对省略现象的考查已成为近年来英语高考试题中的常考点。因为省略这种语法手段既可避免重复,突出新 的信息,又能使上下文更紧密地连接起来。这也正符合现代生活快节奏的需要。因此,在英语口语中,只要不 损害结构和引起歧义,能省略的地方就尽可能省略。
但有时省略的成分,在句中占有相当的份量,能表达一定的信息,这无疑就增加了试题的难度。因此在解 题时,除了应特别注意进行语境分析,从上文或上、下文中找出相关的省略成份外,还要对常用的省略知识有 所了解,从而做到有的放矢,找出解题的突破口。下面就该问题作一分析。
一、复合句中的省略现象
复合句中的省略现象通常出现在状语从句中。
一)在含有比较结构的复合句中,常在as或than引导的分句中省略某些与主句相同的成分或省略在特定上 下文或特定情景中某些不言而喻的成分;或整个as/than从句。如:
pianos in the other shop will be______, but_____.(met90)
per;not as better
cheap; not as better
per; not as good
cheap; not as good
本题应选c。分别为cheaper than those in this shop 和theyare not as good as those in this s hop的省略。
plays football________,if not better than, david.(nmet94)
well well as
well well as
本题应选b。根据上下文可看出if not better than 为if johndoesn#39;t play football better than david(plays football) 的省略。那么,排除这个条件的话,john和david就踢得一样好了。 故要用副词well 的同级比较的肯定式。
beautifully she sings! i#39;ve never heard _______ .(nmet96)
better voice b.a good voice
best voice d.a better voice
本题应选d。从整个语境来分析,后句中的比较状语从句than hers被省略掉了。故此题应选比较级。
二)如果复合句中的时间、条件、原因状语从句用了主语+be+分词结构,且主、从句主语一致时,可省 略从句的连接词、主语和be助动词,只保留分词和其它成分。如:
4.________in thought, he almost ran into the car in frontof him.(nmet96)
ng ng lost
lose
本题应选c。lost in thought 为as he was lost in thought之省略。
5.________more attention, the trees could have grownbetter.(met90)
n give
ng ng given
本题应选a。given more attention为if they were given moreattention之省略。
三)在含有定语从句的复合句中,如果定语从句用了进行时态或被动语态,且关系代词在从句中作主语时 ,可省略关系代词和助动词。只保留分词或其它成分。如:
olympic games,_______ in 776 b.c., did not includewomen players until 1912.(nmet97)
t playing be first played
t played be first playing
本题应选c。first played 为which was first played 之省略。
you know the boy__________ under the big tree? (met89)
a. lay ng g
本题应选d。lying为who is lying之省略。
of the artists ________ to the party were fromsouth africa.(met90)
ted invite
g invited been invited
本题应选a。invited为who were invited之省略。
first textbooks________for teaching english as aforeign language came out in the 1 6th century.
ng written be written
g written ten(nmet94)
本题应选d。written为that were written之省略。
四)如复合句中从句的句尾和主句相重复的话,从句的句尾可省略掉(括号中的内容为省略掉的成分)。 如:
lei will play football if mike will (play football).
is going to sweep the floor because/though alicewon#39;t(sweep the floor).
五)在复合句中,如果两个并列的状语从句只是从属连词不同,其它相同时,则可省略一个状语从句,而 把两个从属连词连接起来(括号中的内容为省略的成分)。如:
will be arriving either before (the film begins)or after the film begins.
六)在含有宾语从句的复合句中,如有两个并列的that从句的主动词及随带成份(宾语、表语、状语等) 一样时,可将第二个that从句的主动词及随带成份省略。两个并列的that从句,如果主语相同,而谓语不同, 可把第二个that从句的连词和主语一齐省略。两个并列的从句如连词不同而其它成份相同,可省略第一分句和 第二分句相同的部分,只把两个连词连接起来(括号内容为省略的成分)。如:
13.i know mary will sing in the party but john won#39;t(sing in the party).
him that i#39;ll call to see him and (that i#39;ll) havesupper with him.
15.i don#39;t know when (he was born) and where he was born.
二、在回答一般疑问句的简略答语中;或回答用陈述句,祈使句表示要求、命令的简略答语中。 常用yes /no+主语+助动词, 而省略主动词或其它成份。但助动词应和原句的助动词和时间概念须保持相应的一致; 或根据句意选择对特殊问句的答语时,常常省略和问句相重复的部分,只保留新信息部分。如:
1.—alice, why didn#39;t you come yesterday?
—i ______ ,but i had an unexpected visitor. (nmet97)
d
going to
本题选c。据句意,是表示昨天打算要来。 was going to 后省略了come yesterday。
2.—could i borrow your dictionary?
—yes, of course you ________ . (nmet92)
t ld
本题选c。could在句中表示委婉语气,而不是过去时,答语中应用can;can后省略了borrow my dictiona ry。
3.—don#39;t forget to come to my birthday party tomorrow.
—__________.(nmet94)
a.i don#39;t b.i won#39;t
c.i can#39;t d.i haven#39;t
本题选b。因祈使句含有未来的意味,再加上有tomorrow的限制,因而应用i won#39;t回答。i won#39;t 后省略 了forget to go to yourbirthday party tomorrow。
4.—how long has this bookshop been in business?
—_________ 1982.(nmet94)
r e
本题选d。根据句意和结构, 该题承前省略了主语、 谓语it hasbeen in business 等; 只保留了新信 息(时间状语)部分; 再由howlong对时间段提问的限制,只能选since。
三、在回答问句及其它形式的答语中,如有和上文重复的不定式时,在答语中只保留其不定式符号to,而 把动词和其它部分省略。如:
1.—would you like to come to dinner tonight?
—i#39;d like to,______i#39;m too busy. (nmet94)
本题应选d。据上文, 下文中的i#39;d like to 后省略了come todinner tonight,这样很容易看出逗号 前后信息相反,故选but。
2.—i#39;ll be away on a business trip. would you mindlooking after my cat?
—not at all,__________.(nmet95)
a.i#39;ve no time b.i#39;d rather not
c.i#39;d like it d.i#39;d be happy to
本题应选d。据not at all 的限制,a、b不合题意。c搭配错, 因#39;d like后应跟不定式。i#39;d be happy to 后省略了look after yourcat。
boy wanted to ride his bicycle in the street, buthis mother told him_________.
(nmet95)
to to do
do it not to
本题选a。not to 后省略了和上文相重复的`ride his bicycle inthe street。
四、英语中的反意疑问句。反意疑问句常用一个肯定的陈述句,再加上一个只保留助动词和主语的简略问 句的否定形式;或一个否定的陈述句,再加上一个简略疑问句的肯定形式;而其它成分则被省略。祈使句的反 意问句形式,不管祈使句是肯定的还是否定的,除了在let#39;s...后加简略的疑问句shall we外,其余的都在其 后加will you。如:
#39;s a fine day. let#39;s go fishing,________?
#39;t we we
#39;t we l we(met90)
本题选d。
sure to write to us, _______?(nmet93)
you #39;t you
you n#39;t you
本题选a。
五、在英语中,有一些特殊的省略结构, 如:what/how about...? why not do...?等实际上已形成了习 惯用法。how/what about 后只跟名词、代词或动名词(短语);why not后只接动词原形。如:
about the two of us________a walk down the garden?(met93)
take
ng be taking
本题选c。
2.—i usually go there by train.
—why not_______by boat for a change? (nmet92)
try going ng to go
try and go going
本题选d。
六、和前文重复的助动词或重复的主要动词也可省略(括号部分为省略的成分)。如:
1. you could have come and (you could have) told me.
se clean the classroom and (clean) the reading-room.
七、和前文重复的冠词、物主代词、指示代词及其它的限定词、介词和连词等也可省略(括号内的内容为 省略的成分)。如:
1.a man and (a) woman have just passed by.
se take good care of those books and (those) papers.
lived in beijing and (in) shanghai for some time.
八、两个或两个以上被形容词修饰的同一名词,前边的常被省略;重复出现的形容词,后边的可以省略( 括号内容为省略成分)。如:
e were middle-aged (men) and elderly men to attendthe meeting.
are young boys and (young) girls.
九、如果句意或上下文意思清楚,一般动词前的人称代词和形容词前的人称代词+be可被省略;词首的冠 词、物主代词、人称代词和助动词也可被省略(括号内容为省略的成份)。如:
1.(have you) seen tom?
2.(i) couldn#39;t know this matter.
3.(i) hope to see you soon.
4.(i am) glad to see you.
5.(the) car#39;s giving trouble again.
十、so,nor/neither 用来表示“……也一样”时,也用省略结构(括号内容为省略的成份)。如:
1.—i am a student.
—so am i (a student).
2.—we haven#39;t been there.
—neither (nor) have we (been there).