張穎秋

(大連海事大學 外國語學院,遼寧 大連 116026)

獨立主格結構(nominative absolute construction)是英語學習中一個不可忽視的語法項目,也是經常出現在文學作品里的一種語言現象.但學習者對這一重要知識點的理解往往不透徹、不系統.各類語法書雖大都有講解,但限于篇幅,很難做到詳盡.而關于這方面的研究文章雖很多,但大部分出于應試目的,通過大量例句進行歸納總結,缺乏本質性的系統的研究.這容易導致學習者忙于機械記憶逐條分散的語法規則,知其然不知其所以然,而對于一些規則外的特例現象仍是茫然無措.本文力求從一個完整角度,對這一語法現象進行系統闡述,旨在使讀者能對其有一個全面清晰的了解.

一、幾個概念性問題

獨立主格結構是目前比較通行的一種說法.此外,R.W.Zandvoord等人將其稱為獨立分詞結構(absolute participle construction),B.A.Ilyish稱之為獨立主格分詞結構(nominative absolute participle construction),M.Gashina等人又稱之為獨立結構(absolute construction)[1]2,Quirk則將其稱為獨立分句(absolute clause).[2]785《劍橋英語用法指南》中, Pam Peters用"獨立結構或分句"(absolute constructions or clauses)來處理這一稱謂問題.[3]

從稱謂上,可以發現兩個問題:獨立主格是短語結構還是分句?為什么稱謂中有的帶"分詞"字樣,有的則沒有?

關于第一個問題,可以選取兩個有代表意義的定義進行比較:

(1)Longman Modern English Dictionary:nominative absolute:A grammatical independent construction consisting of a noun or nominative pronoun and a predicate without a finitive verb,used to modify the rest of the sentence,e.g.The key being lost,the box could not be opened.[4]

獨立主格:由一個名詞或主格代詞和一個沒有限定性動詞的謂語組成的獨立語法結構,用來修飾句子的其余部分.例如:鑰匙丟了,箱子無法打開.

(2)A Comprehensive Grammar of the English L anguage:Nonfinite and verbless adverbial clauses that have an overt subject but are not introduced by a subordinator and are not the complement of a preposition are ABSOLUTE clauses,so termed because they are not explicitly bound to the matrix clause syntactically.Absolute clauses may be-ing,-ed,or verbless clause,but not infinitive clauses:

No further discussion arising,the meeting wasbrought to a close.

Lunch finished,the guests retired to the lounge.

Christmas then only days away,the family was pent up with excitement.[2]758

非限定性無動詞狀語分句,有明顯主語但沒有從屬連詞引導,不是介詞補語,此類分句稱為獨立分句.如此稱謂是因為它們在句法上并不明顯依附于主句.獨立分句可以是現在分詞、過去分詞,或者無動詞分句,但不是非限定性從句.如:

無人再提異議,會議便結束了.

吃罷午餐,客人們到休息室休息了.

那時離圣誕節只有幾天了,全家人都興奮不已.

從以上定義和示例中可以看出,無論是短語結構還是分句,都只是見仁見智的稱謂問題,討論對象都是一個.而從句法上講,因為無連詞與其他部分相連,雖有自己的主語但謂語部分不完整,筆者更傾向于將其稱為結構,而非分句.為了方便闡述,接下來本文將采用獨立主格結構這一普遍說法.

關于第二個問題,仍然回到兩個定義上.從這一結構的第二部分可以得出,定義(1)中的"沒有限定性動詞的謂語"---包括現在分詞、過去分詞以及動詞不定式(尤其是前面兩種分詞形式)---對于現代英語用法來說已經難以完全概括.因為直接用形容詞、副詞、名詞和介詞(短語)作為此結構的第二部分在語言實踐中已經普遍存在.如:

A young girl is walking towards me,her figure long and slim.(形容詞)[5](一位年輕的姑娘正向我走來.她的身材高挑而苗條.)

Napoleon abdicated and went into exile,his empire at an end.(介詞短語)[6](拿破侖退位去過流放生活,他締造的帝國隨之滅亡.)

His first shot a failure ,Dyke fired again and again at his enemy.(名詞)[7](戴克第一槍沒有打響,就朝他的對頭繼續一槍槍地打.)

Tea over and the tray removed,she again summoned us to the fire.(副詞)[8](吃完茶點,端走了托盤后,她又招呼我們到火爐邊去.)

而定義(2)中"可以是現在分詞、過去分詞,或者無動詞分句"就擴大并涵蓋了當前的普遍用法.再看功能相同的兩個例句"The key being lost,the box could not be opened."和"Lunch finished,the guests retired to the lounge."可以說后句省略了現在分詞being.由此可以看出,通格名詞和主格代詞加分詞或分詞短語(分詞短語是指現在分詞或過去分詞與它的賓語或補足成分組成的結構,如"The boy lay on the grass,his eyes looking at the sky."中的looking at the sky)是這一結構的"標準"構成.只是在隨后的實際運用中,分詞 being(having been)被逐漸省略,做表語的形容詞、副詞、名詞、介詞(短語)及不定式"取而代之",才構成今天被人們所普遍接受的"獨立主格結構"的主要構成形式.這種演化意在言簡意賅,突出關鍵詞語,增強表現力.

因此,關于獨立主格結構的概念,可以總結為:是由通格名詞或主格代詞與非謂語結構組成的具有邏輯上的主謂關系的獨立語法結構,在句子中做狀語,用來修飾整個句子的其他成分.

二、獨立主格結構的語法功能

獨立主格結構的特點是有自己的通格名詞或主格代詞做邏輯主語,并且和整個句子的主語不一致.后加7類非謂語結構,包括名詞、形容詞、副詞、介詞(短語)、現在分詞、過去分詞以及動詞不定式等詞或短語,在句子中并不明顯依附于主干句而相對獨立,在整個句子中起修飾作用.功能相當于一個原因狀語從句、時間狀語從句、條件狀語從句、伴隨狀語從句、讓步狀語從句或一個并列句,其邏輯主語相當于狀語從句或并列句的主語,后面部分相當于它們的謂語或表語.獨立主格結構的位置比較靈活,可置于句前、句中或句末,常由逗號將其與句子的其他部分分開.例如:

1.非謂語結構為名詞

He appeared,his hair a wreck.(他出現時頭發亂七八糟.)(表伴隨狀況)

Seventy three people have been drowned in the area,many of them children.(有73人在這一地區溺水而亡,其中大部分是兒童.)(表補充)

2.非謂語結構為形容詞

I don't know how I did it,he being twenty-five pounds heavier than I...(比較級形容詞)(我不知道我怎么做到的(把他提起來),他比我要重25磅呢……)(表原因)

In the nineteenth century,a novelist would bring his story to a conclusion by presenting his readers with a series of coincidences-most of them wildly improbable.(在19世紀,小說家會通過展現給讀者一系列的巧合來結束故事,而這些巧合大部分是萬萬不可能發生的.)(表補充)

3.非謂語結構為副詞

He lay on the floor,face downward.(他臉朝下躺在地板上.)(表伴隨狀況)

The inspectionover ,the soldiers were ordered to return to their barracks.(檢閱結束后,士兵們領命返回了軍營.)(表時間)

4.非謂語結構為現在分詞

So much money having been spent ,we have not seen any good result.(盡管花了這么多錢,我們卻不見任何好結果.)(表讓步)

Weather permitting ,we'll have the match tomorrow.(如果時間允許,我們明天進行比賽.)(表條件)

5.非謂語結構為過去分詞

She was more than a little overweight,her thickankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes.(她體態臃腫,粗圓的腳踝上套著一雙低跟鞋.)(表并列)

All things considered ,he has done his best.(考慮到各種因素,他已經盡了自己最大的努力.)(表原因)

6.非謂語結構為介詞(短語)

Sometimes we'd hook up on the subway going home,he with his tools,I with my books.(有時我倆一起坐地鐵回家,他提著工具,我拿著書本.)(表伴隨狀況)

Napoleon abdicated and went into exile,his empire at an end.(拿破侖退位去過流放生活,他締造的帝國隨之滅亡.)(表并列)

7.非謂語結構為動詞不定式

A number of officialsfollowed the emperor,some to hold his robe ,others to adjust his girdle ,and so on.(許多官員尾隨皇帝之后,有的拎著皇帝的衣袍,有的則給他整腰帶等.)(表伴隨狀況)

He suggested going for a picnic,Mary to provide the food.(他建議去野餐,瑪麗來準備食物.)(表并列)

三、獨立主格結構的幾種特殊情況

(1)特殊類型的獨立主格結構.

There being no bus,we had to walk home.(由于沒有公共汽車,我們只好走回家.)

Such being the case,I'll go there alone.(既然如此,我只能一個人去了.)

因為倒裝的緣故,主語的位置現在分別是副詞there和形容詞such.如果還原成句子,就是:

Because there was no bus,we had to walk home.

Since the case is such,I'll go there alone.

這類形式經過長期使用,已經成為一種固定格式.其中第一個例句還包括 That(This,It)being the case等形式.

(2)在"主語+介詞短語"構成的獨立主格結構中,如果名詞用單數,可以不用冠詞,同時介詞短語里的限定詞也可省略.

The music teacher stood at the door,violin in hand.(音樂老師站在門口,手里拿著一把小提琴.) (=The music teacher stood at the door,a violin in his hand.)

這里的冠詞和限定詞的省略,是出于語言的簡化原因,也可以不省.

(3)在分詞為being,并且邏輯主語是代詞的情況下,being就不可以省略.例如:

It being Sunday,all the offices are closed.(因為是周日,所有的辦公室都關門了.)

He being absent,nothing could be done.(由于他的缺席,什么也干不了.)

需要指出的是,分詞being的存留,有時在意義上是有一定的區別的.例如:

Dinner over,we decided to play bridge.

Dinner being over,we decided to play bridge.

第一句強調時間,意為"吃過飯后,我們決定打橋牌."第二句可以強調原因,意為"因為吃了飯,我們才決定打橋牌."[1]470

四、幾個容易混淆的概念

獨立主格結構應區別于下面幾種語法結構.

1.分詞做狀語及懸垂分詞

分詞包括現在分詞和過去分詞.以下是兩個分詞做狀語的例句:

Seeing from the hilltop,we can find the city more beautiful.(從山頂上看,我們覺得這個城市更美了.)

Seen from the hilltop,the city looks beautiful. (從山頂上看,這個城市更美了.)

區分分詞做狀語和"邏輯主語+分詞"的獨立主格結構最簡單的方法就是將其還原為從句:

When we see from the hilltop,we can find the city more beautiful.

When it is seen from the hill,the city looks beautiful.

從上述兩個例句中可以看出,與有自己的獨立主語的獨立主格結構不同的是,做狀語的分詞,其邏輯主語必須和整個句子的主語一致.如seeing的主語是we,seen的受動者是the city,否則就是病句,語法上稱為懸垂分詞(dangling participle),也叫無依著分詞(unattached participle).例如:

A.Wondering irresolutely what to do,the clock struck twelve.

B.Having said that,it would be a pity to do it too often.

C.Now damaged in the stern,the captain ordered the ship back to port.

因為各句分詞(wondering,having said,damaged)的邏輯主語都和整個句子的主語不同,句子的意思就變得古怪難懂.垂懸分詞的產生源于錯誤聯系,違反了主謂一致原則.即將分詞的主語與句子的主語錯誤聯系,所以又叫做錯關聯分詞(misrelated participle).

可以視情況用從句、獨立主格結構或統一動詞邏輯主語的方法來糾正懸垂分詞現象.上述3個病句可試改為:

A.While Mary was wondering irresolutely what to do,the clock struck twelve.(正當瑪麗猶豫不定該做什么的時候,時鐘敲響了12點.)

B.Teacher having said that,it would be a pity to do it too often.(既然老師已經說過了,經常這樣做就太遺憾了.)

C.Now damaged in the stern,the ship was ordered back to port by the captain.(由于船在實習的時候受損,船長命令其返港.)

需要注意的是,有些懸垂分詞在使用中已經成為被人們所接受的習慣用法.這些短語有:generally speaking(總的說來),frankly speaking(坦率地說), judging from(從……判斷),supposing(假設)等.例如:

Generally speaking,the rule is very easy to understand.(總的說來,這條規則很容易懂.)

Judging from what he said,he must be an honest man.(由他所說的來判斷,他一定是一個誠實的人.)

這類用法僅占少數,要慎用.

2.with/without引導的介詞復合結構

I now pay you half the sum,with the other half to be paid next week.(我現在先付你一半,剩下的一半下周付清.)

With the weather so close and stuffy,ten to one it will rain presently.(天氣這樣悶熱,十有八九要下雨.)

不難發現,去掉上面兩個句子中的with,就變成了兩個獨立主格結構:

I now pay you half the sum,the other half to be paid next week.

The weather so close and stuffy,ten to one it will rain presently.

可以說,獨立主格結構是簡化了的with-復合結構.有些語法學家也將with-復合結構列入獨立主格結構當中.二者的區別是,with-復合結構更口語化,而除了一些固定形式如weather permitting, present company excepted等,獨立主格結構僅適用于非常正式的場合,更多出現在書面語中.[9]

五、結 語

獨立主格結構是閱讀中比較常見的表達形式,其發展變化符合語言簡化的原則和趨勢.文學作品中,作家經常通過應用這一結構使整個句子精煉、新穎,富于表現力.但因其書面語色彩較濃,對于不熟悉其結構及功能的學習者來說,不免有陌生和費解之感.因此應該提高對這一結構的敏感度,對其有一個整體的、清晰的認識,從而進一步體會和掌握英語語言的獨特表現力.

[1]吳慰曾.英語語法詞典[M].成都:四川人民出版社, 1996.

[2]QUIRK R,GREENBAUM S,LEECH G,et.al.A comprehensive grammar of the English language[M].London: Longman,1985.

[3]PETERS P.The Cambridge guide to English usage[M]. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,2004:8.

[4]WATSON O.Longman modern English dictionary[M].2nd ed.London:Longman Group Limited,1976:1120.

[5]李蔭華.大學英語(全新版)綜合教程(1)學生用書[M].上海:上海外語教育出版社,2002:138.

[6]李蔭華.大學英語(全新版)綜合教程(4)學生用書[M].上海:上海外語教育出版社,2002:5.

[7]NORRIS F.The octopus[EB/OL].[2009-06-20].http://www.classicreader.com/book/1777/11/.

[8]BRONTE C.Jane Eyre[M].Beijing:Foreign Language Press,1994:62.

[9]GREENBAUM S,WHITEUT J.Longman guide to English usage[M].London:Longman Group UK Limited, 1988:6.