江苏/李大忠 陈梅
在复合句中充当同位语的名词性从句称为同位语从句。同位语从句是名词性从句(主语从句、表语从句、宾语从句、同位语从句)中的主要从句之一,也是中学英语学习中的重点语法知识点之一。在使用同位语从句时,笔者认为应注意以下五个方面:
一、同位语从句在句中的位置
1. 一般情况下同位语从句跟在某些名词(如news, idea, fact, promise, hope, message等)的后面,用以说明该名词所表达的具体内容。例如:
The news that our women volleyball team had won the championship encouraged us all greatly. 我们女排赢得冠军的消息大大地鼓舞了我们所有人。
I’ve come from Mr Wang with a message that he won’t be able to see you this afternoon. 我从王先生那边得知一个消息,他说他今天下午不能来看你了。
2. 有时同位语从句可以不紧跟在它所说明的名词后,而被别的词语隔开,在语法上叫做分隔式同位语从句。例如:
The thought came to her that maybe she had left the door open when she left home. 她突然想起可能在她离开家时没把门关上。
The story goes that he failed in the College Entrance Examinations again. 据说他高考又落榜了。
二、同位语从句前名词的数
同位语从句前的名词通常用单数形式,并且往往带有限定词(word除外)加以修饰。例如:
Where did you get the idea that I could not come? 你在哪儿听说我不能来?
Give me your promise that you will come to our party this evening. 答应我,你今天晚上要来参加我们的晚会。
Word came that China launched its first manned spaceship on Oct 15, 2003. 消息传来,中国于2003年10月15日首次成功发射了载人飞船。
三、同位语从句连接词的选用
在英语中,引导同位语从句的词通常有连词(that, who, whether),连接副词(how, when, where)等。例如:
They were all very much worried over the fact that you were sick. 对你生病这件事,他们都很焦虑。
The question who should do the work requires consideration. 谁该做这项工作,这个问题需要考虑。
We haven’t yet settled the question where we are going to spend our summer vacation. 我们还没有决定到什么地方去度暑假。
注:在名词doubt“怀疑”后的同位语从句用whether连接;在no doubt“不怀疑”之后的同位语从句用that连接。例如:
We have some doubt whether they can complete the task on time. 我们怀疑他们是否能准时完成任务。
There is no doubt that Zhang Wei will keep his promise. 我们相信张卫会守信的。
四、同位语从句的语气
在suggestion, advice, request, order等意为“建议;命令;要求”的名词后,同位语从句中的谓语动词通常用“should +动词原形”的虚拟语气结构,句中的should可以省略。例如:
Our teacher gave us some advice how we (should) use the computer. 老师给我们提出了一些如何使用电脑的建议。
The suggestion came from the chairman that the new rule (should) be adopted. 采纳新规则的建议是主席提出来的。
The government gave the order that all these houses (should) be pulled down in three weeks. 政府下令三个星期内所有这些房子都要拆掉。
五、同位语从句与定语从句的用法区别
同位语从句主要用于对某一特定名词所表示的具体内容作进一步的解释或说明,从句与前面的名词之间是同位关系,这一名词在从句中不充当任何成分。从属连词that本身无意义,但不能省略。需要注意的是同位语从句除了可以用that来引导外,有时也可以用whether, when, where或why来引导。定语从句修饰某一名词或代词,从句与前面的名(代)词之间是修饰与被修饰的关系,关系代词或关系副词在句中代指从句所修饰的名词或代词即先行词。
试比较下列几组句子:
The news that the bank was robbed yesterday evening is true. (同位语从句)
The news that he told us is very interesting. (定语从句)
I have no idea when they will come to visit China again. (同位语从句)
I’ll never forget the days when we worked together on the farm. (定语从句)
We don’t understand the problem why this is the best choice. (同位语从句)
The reason why he didn’t come to the meeting is that he is ill. (定语从句)
摘自 学习报