句子的成分
由不同词类的单词,按照一定的语法规则组合在一起,能表达一个完整意思的语言单位叫做句子。一个句子由各个功能不同的部分构成,这些部分叫做句子成分(members of the sentence)。英语的句子成分有八种:主语、谓语动词、表语、宾语、定语、状语、主语补足语和宾语补足语。现分述如下:
一、主语 主语(subject)是句子所要说明的人或事物,是句子的主体。主语的位置通常在句首,一般不省略。可以担当主语的有名词、代词、数词、动词不定式、动名词和主语从句。例如:
Walls have ears. 隔墙有耳。(名词做主语) He will take you to the hospital. 他会带你去医院。(代词做主语) Three plus four equals seven. 三加四等于七。(数词做主语)
To see is to believe. 眼见为实。(动词不定式做主语) Smoking is not allowed in public places. 公共场所不允许吸烟。(动名词做主语) Whether or not they will come depends on the weather. 他们来不来取决与天气。(从句做主语)
二、谓语动词 谓语动词(predicate verb)是说明主语的动作或状态的句子成分。谓语动词的位置一般在主语之后。谓语动词由实义动词或系动词担任。助动词或情态动词加其他动词的适当形式也构成谓语动词。例如: Action speaks louder than words. 百说不如一干。 The chance may never come again. 这样的机会恐怕不会再来。
Tom was very sick at heart. 汤姆心里非常难过。 Mary has been working at the dress shop since 1994. 自1994年以来,玛丽一直在那家服装店工作。
三、表语 表语(predicative)是用来说明主语的身份、特征和状态的,它的位置在系动词之后。可作表语的有名词、代词、形容词与分词、数词、动词不定式、介词短语、副词以及表语从句等。例如:
My father is a professor. 我父亲是一位教授。(名词作表语) Who's that? It's me. 是谁呀?是我。(代词作表语) Everything here is dear to her. 这里的一切她都感到亲切。(形容词作表语)
The match became very exciting. 比赛变得很紧张。(分词作表语) The story of my life may be of help to others. 我的生活经历对别人可能有帮助。(介词短语作表语) Three times five is fifteen. 三乘五等于十五。(数词作表语)
His plan is to seek work in the city. 他的计划是在城里找工作。(动词不定式作表语) My first idea was that you should hide your feelings. 我最初的想法是你应当掩饰你的感情。(从句作表语)
四、宾语 宾语(object)表示动作的对象,是动作的承受者。宾语一般放在及物动词之后。英语介词后也会跟宾语。可作宾语的有名词、数词、代词、动名词等。不定式也可作及物动词的宾语。例如:
she covered her face with her hands. 她用双手蒙住脸。(名词短语作宾语) We haven't seen her for a long time. 我们好长时间没看到她了。(代词作宾语) Do you mind opening the window? 打开窗户你介意吗?(动名词作宾语)
Give me four please. 请给我四个。(数词作宾语) He wants to dream a nice dream. 他想做一个好梦。(动词不定式短语作宾语) We need to know what others are doing. 我们需要了解其他人都在干什么。(从句作宾语) I lived in Japan in 1986. 我1986 年住在日本。(名词和数词作介词的宾语)
五、定语 定语(attribute)是修饰名词或代词的词、短语或句子。单词作定语时通常放在它所修饰的名词之前;短语和从句作定语时则放在它所修饰的名词之后。作定语的有名词、形容词、数词、分词及其短语、不定式及其短语、介词短语以及定语从句等。例如:
They are women workers. 她们是女工。(名词作定语) Tom's father didn't write home until yesterday. 汤姆的父亲直到昨天才给家里写信。(所有格名词作定语) Equal pay for equal work should be introduced. 应当实行同工同酬。(形容词作定语)
The play has three acts. 这出戏有三幕。(数词作定语) This is her first trip to Europe. 这是她首次欧洲之行。(代词、数词和介词短语作定语) China is a developing country. 中国是一个发展中国家。(分词作定语)
You haven't kept your promise to write us often. 你没有遵守给我们经常写信的诺言。(动词不定式短语作定语) My cat has a good nose for milk. 我的猫对牛奶嗅觉灵敏。(介词短语作定语) Those who want to go to Tibet are to sign their names here. 想去西藏的人须在此签名。(从句作定语)
(六)状语 状语(adverbial)是修饰动词、形容词、副词等的句子成分。状语表示地点、时间、原因、目的、结果、条件、让步、程度、方式、伴随情况等。作状语的有副词、名词、介词短语、分词及其短语、动词不定式及其短语、状语从句等。例如:
These products are selling quickly. 这些产品现在十分畅销。(副词作状语) He is knee deep in snow. 他踩在齐膝深的雪里。(名词作状语) The best fish swim near the bottom. 好鱼居水底。(有价值的东西不能轻易得到。)(介词短语作状语)
She sat there doing nothing. 她坐在那里无所事事。(分词短语作状语) We'll send a car over to fetch you. 我们将派一辆车去接你。(动词不定式短语作状语) She was slow to make up her mind. 她迟迟不能下决心。(动词不定式短语作状语) Strike while the iron is hot. 趁热打铁。(从句作状语) There is no such a word in English so far as I know. 据我所知,英语里没有这样一个词。(从句作状语)
七、宾语补足语和主语补足语 英语有些及物动词,除了要有宾语之外,还要加上宾语补足语(object complement),才能使句子的意义完整。宾语和宾语补足语一起构成复合宾语。如果上述结构变成被动语态,原宾语成为主语,原宾语补足语相应地变为主语补足语(subject complement)。可以担当补足语的有名词、形容词、介词短语、动词不定式、分词等。例如:
They elected me captain of the team. 他们选我当队长。(名词短语作宾语补足语) He made me ashamed of myself. 他使我感到惭愧。(形容词短语作宾语补足语) We found everything there in good order. 我们发现那里的一切井井有条。(介词短语作宾语补足语)
I should advise you not to miss the chance. 我劝你不要错过机会。(不定式短语作宾语补足语) I could feel my heart beating fast. 我可以感觉出自己的心跳得很快。(分词短语作宾语补足语) Some goods are left unsold. 有些货物剩下未出售。(分词做主语补足语) She was elected director of public relations. 她被选为公关部主任。(名词短语做主语补足语)