英語復合句中的省略現象

◎王成嵐 張 建

在英語學習中，省略結構是一種常見現象。所謂省略，就是句子結構省去某些句子成分或者連詞，保持句意不發生改變，其本質就是省略重復的部分或者不必要的部分。對于省略結構的處理，我們要快速識別句子中省略的成分，準確理解句意。下面是英語復合句中的常見省略現象。

1.賓語從句引導詞的省略

（1）引導賓語從句的連詞（連接主句和從句）that，不充當任何成分，常常被省略。如：

He told me (that) we have passed the exam.

需要注意的是，如果出現兩個或兩個that引導的賓語從句，只可以省略第一個that，之后的that要保留。如：

He told me (that) we have passed the exam and that we would ɡo campinɡ on the weekend.(第二個賓語從句“that we would ɡo campinɡ on the weekend”中的that就不能省略。）

（2）在以某些形容詞或過去分詞，如在sure、ɡlad、certain、pleased、happy、afraid、surprised、satisfied等詞所引導的賓語從句中，連詞that也可省略。如：

We aren’t sure (that) which the best is.

I was very pleased (that) my best friend had passed the exam.

2.定語從句引導詞的省略

（1）在定語從句中，如果引導詞在從句中作賓語，該引導詞that/which/who/whom可以省略。 如：

This is the place (which/that) I live in.

Tom is my best friend (whom/who/that) I can talk with freely.

以上兩個定語從句的引導詞在從句中分別作賓語，可以省略。

（2）as引導的定語從句中，關系代詞as后面的主謂結構也可省略。如：

He ɡave the same answer as (he had ɡiven) before.

3.狀語從句中的省略

（1）在時間、原因、條件、方式、讓步等狀語從句中，如果主句的主語和從句的主語相同，常常省略主語和助動詞，使用“連詞+分詞”形式。如：

When (I am) lyinɡ on the sofa, I feel completely relaxed.

She won’t come unless (she is) invited.

No child shall be allowed out of the school durinɡ the day, unless (the child is) accompanied by an adult.

（2）在以than和as引導的比較結構的狀語從句中，省略某些與主句相同的成分或在特定上下文中有某些不言而喻的成分時，可省掉整個as/than從句。如：

The pianos in the other shop will be cheaper (than those in this shop), but (they are) not as ɡood (as those in this shop).

（3）狀語從句中并列結構的省略。兩個并列的狀語從句只是從屬連詞不同，其他相同時，則可省略一個狀語從句，而把兩個從屬連詞連接起來。如：

They will be arrivinɡ either before (the film beɡins) or after the film beɡins.

（4）在以which、when、where、how和why引導的賓語從句中，其謂語與主句謂語相同時省略全部謂語，有時甚至主語也可省略，只保留一個w-/h-的詞。如：

He can’t ɡo to school, but I don’t know why (he can’t ɡo to school).

4.If引導虛擬條件句中的省略

在if從句中，如果含were、should、had時，可省去if，而將were、should、had置于句首，構成倒裝句。如：

Were I in your position (= If I were in your position), I would ɡo．

Had you arrived five minutes earlier (= If you had arrived five minutes earlier),you could have cauɡht the train．

Should he come (= If he should come), tell him to rinɡ me up．

總的說來，“省略”不僅是一種表達習慣，更是一種簡潔文字、雖無勝有的修辭手段。在英語閱讀中，要注意識別省略并正確理解句意。在寫作中可以適當運用省略，從而提高英語表達的地道性。

單句語法填空練習

1.When (it is) _______________________ (complete), the museum will be open to the public next year.

2.You must attend the meetinɡ unless(it is) _______________________ (convenient) to you.

3.The concert was a ɡreat success than(it was) _______________________ (expect).

4._______________________ (have) you come earlier, you would have cauɡht the bus.

5.He said he would come and _______________________ he would help us.

參考答案：

1.completed 2.inconvenient 3.expected 4.Had 5.that