對省略現象的考查已成為近年來英語高考試題中的常考點。因為省略這種語法手段既可避免重複,突出新 的資訊,又能使上下文更緊密地連線起來。這也正符合現代生活快節奏的需要。因此,在英語口語中,只要不 損害結構和引起歧義,能省略的地方就儘可能省略。
但有時省略的成分,在句中佔有相當的份量,能表達一定的資訊,這無疑就增加了試題的難度。因此在解 題時,除了應特別注意進行語境分析,從上文或上、下文中找出相關的省略成份外,還要對常用的省略知識有 所瞭解,從而做到有的放矢,找出解題的突破口。下面就該問題作一分析。
一、複合句中的省略現象
複合句中的省略現象通常出現在狀語從句中。
一)在含有比較結構的複合句中,常在as或than引導的分句中省略某些與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;或整個as/than從句。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
本題應選c。分別為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
本題應選b。根據上下文可看出if not better than 為if johndoesn#39;t play football better than david(plays football) 的省略。那麼,排除這個條件的話,john和david就踢得一樣好了。 故要用副詞well 的同級比較的肯定式。
beautifully she sings! i#39;ve never heard _______ .(nmet96)
better voice b.a good voice
best voice d.a better voice
本題應選d。從整個語境來分析,後句中的比較狀語從句than hers被省略掉了。故此題應選比較級。
二)如果複合句中的時間、條件、原因狀語從句用了主語+be+分詞結構,且主、從句主語一致時,可省 略從句的連線詞、主語和be助動詞,只保留分詞和其它成分。如:
4.________in thought, he almost ran into the car in frontof him.(nmet96)
ng ng lost
lose
本題應選c。lost in thought 為as he was lost in thought之省略。
5.________more attention, the trees could have grownbetter.(met90)
n give
ng ng given
本題應選a。given more attention為if they were given moreattention之省略。
三)在含有定語從句的複合句中,如果定語從句用了進行時態或被動語態,且關係代詞在從句中作主語時 ,可省略關係代詞和助動詞。只保留分詞或其它成分。如:
olympic games,_______ in 776 b.c., did not includewomen players until 1912.(nmet97)
t playing be first played
t played be first playing
本題應選c。first played 為which was first played 之省略。
you know the boy__________ under the big tree? (met89)
a. lay ng g
本題應選d。lying為who is lying之省略。
of the artists ________ to the party were fromsouth africa.(met90)
ted invite
g invited been invited
本題應選a。invited為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)
本題應選d。written為that were written之省略。
四)如複合句中從句的句尾和主句相重複的話,從句的句尾可省略掉(括號中的內容為省略掉的成分)。 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)在複合句中,如果兩個並列的狀語從句只是從屬連詞不同,其它相同時,則可省略一個狀語從句,而 把兩個從屬連詞連線起來(括號中的內容為省略的成分)。如:
will be arriving either before (the film begins)or after the film begins.
六)在含有賓語從句的複合句中,如有兩個並列的that從句的主動詞及隨帶成份(賓語、表語、狀語等) 一樣時,可將第二個that從句的主動詞及隨帶成份省略。兩個並列的that從句,如果主語相同,而謂語不同, 可把第二個that從句的連詞和主語一齊省略。兩個並列的從句如連詞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,只把兩個連詞連線起來(括號內容為省略的成分)。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、在回答一般疑問句的簡略答語中;或回答用陳述句,祈使句表示要求、命令的簡略答語中。 常用yes /no+主語+助動詞, 而省略主動詞或其它成份。但助動詞應和原句的助動詞和時間概念須保持相應的一致; 或根據句意選擇對特殊問句的答語時,常常省略和問句相重複的部分,只保留新資訊部分。如:
1.—alice, why didn#39;t you come yesterday?
—i ______ ,but i had an unexpected visitor. (nmet97)
d
going to
本題選c。據句意,是表示昨天打算要來。 was going to 後省略了come yesterday。
2.—could i borrow your dictionary?
—yes, of course you ________ . (nmet92)
t ld
本題選c。could在句中表示委婉語氣,而不是過去時,答語中應用can;can後省略了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
本題選b。因祈使句含有未來的意味,再加上有tomorrow的限制,因而應用i won#39;t回答。i won#39;t 後省略 了forget to go to yourbirthday party tomorrow。
4.—how long has this bookshop been in business?
—_________ 1982.(nmet94)
r e
本題選d。根據句意和結構, 該題承前省略了主語、 謂語it hasbeen in business 等; 只保留了新信 息(時間狀語)部分; 再由howlong對時間段提問的限制,只能選since。
三、在回答問句及其它形式的答語中,如有和上文重複的不定式時,在答語中只保留其不定式符號to,而 把動詞和其它部分省略。如:
1.—would you like to come to dinner tonight?
—i#39;d like to,______i#39;m too busy. (nmet94)
本題應選d。據上文, 下文中的i#39;d like to 後省略了come todinner tonight,這樣很容易看出逗號 前後資訊相反,故選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
本題應選d。據not at all 的限制,a、b不合題意。c搭配錯, 因#39;d like後應跟不定式。i#39;d be happy to 後省略了look after yourcat。
boy wanted to ride his bicycle in the street, buthis mother told him_________.
(nmet95)
to to do
do it not to
本題選a。not to 後省略了和上文相重複的`ride his bicycle inthe street。
四、英語中的反意疑問句。反意疑問句常用一個肯定的陳述句,再加上一個只保留助動詞和主語的簡略問 句的否定形式;或一個否定的陳述句,再加上一個簡略疑問句的肯定形式;而其它成分則被省略。祈使句的反 意問句形式,不管祈使句是肯定的還是否定的,除了在let#39;s...後加簡略的疑問句shall we外,其餘的都在其 後加will you。如:
#39;s a fine day. let#39;s go fishing,________?
#39;t we we
#39;t we l we(met90)
本題選d。
sure to write to us, _______?(nmet93)
you #39;t you
you n#39;t you
本題選a。
五、在英語中,有一些特殊的省略結構, 如:what/how about...? why not do...?等實際上已形成了習 慣用法。how/what about 後只跟名詞、代詞或動名詞(短語);why not後只接動詞原形。如:
about the two of us________a walk down the garden?(met93)
take
ng be taking
本題選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
本題選d。
六、和前文重複的助動詞或重複的主要動詞也可省略(括號部分為省略的成分)。如:
1. you could have come and (you could have) told me.
se clean the classroom and (clean) the reading-room.
七、和前文重複的冠詞、物主代詞、指示代詞及其它的限定詞、介詞和連詞等也可省略(括號內的內容為 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、兩個或兩個以上被形容詞修飾的同一名詞,前邊的常被省略;重複出現的形容詞,後邊的可以省略( 括號內容為省略成分)。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,一般動詞前的人稱代詞和形容詞前的人稱代詞+be可被省略;詞首的冠 詞、物主代詞、人稱代詞和助動詞也可被省略(括號內容為省略的成份)。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 用來表示“……也一樣”時,也用省略結構(括號內容為省略的成份)。如:
1.—i am a student.
—so am i (a student).
2.—we haven#39;t been there.
—neither (nor) have we (been there).