需說明的既成事實,中心句在主句,常譯為“既然”;as表示明顯的原因,重點在主句,常譯為“由于”;for是個并列連詞,只能放在另一個并列句后面,表示一種推理或解釋,或用作附加說明,并不指理由或原因,一般不放在句首,常譯為“因為”,“其理由是”(for表示因果關系時可以同because交替使用,但for前須用逗號,而because則不必。
二、介詞和介詞短語
1.介詞with/for/at/of/from/over這類介詞所表達的原因是暗含的,漢譯時不一定譯出。如:
(1)She was shivering with cold.她冷得發抖。
(2)He was very angry at losing it.他把它丟了,很生氣。
(3)We jumped for joy.我們高興得跳了起來。
(4)She couldn’t speak for laughing.她笑得說不成話。
(5)He came of his own accord.他是自愿來的。
(6)Many old people died from the smog.許多老人死于煙霧污染。
(7)It is no use crying over spilt milk.覆水難收。
2.介詞短語:英語中有大量的介詞短語表示原因,以下是一些常見的例子:
(1)on account of something/on this/that account
We delayed our departure on account of the bad weather.因為天氣惡劣,我們推遲了行程。
(2)because of
They are her because of us.他們到這兒來是因為有我們。
(3)by reason of
He was excused by reason of his age.他因為年齡關系而被原諒。
(4)as a result of
The flight was delayed as a result of fog.航班因霧而晚點。
(5)for fear of
They are afraid to speak for fear of making errors.他們不敢講話是因為害怕出錯。
三、分詞(形容詞,副詞)+as從句或分詞結構直接作原因狀語
如:
(1)Tired as he was,we decided not to disturb him.因為他累了,我們決定不去打擾他。
(2)Hard as he studied,he passed the test with ease.由于學習刻苦,他很容易地通過了測試。
(3)Being ill,she didn’t go to school.由于有病,她沒去上學。
(4)Having worked among the peasants for many years,he know them well.由于在農民中工作多年,他對他們很了解。
(5)Led by the party,we are marching from victory to victory.在黨的領導下,我們正從一個勝利走向另一個勝利。
注意:不要把第1,2兩個例子的句式與讓步狀語從句相混淆。如果把這兩個句子中的形容詞或副詞移到分詞之后,就很容易看出它們表示原因,而讓步狀語從句中的形容詞或副詞移至分詞末尾時則句意不合邏輯。
四、動詞不定式(一般放在謂語動詞之后)
如:
(1)The old workers shudder to think of his miserable life in pre-liberation days.老工人們一想到新中國成立前的悲慘生活就不寒而栗。
(2)I am sorry to hear that.聽到這個我很傷心。
五、非限定性定語從句
如:
(1)They both went softly into the bedroom,where the baby was sleeping in a cradle.他們兩個輕手輕腳地走進臥室,因為孩子正在那兒的搖籃中熟睡。
(2)The old couple was proud of their grandson,who won 3 medals at the 26th Olympic Games.老兩口為孫子感到驕傲,因為他在第28屆奧運會上獲得三枚獎牌。
本文是甘肅省教育科學“十一五”規劃2010年規劃課題——新課程背景下高考英語優化復習方案的研究(課題編號GS(2010)G0565)成果之一。
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