# 第十七章 形容词从句简化

形容词从句就是关系从句,主、从两个从句间一定有重复的元素以建立关系。既然有重复,就可省略。如果重复的元素(关系词)是关系从句的宾语,通常只是把关系词本身省略,例如:

  1. The man S is V here C.

  2. You S asked V about 介系词 him O.

→ (A) The man whom you asked about 关系从句 is here.

→ (B) The man you asked about 关系从句 is here.

  (你要找的人在这儿。)

句 2 中的 him 就是句 1 中的 the man,借由这个重复来建立两句间的关系。将 him 改写为关系词 whom 即可将两句连接起来,成为 (A) 的形状。关系词 whom 是介系词 about 的宾语,挪到句首后可以省略,成为 (B)。

关系词是宾语而省略掉的情况,只是一般性的省略。关系从句中仍有主语、动词((B) 的 you asked about),所以这种省略不算是真正的简化从句。

如果关系词是关系从句的主语,那么简化起来,省略主语就势必也要省略 be 动词,这就是典型的形容词从句简化。以下就简化之后所留下的不同补语来加以分类介绍。

# 补语为 Ven

如果关系从句中是被动态,就会简化成为过去分词的补语部分。例如:

  1. Beer S is most delicious.

  2. It S is chilled to 6°C.

→ (A) Beer which is chilled to 6°C 关系从句 is most delicious.

  (啤酒冰到摄氏六度最可口。)

例 2 的主语和例 1 重复,改成关系词 which 来连接两句,即成(A)的形状。在(A)中,主语 which 与先行词的 beer 重复,动词部分因为是被动态,有 be 动词在。这时只要将主语与 be 动词(which is)省略,就成为:

  • Beer chilled to 6°C 简化形容词从句 is most delicious.

关系从句简化后剩下的补语是过去分词短语,属于形容词类, 而原来的从句也是形容词类,所以没有词类的冲突,可以取代关系从句来形容 beer,而且意思不变,这就是成功的简化从句。再举一个有逗号的关系从句为例:

  • Your brother John 先行词, who was wounded in war 关系从句, will soon be sent home. (你哥哥约翰作战受伤,即将被送回家。)

这个句子中,先行词 your brother John 是专有名词,后面的关系从句因而没有“指出是谁”的功能,只有“补充说明”的功能,所以应置于括弧性的逗号中—— 一对逗号当括弧使用,用来作补充说明。放在逗号中的关系从句,简化方式仍然一样,只要把主语与 be 动词省略即可:

  • Your brother John, wounded in war 简化形容词从句, will soon be sent home.

# 补语为 Ving

如果关系从句中的动词是 be+Ving 的形状(进行式),只要省略主语与 be 动词即可。例如:

  • The ship 先行词 which is coming to shore 关系从句 is from Gaoxiong. (正在靠岸的那条船是从高雄来的。)

关系从句中的主语 which 就是 the ship,又有 be 动词,只要省去这两个部分,就成为:

  • The ship coming to shore 简化关系从句 is from Gaoxiong.

剩下的补语部分是现在分词短语,属于形容词类,与原来的关系从句词类相同,这就是成功的简化从句。

如果关系从句中没有 be 动词,也没有助动词,就要把动词改成 Ving 的形状。例如:

  • My old car 先行词, which breaks down every other week 关系从句, won't last much longer. (我那辆老爷车,每隔一个星期总要抛锚一次,大概开不了多久了。)

这个关系从句,动词是 breaks down,既无 be 动词也无助动词,无法省略,所以要先改成有 be 动词的形态:is breaking down,有了 be 动词,breaking down 就可成为补语部分保留下来,只省略主语与 be 动词,成为:

  • My old car, breaking down every other week 简化形容词从句, won't last much longer.

# 补语为 to V

如果关系从句的动词有语气助动词存在,就会成为不定词补语留下来。例如:

  • John is the one 先行词 who should go this time 关系从句. (这次是约翰走人。)

关系从句中的 who should go 固然没有 be 动词,只要将其改成 who is to go 就有了,且意思相近,再把 who is 省略,即成为:

  • John is the one to go this time 简化形容词从句.

不定词的词类是“不一定”什么词类,也就是当名词、形容词、副词使用皆可。所以也符合原来关系从句的词类,可以形容先行词 the one,是正确的简化从句。

# 1. 不定词的主动、被动判断

不定词也有主动与被动之分。其间的选择如果还原成关系从句就可以看得很清楚。例如:

  1. John is not a man to trust 简化形容词从句. (约翰这人不可信。)

  2. John is not a man to be trusted 简化形容词从句.

例 1 和例 2 都对。为什么?这得看看原来的关系从句是什么。如果原先是这两句:

  • John is not a man O.

  • One S can trust V the man O.

后面这一句的宾语 the man 就是前一句的 a man,可以改为关系词,合成:

  • John is not a man 先行词 whom one can trust 关系从句.

因为关系从句中的关系词 whom 是宾语,可以省略,成为:

  • John is not a man 先行词 one can trust 关系从句.

这个关系从句中的主语是空洞的 one,可以简化,再把 can trust 简化为 to trust,即成为例 1 John is not a man to trust。反之,如果原先是这两句:

  • John is not a man O.

  • The man S can be trusted V.

就会成为这个复句:

  • John is not a man 先行词 who can be trusted 关系从句.

从这个关系从句简化出来(省略主语 who,助动词改为不定词),即可得出例 2 John is not a man to be trusted 的结果。所以在这个例子中,不定词采主动或被动皆可。至于该用主动还是被动,要看上下文决定,不可一概而论。

# 2. 不定词有无宾语的判断

不定词中如果是及物动词,又有加不加宾语的差别。这也要看原来关系从句的句型来判断。例如:

  1. This is exactly the thing 先行词 to do 简化形容词从句. (这正是该做的事。)

  2. This is exactly the time 先行词 to do it 简化形容词从句. (是做这件事的时候了。)

例 1 可视为由这两句变化而来:

  • This is exactly the thing O.

  • We S should do V the thing O.

后一句中的 the thing 是宾语,改写为关系词后成为:

  • This is exactly the thing 先行词 which we should do 关系从句.

因为关系词 which 是宾语,可径行省略(这就是为什么到最后不定词中缺了宾语),成为:

  • This is exactly the thing 先行词 we should do 关系从句.

再把关系从句中的主语 we 省略(因为对方知道你在说谁),把助动词改为不定词,就得出例 1 This is exactly the thing to do。如果原来是这两句话:

  • This is exactly the time O.

  • We S should do V it O at this time 时间副词.

后一句中是以时间副词和先行词 the time 重复,因而改写成关系副词 when 来连接:

  • This is exactly the time 先行词 when we should do 关系从句.

关系副词非主要词类,在前面没有逗号的情况下可以径行省略,成为:

  • This is exactly the time 先行词 we should do it 关系从句.

再将关系从句以同样方法简化,于是得出例 2 This is exactly the time to do it 的结果。

# 3. 不定词后面有无介系词的判断

有些不定词宾语后面会跟个介系词,像 to talk to、to deal with、to get into 等。这是因为介系词后面的宾语就是关系词,径行省略之故,因而只见介系词不见宾语。例如:

  1. He will be the toughest guy O.

  2. You S must deal V with 介系词 the guy O.

例 2 中的 the guy 是介系词 with 的宾语,它和例 1 的 guy 重复而建立关系,改写成关系词来连接两句:

  • He will be the toughest guy 先行词 whom you must deal with 关系从句. (他会是你得对付的家伙中最难缠的一个。)

关系从句中的关系词因为是宾语,可以径行省略,成为:

  • He will be the toughest guy 先行词 you must deal with 关系从句.

如果对方知道你的意思,那么关系从句的主语 you 就可省略,再把 must 简化为 to,即成为:

  • He will be the toughest guy 先行词 to deal with 简化形容词从句.

不定词后面如果跟有介系词,大多是这个道理,只要还原成关系从句即可明白。

# 4. 不定词的主语不清时如何处理

如果主语省略会造成意思不清楚,可以安排主语于介系词短语中以宾语形态出现。最常用的介系词是 for。例如:

  • I have a job 先行词 that your brother can do 关系从句. (我有件差事想请你哥哥来做。)

关系从句的关系词 that 是宾语,可以径行省略,成为:

  • I have a job 先行词 your brother can do 关系从句.

这个关系从句的动词 can do 照样可简化为 to do,但是主语 your brother 不宜省略,不然会变成 I have a job to do (我自己有件差事要做)。碰到这种主语不能省略的情形,可以用介系词短语来安插主语(这是配合不定词时的选择,若非不定词则另当别论),成为:

  • I have a job 先行词 for your brother to do 简化形容词从句.

# 补语为一般形容词

若关系从句动词是 be 动词,后面是单纯的形容词类作补语,可直接简化主语(即关系词)和 be 动词,只留下补语。例如:

  • Hilary Clinton 先行词, who is pretty and intelligent 关系从句, is a popular First Lady. (希拉里·克林顿又漂亮又聪明,是相当受欢迎的第一夫人。)

关系从句中的主语 who 与 be 动词省略后,剩下的部分 pretty and intelligent 还是形容词,与原来的关系从句词类相同,所以可简化取代:

  • Hilary Clinton 先行词, pretty and intelligent 简化形容词从句, is a popular First Lady.

了解形容词从句的简化,就可以了解 pretty and intelligent 是简化从句的补语部分。由此观之,形容词只有两种位置:名词短语中(a pretty woman)及补语位置(the woman is pretty)。如果乍看之下两个位置都不是,那么多半就是简化形容词从句的残留补语。

# 补语为名词

关系从句是形容词类,如果简化主语和 be 动词,剩下的是名词补语,其词类虽与原来的关系从句词类有冲突,但仍然可以使用。传统语法则为此取了个名称:同位语,来避开词类的冲突。例如:

  • Bill Clinton 先行词, who is President of the U.S. 关系从句, is a Baby Boomer. (比尔·克林顿,美国总统,是生育高峰期出生的。)

由 who 引导的关系从句以名词短语 President of the U.S. 为补语,简化主语与 be 动词后就剩下它。这就是传统语法所谓的同位语:

  • Bill Clinton 先行词, President of the U.S. 简化形容词从句, is a Baby Boomer.

# Test

# 练习一

# 将下列各句中的关系从句(即画底线部分)改写为简化从句:

1. Medieval suits of armor, which were developed for protection during battle, are now placed in castles for decoration.
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2. The change of style in these paintings should be obvious to anyone that is familiar with the artist's works.
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3. Islands are actually tips of underwater mountain peaks that rise above water.
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4. John Milton, who was author of Paradise Lost, was a key member of Oliver Cromwell's cabinet.
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5. The secretary thought that it might not be the best time that she should ask her boss for a raise.
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6. Gold is one of the heaviest metals that are known to man.
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7. Here are some books that your brother can use.
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8. Sexual harassment, which is a hotly debated issue in the work place, will be the topic of the intercollegiate debate next week.
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9. There's nothing left that I can say now.
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10. People that live along the waterfront must be evacuated before the storm hits.
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# 练习二

# 请选出最适当的答案填入空格内,以使句子完整。

1. __ often found in fruit and vegetables.
(A) 
Vitamin C, a trace element that is
(B) 
For vitamin C, a trace element to be
(C) 
Vitamin C, a trace element, is
(D) 
Vitamin C, is that trace element
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2. The most important fossil __ in East Africa was that of an ancient female, dubbed Lucy.
(A) 
excavated
(B) 
was excavated
(C) 
to excavate
(D) 
excavating
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3. Steve Jobs' vision of the personal computer greatly expanded the number of people __ the computer for business and for pleasure.
(A) 
actively used
(B) 
were using actively
(C) 
actively using
(D) 
who actively using
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4. The Amazon rain forests, __ the earth's lungs, convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere back into oxygen.
(A) 
functioning as
(B) 
which functioning as
(C) 
functions as
(D) 
functioned as
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5. Through a process __ coalescence, water droplets in clouds grow to a size large enough to fall to earth.
(A) 
calls
(B) 
to be called
(C) 
calling
(D) 
called
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6. If you are looking for investment advice, I know just the place __.
(A) 
going
(B) 
to go
(C) 
you to go
(D) 
for you going
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7. Penicillin, __ in the early 20th century, brought in the golden age of chemotherapy.
(A) 
to be discovered
(B) 
discovering
(C) 
discovery was
(D) 
discovered
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8. Those are not words __.
(A) 
to be taken seriously
(B) 
to take them seriously
(C) 
taking seriously
(D) 
are taken seriously
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9. The mouse, like the keyboard, is a control device __ to a computer.
(A) 
connected
(B) 
to connect it
(C) 
and connect
(D) 
that connect
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10. An amendment to the Constitution __ in Harry Truman's tenure limits the US presidency to two terms.
(A) 
passing
(B) 
to pass
(C) 
passed
(D) 
was passed
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