内容正文:
高中英语核心语法点汇编 part 32 副词
1 有关副词的几个问题
在这里,我们愿谈谈几个有关副词的问题。
首先是有关副词后缀-ly的问题。比如complete 与 true 这两个形容词都以 -e 结尾,但为什么它们的副词形式却一个是completely, 一个是truly 呢? 在什么情况下可以省去形容词末尾的 -e, 在什么情况下则不可以省去呢? 有的读者还希望把形容词加-ly的副词构成法全面地谈一谈。
在多数情况下,在形容词的末尾加上-ly即变为副词,如badly, cooly, dearly, exactly, firmly, generally, honestly 等。但下列一些情况比较特殊,需要予以注意:
1. 形容词如以“辅音+y”(读作/I/)结尾,变为副词时,须将y变作i,再加 -ly,如easily, heavily, angrily, happily等。但形容词shy 和sly 的副词形式常作shyly 和 slyly。而形容词gay 却有两种意义相同的副词形式:gaily 与 gayly。
2. 形容词如以-ll 结尾,变为副词时,则只加-y,如 chilly, dully, fully, illy,shrilly, stilly 等。
3. 形容词如以“辅音+le” (如-ble, -dle, -gle, -ple, -tle等)结尾,变作副词时,须省去 -le, 再加 -ly, 如 ably, idly, singly, simply, subtly 等。但形容词 supple 虽然以-ple 结尾,但其副词形式却不是supply, 而是supplely, 这显然是由于supply (意谓“供应”)已是另一个词,因而应避免与之混淆的缘故。另外,还应注意,以“元音+le” 结尾的形容词变为副词时则不可省去 -le,如palely, solely, vilely, stalely 等。
但形容词whole 有点特殊,它变为副词时,须省去-e,再加 -ly,成为wholly。
4. 形容词如以-ue结尾,变为副词时,须将 -e省去,再加 -ly。这就是为什么true变为副词时须变作truly 的缘故。除truly 之外,还有duly。
5. 形容词如以-ic 结尾,变为副词时,须加 -ally,如heroically, rustically, tragically, phonetically 等。但形容词 public的副词形式则属例外,须拼作publicly。
从以上可以看出,以-e 结尾的形容词,除上面所指出的可以省去的情况外,变为副词时则一概不可省去末尾的-e,这就是为什么形容词 complete 的副词形式须是completely 的缘故。这种以-e结尾变为副词时不可省去-e 的形容词还有不少,如definite, fortunate, wise, wide, loose, lone 等。
顺便提及,并不是所有的形容词加上后缀 -ly 皆可变作副词。如常见的big, fit, naive, future, content, difficult 等形容词一般就都不用以 -ly 结尾的副词形式。另外以a-开头的形容词如 awake, alive, asleep 等以及表示颜色的blue, green, yellow 等形容词 (但red 和 white 除外)也一般不用以-ly 结尾的副词形式。
谈到这里,我们倒想提一个问题: 是不是只有形容词加-ly才能变成副词呢? 答案是否定的。事实上,除形容词外,有一些其他词语加上-ly 也可变作副词,如yearly(名词 year+ly,此词亦可以用作形容词),firstly (序数词first +ly),mostly (不定代词 most +ly), accordingly (现在分词according +ly), determinedly (过去分词determined +ly), overly (介词over +ly),matter-of-factly (短语matter of fact +ly )等。
有读者问到有些副词,如slow和slowly, 有两种形式,它们之间到底有什么不同。
这个问题有一定的普遍性,但也有一定的复杂性。具有两种不同形式的副词为数不少,有人粗略统计为数近九十之多。最常见的有awful(ly), bad(ly), cheap(ly), clean(ly), clear(ly), close(ly), deep(ly), direct(ly), easy(easily), fair(ly), fine(ly), flat(ly), free(ly), hard(ly), high(ly), late(ly), loud(ly), low(ly), most(ly), near(ly), pretty(prettily), quick(ly), ready(readily), real(ly), right(ly), sharp(ly), short(ly), slow(ly), soft(ly), sound(ly), sure(ly), tight(ly),wide(ly), wrong(ly)等。关于二者的异同,最好仔细查阅好的词典或词书。这里我们只能概括地分类介绍如下:
1. 二者意义相同,只是简单副词多用于口语中,位置也比较固定(多置于其所修饰的动词之后),而派生副词则多用于笔语中(有的派生副词多用作引申),其位置则比较灵活。试比较:
(1)Please go slow . (slow 一般应置于动词之后,但在how引导的感叹句中,则须置于动词之前,如How slow the time passes! 此类副词皆同此)
(2)He slowly realized his mistake.(除与 go, drive 乃至walk 等动词连用时常用slow 之外,其他动词则多用 slowly,如 They are moving slowly。与抽象的动词如realize 连用时,更须用slowly。请注意slowly的位置比较灵活)
(3)Tell us quick . (quick 也多用于口语,亦可用quickly)
(4)She works quickly and accurately.(quickly 较 quick更为常用,在此须用 quickly, 以便与accurately谐合)
(5)Now, sing loud !
(6)They shouted loudly at each other. (loudly 往往有“令人不快的噪声”的含义 )
2. 二者意义虽然相同,但其用法往往不大一样。有些不带 -ly的副词只可用在其所修饰的动词之后(这与slow一类的副词相似),但带有-ly 的副词一般多置于动词 (尤其是过去分词)之前,如:
(7)All went right .(这里不可改用rightly。又,right可修饰副词,如I went right away)
(8)He rightly guessed that I was safe. (rightly 多置于动词或过去分词之前,但有时亦可置于动词之后,如说You guessed right[ly] 皆可)
副词wrong 和wrongly 的区别与right 和 rightly 的区别一样,如:
(9)What did I do wrong ?
(10)The parcel is wrongly tied. (但既可说You guessed wrong, 亦可说 You guessed wrongly。wrongly亦可置于动词[包括过去分词]之后)
有些不带-ly的副词只用于某些固定说法之中,其位置也较固定,而带有-ly的副词则用得比较灵活,如:
(11)He is sound asleep. (sound asleep 是一固定词组)
(12)He is sleeping soundly . (美国人也用 sleep sound)
(13)The door is wide open. (wide open 是一个固定词组,此外还有wide awake等)
(14)The villages are widely separated.(widely separated 不是固定词组)
有的副词,其两种形式意义相同,但其不带-ly的形式多表具体的高度、深度等,而带-ly的副词则多表抽象的高度、深度等。如:
(15)They held their heads high .(high 表具体的高度,但有时亦可引申作 aim high)
(16)They spoke highly of his work.(highly 常表抽象的高度)
(17)He went deep into the wood.(deep 表具体深度,但有时亦可用作引申,如He went deep into the matter )
(18)I enjoy it deeply . (deeply 多用于表抽象的深度,但有时亦可表具体的深度,如to dig deep,亦可说to dig deeply)
3. 两种副词形式的意义不甚相同,如:
(19)I'm getting pretty fed up.(pretty 意谓“相当地”)
(20)Isn't the little girl dressed prettily ? (prettily 意谓“漂亮地”)
(21)I clean forgot. (clean 意谓“完全地”)
(22)He caught the ball cleanly . (cleanly 意谓“干净利落地”)
(23)He often works late . (late 意谓“很晚”)
(24)I have been very busy lately . (lately 意谓“近来”)
4. 两种副词形式之间,有时同义,有时则不同义,如:
(25)We must play fair .(fair 意谓“公正地”。副词fair 只用在play fair 等固定词组中)
(26)He described the situation fairly . (fairly 与 fair同义)
(27)He did the work fairly well.(fairly 在此意谓“相当地”或“还算”,与fair 不同义)
(28)I must cut short my speech, as it's late. (short意谓“简短”)
(29)He answered me very shortly when I asked how long he intended to stay. (shortly 与short 同义)
(30)He's out but he'll be back shortly . (shortly 在此意谓“不久”,与short 不同义)
(31)The train goes there direct . (direct 意谓“径直”)
(32)I went directly to the office. (directly 与direct同义)
(33)Come directly home.(directly 在此意谓“立刻”,与direct 不同义)
副词的两种形式,往往与同义词一样,有不少交叉现象,一般只能较为笼统地加以区别,不可能做到泾渭分明,这是需要读者予以理解的。
最后,再谈谈一个小问题。有这样一道就划线部分提问的题:
(34)Her husband will come back in an hour .
教学参考书上的答案是:
(35)When will her husband come back?
个人认为应该是:
(36)How soon will her husband come back?
但不知对不对?
教学参考书和他提供的答案都是正确的。疑问副词 when 意谓“何时”所指时间离现在可近可远,可指将来,也可指过去。how soon 则指离现在(或过去某一时刻)较近的将来。由于例 (34)中的划线部分是in an hour, 指离现在较近的将来,所以答案可用when, 也可用how soon。
2 关于句子副词
我们愿意在这里和你们谈谈有关句子副词的一些问题,因为国内不少语法书或未涉及句子副词,或虽涉及,但语焉不详。
什么是句子副词呢? 简言之,句子副词 (sentence adverb)就是修饰整个句子的副词,而不是只修饰某一动词、形容词或另一副词等的副词。试比较下面两句中的副词 frankly:
(1)Frankly , are you tired?
(2)Tell me frankly , are you tired?
很显然,例(1)中的副词frankly并不修饰句中任何一个词,而是针对整个句子而言的,实际上等于另一句话: Tell me frankly。例 (2)中的副词 frankly 则只修饰动词 tell, 而不是修饰整个句子。像例 (1)中frankly这种表示说话人(或请对方)对其所言带有评论性质的句子副词,在英语中是比较常见的。下面我们就这种句子副词作一分类说明。
第一类是表示说话人从情态与方式上进行评说的,例(1)中的frankly即是一例。再如:
(3)She fairly screamed. (fairly在此意谓“不夸大地说”)
(4)Truly , what is your opinion? (truly在此意谓“说实在的”)
(5)I think he will get the job, confidentially .(confidentially 在此意谓“我告诉你个秘密”)
(6)Briefly , your work must improve. (briefly在此意谓“简单地说”)
(7)Seriously , do you believe in God?(seriously 在此意谓“说正经的”)
(8)I honestly don't believe that he will be able to do that job. (honestly 在此意谓“老实说”)
除上述句中的句子副词外,这一类句子副词还有candidly, flatly, truthfully, privately, bluntly, broadly, crudely, roughly, simply等。
第二类是表示说话人评说其所言的“方面”的,如:
(9)Personally , I think he is a good man, but you may not agree.
(personally意谓“从我个人方面讲”)
(10)He generally gets good marks for English. (generally 意谓“从总的方面讲”)
(11)She was strictly out of order in adjourning that meeting at that point. (strictly 在此意谓“严格地说”)
这一类句子副词往往可与现在分词speaking连用,如:
(12)Generally speaking , women live longer than men.
(13)Strictly speaking , the cyclist was responsible for the accident.
这一类句子副词除上述外还有figuratively, literally, metaphorically 等。
第三类是表示说话人评说所言的真实程度的,如:
(14)Evidently he disagrees.
(15)You don't believe what she said, surely ?
(16)He is indeed a man of great talent.
上述三例中的句子副词皆表示说话人的毫不怀疑的态度,这种句子副词还有admittedly, certainly, decidedly, definitely, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably, clearly, manifestly, obviously, plainly等。
下面一些例句中的句子副词则是表示说话人抱有某种程度的怀疑:
(17)That lady could perhaps be Sophie's mother.
(18)Apparently , they intend to discuss it.
(19)He could, possibly , have taken it by mistake.
这种句子副词还有allegedly, arguably, conceivably, doubtless, likely, maybe, presumably, reportedly, reputedly, probably, seemingly, supposedly等。
还有一些句子副词可表真实性和非真实性。表真实性的如:
(20)Really , that was a terrible mistake.
(21)Actually , he is an expert mechanic.
表非真实性的如:
(22)Ideally , we should look at this more carefully, but we haven't enough time.
(23)He is nominally in charge of the firm but actually he has no power at all.
这种表非真实性的句子副词还有formally, hypothetically, officially, ostensibly, outwardly, superficially, technically, theoretically 等。
有些句子副词则只表示原则上是真实的,如basically,essentially, fundamentally等。
第四类是表示说话人对其所言做出的判断,如:
(24)Rightly or wrongly she refused to speak to him.
(25)They wisely took their friend's advice.
(26)Foolishly , he made an attempt to sing.
上述三例中的句子副词不仅修饰全句,而且也意指句中的主语,如例(25)中的wisely即亦意味着they were wise。这种句子副词还有correctly, incorrectly, justly, unjustly, artfully, cleverly, cunningly, prudently, reasonably, sensibly, shrewdly, unreasonably, unwisely等。
但有一些句子副词与句中的主语并无上述的意指关系,如:
(27)Naturally , they expect hotel guests to lock their doors.
(28)Strangely , no one noticed her.
(29)Unfortunately , it rained all the time we were there.
(30)Hopefully , these strategies will facilitate his learning.
这种句子副词为数不少,还有remarkably, amazingly, curiously, funnily, incredibly, ironically, oddly, unexpectedly, inevitably, understandably, annoyingly, regrettably, fortunately, happily, luckily, sadly, tragically, amusingly, preferably, conveniently, significantly, thankfully等。
除上述四大类句子副词外,有的语法家认为表不确定的或经常重复的时间的副词并不属于句中任何一个成分,所以也是句子副词,如:
(31)Ordinarily we eat breakfast at seven.
(32)Misfortunes never come single.
(33)Bessie arrived punctually always .
这种表时间的句子副词还有 generally, usually, often, repeatedly, sometimes, seldom, rarely等。有些表不确定的时间与时段的副词也应属于这一类,如again, already, still, then, soon, gradually, just等。
有的语法家也将so, thus, yet, besides, furthermore, likewise, moreover, however, nevertheless, notwithstanding, accordingly, therefore等副词看作句子副词,但在一般语法中,这些副词,由于接近连词,皆被称作连接副词,所以这里就不细说了。
最后,关于句子副词,还应指出下列几点:
1. 句子副词在句中一般并没有固定的位置,它可以位于句首,也可以位于句中,也可以位于句末。应位于何处,须视具体情况而定。
2. 句子副词之前之后是否应有逗号,一般似乎没有一定之规。但位于句首的句子副词之后,似多用逗号;而在位于句末的句子副词之前用逗号的情况就更多了。
3. 应注意句子副词与非句子副词 (尤其是修饰谓语动词的非句子副词)的区别。上述例(1)与例(2)中已进行过一点比较,现再试比较几对句子如下:
(34)I simply can't bear this noise. (simply 是句子副词)
(35)He spoke simply and to the point. (simply 是修饰谓语动词 spoke的非句子副词)
(36)He naturally replied at once. (naturally 是句子副词)
(37)He replied naturally .(naturally 是修饰谓语动词的非句子副词)
(38)Clearly he saw what she meant. (clearly 是句子副词)
(39)He saw it clearly .(clearly 是非句子副词,修饰谓语动词)
关于句子副词就谈这些吧。
3 两种不同的副词形式有何异同?
有一读者问: 英语有些副词有两种不同的形式,如slow 与 slowly, loud 与loudly。请问它们之间有何异同?
概括地说,这类副词可分为下列三种情况:
1. 二者的意思完全不同,如:
2. 二者部分同义,部分异义,如:
3. 二者同义,但用法不尽相同,如:
1.show与slowly: slow常用于口语中,并常置于go, drive, walk等动词之后,如:
(1)Go slow . (slow 常用在祈使句中)
(2)I walked slow enough.
但在how引导的感叹句中,slow 则须置于how 之后,如:
(3)How slow the time passes!
slowly 在口、笔语中皆可用,但其位置比较灵活,如:
(4)The youth awakened slowly .
(5)Slowly the youth awakened.
(6)The youth slowly awakened.
2.quick与quickly: quick也常用于口语中,并常置于动词或动词宾语之后,如:
(7)Come quick !
(8)Tell us quick .
(9)The train will get there quicker than the bus. (表时间长度应用quicker)
quickly 可用的场合较quick 多。它可用在口语和笔语中,其位置也不固定,如:
(10)He did it quickly .
(11)If you speak quickly , I don't understand.
(12)He quickly opened the door and ran out.
3.loud 与loudly: loud也常用于口语中,并常置于speak, shout, talk等动词或其宾语之后,如:
(13)Don't speak so loud .
(14)He plays his recordplayer unbearably loud .
(15)I said it loud and clear. (loud and clear 应看作是一固定说法)
loudly 可用于口语中和笔语中,多含喧闹之意,如:
(16)They shouted loudly at each other.
(17)He is snoring loudly . (snore 之后常用 loudly)
(18)He swore loudly when he hurt his finger.
作“(衣服等)俗艳”解时,应用loudly, 如:
(19)He is loudly dressed.
4.high与highly: high多表具体的高度(to aim high等则除外),常置于动词或其他宾语之后,如:
(20)He held his head high .
(21)The eagle soared high into the sky.
highly 常用以表抽象的高度,其位置比较灵活,如:
(22)He thinks highly of you.
(23)He was highly delighted at the news.
由于篇幅有限,仅举上述几个副词的两种形式为例。其他常见的还有 awful(ly), bad(ly),cheap(ly), clean(ly), clear(ly), close(ly), dead(ly), deep(ly), easy(easily), fine(ly), firm(ly), flat(ly), free(ly), hard(ly), mighty(mightily), most(ly), ready(readily), real(ly),right(ly), sharp(ly), sound(ly), sure(ly), tight(ly), wide(ly), wrong(ly)等,这里就不能细说了。但我们相信,读者只要平时多加注意,再借助一些好的词典和辞书,一定能独立加以辨别的。
4 关于副词的位置问题
我们愿意和你们谈谈有关副词的位置问题。这个问题比较复杂,其内容也比较丰富。在这里只概括地谈谈副词有哪些位置的问题。
副词在句子结构中的位置主要有三,即首位、中位和末位。首位指主语之前的位置,如:
(1)Yesterday I met your brother. (时间副词yesterday居首位)
中位指主语和谓语动词之间的位置,如:
(2)I yesterday met your brother. (时间副词 yesterday 居中位)
末位指基本句子结构之后的位置,如:
(3)I met your brother yesterday .(时间副词yesterday 居基本句子结构“主语+谓语+宾语”之后)
从上面三例中的yesterday, 可以看出,英语中副词的位置是多么灵活。它可居首位,可居中位,也可居末位。
首位有什么特点呢? 有哪些副词常居首位呢? 首位一般不向读者或听话人提供新的信息。具体到居首位的副词,它可以起一种布景的作用,所以句子副词常居首位,如:
(4)Frankly , I am not satisfied with your work. (句子副词 frankly 居首位)
(5)Truly there was nothing else to do but to go home. (句子副词 truly 居首位)
表示方面的句子副词也常居首位,如:
(6)Academically it is one of the best schools around here.(表方面的句子副词 academically 居首位)
时间副词与频度副词被强调时,亦可居首位,如上述例(1)中的yesterday, 再如:
(7)Today we all have electric light.(时间副词 today 居首位)
(8)Sometimes , the teacher makes a mistake. (频度副词 sometimes 居首位)
疑问副词 when, where, why, how 等自然也常居首位,但其后须有助动词、是动词或有动词,如:
(9)When do you start? (疑问副词 when 在助动词 do之前)
(10)Where is it ? (疑问副词 where 是在动词之前)
有些地点副词也可置于句首,如:
(11)Indoors it was nice and warm. Outside it was snowing. (地点副词 indoors和outside皆置于句首)
(12)Outwardly he is cheerful, but he is really a very unhappy man. (地点副词 outwardly 置于句首)
在下面的习惯说法中,地点副词 here 和 there 皆须置于句首:
(13)Here you are.
(14)There you go again.
焦点副词如even, only 等可置于句首,如:
(15)Even a child can understand this. (焦点副词 even置于句首)
(16)Only Tom laughed at me. (焦点副词 only 置于句首)
在叙事文中,方式副词亦可置于句首,以取得制造悬念等戏剧性的效果,如:
(17)Suddenly , the lights went off. (方式副词 suddenly 置于句首)
(18)Hurriedly , she dried her tears. (方式副词 hurriedly 置于句首)
有时有两个方式副词并列于句首,如:
(19)Softly and stealthily the door opened.(方式副词 softly and stealthily 并列于句首)
但请注意,程度副词如barely, enough, fairly, hardly, quite, rather, too, somewhat 等,以及语势副词如very, much, pretty, extremely, terribly, greatly, perfectly 等,一般均不可置于句首。
现在让我们看看副词居于中位的情况。可居中位的副词很多,但一般不被或很少被强调。这种副词常用以表语势和程度,如:
(20)I really appreciate all you've done for me. (语势副词 really 置于中位)
(21)I quite enjoyed your party. (程度副词 quite 置于中位)
焦点副词也常居中位,如:
(22)I play squash and I also play tennis. (焦点副词 also 居中位)
(23)I don't know why you're so angry. I only left the door open. (焦点副词only居中位)
句子副词也常居中位,如:
(24)He absolutely lives from hand to mouth.(句子副词 absolutely 居中位)
(25)He smiled nastily. He evidently knew something I didn't. (句子副词 evidently 居中位)
其他副词(一般除地点副词外)也都可以居中位,如:
(26)In cotton China now leads the world.(时间副词now居中位)
(27)He never was unkind to children. (频度副词never居中位)
(28)We badly need a new typewriter. (方式副词badly居中位)
祈使句中居句首的副词亦应看作居中位,因为它位于被省略的主语与谓语动词之间,如:
(29)Never fear. (频度副词 never应看作居中位)
(30)Kindly shut the door.(句子副词kindly应看作居中位)
句子中如有助动词 (包括情态助动词在内),副词可居的中位则有下列几种情况:
1. 副词置于助动词之后,主要动词之前,如:
(31)He had nowhere stated this explicitly. (地点副词nowhere置于助动词has与主要动词stated之间)
(32)I have already seen the report.(时间副词already 置于助动词 have与主要动词seen之间)
(33)We don't usually get up before nine on Sundays. (频度副词usually置于助动词do与主要动词get up之间)
(34)We have carefully studied the problem. (方式副词carefully 置于助动词have与主要动词studied之间)
(35)I don't much like fish.(程度副词 much置于助动词do与主要动词like之间)
(36)Byron is much admired in Greece.(语势副词much置于助动词is与主要动词 admired之间)
(37)He's just gone.(焦点副词 just置于助动词has与主要动词gone之间)
(38)He is wisely staying at home today.(句子副词 wisely置于助动词is与主要动词staying之间)
这种副词偶尔可置于助动词中的to之前,如:
(39)She has always to assist him. (频度副词 always置于助动词has to中的to之前,always亦可置于has之前)
这种副词之前有时可有一个以上的助动词,如:
(40)I frankly have been seriously interested. (语势副词 seriously 之前有两个助动词: have been)
(41)This bridge may have been partly designed by him. (方式副词 partly之前有三个助动词:may have been)
2. 副词置于主语之后,助动词之前(以顺调助动词),如:
(42)You never can tell. (频度副词never置于主语you之后,助动词can之前)
(43)They seriously have considered him for the post.(语势副词 seriously 置于主语they之后,助动词have之前)
(44)Nearly 80 per cent of all working women still are employed in the sales or service jobs.(时间副词still置于主语women之后,助动词are之前)
(45)Hawaii also is luring more vacationing Americans than ever before, with major expansions in hotel facilities on the outer islands. (焦点副词 also置于主语Hawaii之后,助动词is之前)
(46)He undoubtedly has worked hard. (句子副词undoubtedly 置于主语he之后,助动词has之前)
3. 副词置于助动词与助动词之间,如:
(47)This must also be constantly borne in mind. (焦点副词 also置于助动词must与be之间)
(48)I have undoubtedly been deceived. (句子副词undoubtedly置于助动词 have与助动词been之间)
(49)The new law may indeed have been badly formulated. (句子副词 indeed之前有一个助动词may, 其后有两个助动词have been)
(50)This bridge may have actually been designed by him. (句子副词 actually 之前有两个助动词may have,其后有一个助动词been)
末位是许多副词的正常位置,一般皆提供新的信息,所以往往是句子的焦点或重心。各种副词皆可置于句子的末尾,即基本结构之后,如:
(51)She put the money away . (地点副词 away置于基本结构“主语+谓语+宾语”之后)
(52)It is out of date already . (时间副词 already 置于基本结构“主语+系词+表语”之后)
(53)I'll love you always . (频度副词 always在此意谓for ever, 置于基本结构“主语+谓语+宾语”之后)
(54)He writes badly . (方式副词badly置于基本结构“主语+谓语”之后)
(55)I've turned up the oven somewhat .(程度副词 somewhat 置于“主语+谓语+宾语”之后)
(56)I enjoyed the play extremely . (程度副词 extremely置于“主语+谓语+宾语”之后)
(57)He built the house alone . (焦点副词alone 置于“主语+谓语+宾语”之后)
句子副词大都置于句子的首位或中位,但有时亦可置于末位,如:
(58)I'm very happy indeed . (句子副词 indeed置于句子的末位)
(59)Is Mary at home, perhaps ? (句子副词 perhaps 置于句子末位)
有时副词可用作添补之词而置于句子末位,如:
(60)The living are of more account than the dead, always .(频度副词always用作添补词置于末位)
(61)The inexplicable fact absorbed his attention quite . (程度副词 quite用作添补词置于末位)
但请注意,宾语如较长,副词则可置于谓语动词与宾语之间,如:
(62)She heard again the language of his nursery. (频度副词 again 置于谓语动词 heard与宾语the language of his nursery之间)
(63)He urged secretly that she be dismissed.(方式副词secretly在此必须置于谓语动词urged与宾语从句that she be dismissed之间。如置于句末,secretly 则会误变成that从句的一部分从而修饰dismissed)
有时副词亦可置于系词与表语之间,如:
(64)Signs were everywhere numerous. (地点副词everywhere 置于系词were 与表语numerous之间,以强调后者)
(65)I was recently in Berlin.(时间副词recently 置于系词was 与表语in Berlin之间,理由同上)
句子末尾如有其他状语,副词可位于其它状语之前或其它状语之后,如:
(66)He paid immediately for the book.(时间副词 immediately 位于另一状语for the book之前)
(67)I got paid on Fridays usually . (频度副词 usually 位于另一状语on Fridays 之后)
关于修饰形容词、名词、其它副词以及非谓语动词等的副词的位置,一般语法书都已讲到,这里就不赘述了。
最后,需要注意,有些副词有时虽不在同一位置上,但其意义并无不同,如下面两句中的recently和exactly:
(68)I recently went to Shanghai.
I went to Shanghai recently .
(69)I don't know exactly what happened.
I don't exactly know what happened.
但在许多情况下,副词的意义则会因其位置之不同而不同,现仅举几例如下:
(70)Only Tom met Helen.只有汤姆遇到了海伦。
Tom only met Helen. 汤姆只遇到了海伦。
(71)Students play tennis often .学生经常打网球。
Often students play tennis.经常有学生打网球。
(72)Treat her Kindly .要好好待她。
Kindly shut the door.请把门关上。
(73)You typed this letter very badly .这封信你打得很不好。
We badly need a new typewriter. 我们迫切需要一台新打字机。
(74)He foolishly locked himself out.他真傻,把自己锁在门外了。
He behaved foolishly at the party. 他在晚会上表现不佳。
有时位置不同的副词虽在意义上无甚差别,但在句子的侧重点却有所不同,如:
(75)He was never unkind to children.(不重读was)
(76)He never was unkind to children.(重读was)
5 关于修饰动名词的副词的位置
有一读者问: 副词修饰动名词时,可否放在动名词之前?
副词修饰动名词时,可以前置也可以后置,但何时前置或后置,应由具体语境和习惯所决定。现各举几例如下。前置:
(1)Her thus turning back on me was fortunately not a snub. (thus置于turning之前)
(2)She fell to laboriously and noiselessly counting them. (laboriously and noiselessly置于counting之前)
(3)When he looked at her he usually ended by smiling and sometimes by suddenly laughing.(suddenly置于laughing之前)
后置:
(4)His letter requires answering immediately .
短语一般须后置,如:
(5)I can't bear his staying up so late . (so late后置)
(6)He objects kissing in public . (in public后置)
有时副词既可前置,亦可后置,试比较:
(7)I do not like early rising.
(8)I do not like rising early .
这里的early rising和rising early区别不大,只是句(8)更强调“早”的概念而已。
6 这里省去了关系副词
有一读者问: 有这样一句话:
(1)I remember the many times she tried to spell words into my small hand.
she tried to spell words into my small hand是什么从句?请介绍一下time后接从句的用法。
the many times后省去了when或that,故而she tried to spell words into my small hand是一个省去关系副词when或that的定语从句,用以修饰the many times。这种修饰time的定语从句并不罕见,再如:
(2)It's time we left. (time后省去了that)
(3)I shall never forget the short time when I have been there. (这里未省去when)
(4)You were in a hurry the last time I met you.(time后省去了that或when)
(5)It was raining the day I started.(the day之后省去了that或when)
7 副词有时可用作主语、宾语、定语等
有读者问He left here yesterday中的here是宾语还是状语?
句中的here是副词,但在此却用作及物动词left的宾语。副词常用作状语,但有时亦可用作其他句子成分,再如:
(1)Now is the right time for action. (副词now在此用作主语)
(2)He lives not far from there . (副词there在此用作介词from的宾语)
(3)Life here is full of joy. (副词here在此用作定语)
8 about 在此是副词
有一读者说他觉得for about three years中的about不应是介词,它似乎与名词years没有什么关系,可它该是什么词呢?
about在此不是介词,而是副词,用以修饰相当于形容词的three,起状语的作用。
9 else属于何种词类?
有一读者问: 有人说下面一句中的else是形容词:
(1)What else did you want?
你认为对吗?
现今确有一些人认为疑问代词和不定代词之后的else是形容词,用作后置定语。这样分析不无实用价值,至少使英语学习者较为容易接受。然而还有不少人(包括一些词典和语法学者)认为疑问代词与不定代词之后的else仍是副词,只是用作后置修饰语而已。我们知道,置于名词之后的副词,在英语中是不乏其例的,例如:
(2)Life here is very interesting.
(3)The meeting yesterday lasted more than three hours.
else的本义是besides someone or something already mentioned。从这个意义上讲,它应该是表示“除外”的副词;其特殊之处只在于其位置不在名词之后,而在于疑问代词和不定代词之后。(不定代词多为复合不定代词,如anybody, somebody, nobody, everybody, anything, something, nothing, everything等。单一不定代词则如all, much, little等)此其一。
其二,else也常可置于疑问副词之后。如:
(4)Where else can I go?
(5)How else could it have happened?
这里的else没有争议,皆被认作副词。其实这里的else与疑问代词后的else并无本质的区别。
故此,我们认为上述两种看法可以并存。
10 这里的 in 应如何解释?
有一读者问: 我在一篇文章中,遇到下面的对话:
(1)—Take me to 14 Stephens Street, will you?
— Yes. Let me help you in.
这里的 in 如何解释?
“Let me help you in.” 在此的意思是“让我扶你上车吧”。 in 是一小品词,更正确地说,是一介副词 (介词用作副词)。这种介副词除 in 外,还有 out, on, off 等等。它们常用在“及物动词+宾语+介副词”这一结构之中。这是一种非常简便有用的结构。再如:
(2)I'll carry the dog in . (in 在此是介副词)
(3)I bent over the dog and was about to unfasten the leash from the collar when he said, “No, leave that on .” (on在此是介副词)
(4)I helped him out , ... (out 在此是介副词)
另如下面句子中的斜体词皆为用于上述结构的介副词:
(5)We saw some friends off .
(6)I found that she had left her umbrella behind .
(7)The waves turned our boat over .
(8)I want you inside .
(9)Now, push this table under , while I support his arm.
11 这里的like是什么意思?
有一读者问: 有这样一句话:
(1)The dog is a member of family, like.
其中的like一词是什么意思? 属于何种词类? 用作什么句子成分?
首先应指出like的这种用法至今尚不能算是标准英语,虽然它已有近百年的历史。有的人说它是俚语(slang),也有人说它是粗俗之词 (vulgarism),所以有不少词典未收入它。但尽管如此,like的这种用法,在非正式文体中,尤其在口语中,却并不罕见。它的意思相当于so to speak或as it were, 可译作“可以说是”或“说得上是”。它在句中是一副词,用作修饰全句的状语。正如例(1)所示,它常置于句子末尾,再如:
(2)She was out of her mind like .
(3)I have kept my real sentiments more to myself like .
但有时亦可置于句子中间,如:
(4)We rode uptown with them to the Warwick Hotel where there were hundreds of girls all lined up in front screaming, like very insane.
有时like可在同一句中连续出现,如:
(5)He's an old fellow, like , and he can't, like , walk very far on his own, like .
12 mainly怎可修饰名词?
有一读者问: 新英语课本每到期中、期末的单元总有一标题:Mainly Revision。mainly是副词,怎能用以修饰名词revision呢?
英语中有一些副词,如mainly, chiefly, especially, only, merely, even等,具有突显词语的作用,其后可接各种词语,包括名词在内。有的语法家称之为“焦点副词”。再以mainly为例:
(1)There I saw a lot of people, mainly women and children. (mainly后接名词)
(2)The union soon formed twenty branches, mainly in London. (mainly后接介词短语)
(3)They argued that the tax will mainly benefit the rich. (mainly后接动词)
13 really为何置于is之前?
有一读者问: 新编初中英语有这样一句话:
(1)They know “Father Christmas” really is.
really通常在动词be之后,但在这里却位于is之前,这是为什么?
像really, never, always这样的副词置于be等之前的情况一般有两种。一是为了强调be等动词或助动词,实例如:
(2)You really are my pupil now. (强调并重读are,即强调一个事实)
(3)You never can tell. (强调情态助动词can)
二是当句末为be, have或助动词之时,如:
(4)It always has been thus, and always will be. (这里的always先是用于第一种情况,后是用于第二种情况)
14 soon不仅用于将来时
有一读者问: 有这样一个句子:
(1)Soon there was an army of brave Scotsmen gathered around him.
soon可用于将来时以外的其他时态吗?
可以,上述句(1)即是与过去一般时连用的一例。另如:
(2)I had soon told my story.(soon与过去完成时连用)
(3)Winter has come too soon . (soon与现在完成时连用)
15 谈谈副词too
这里还想谈一个问题,即有关副词too的问题。
在讨论一些具体问题之前,首先有必要弄清楚副词too的用法与含义。too的用法有二:一是用作一般副词,可修饰形容词、副词等;二是用作句子副词,用以修饰全句。作为一般副词,too 又有两种截然不同的含义,一是in a higher degree than is allowable or required (超过了所允许或需要的程度,意即“太”或“过分”),如:
(1)You eat too much. You'll get fat.
(2)He's coming, but one can't be too sure.
(3)Dance? Oh, I'm too old for that.
另一种含义是extremely, very (非常),如:
(4)I'm not feeling too well.
(5)It was just too delicious!
(6)There is not too much to see.
作为句子副词,too常意谓also(也),如:
(7)She went and I went too .
(8)—I love chocolate.
—Sophie loves it, too , so don't eat it all.
现在谈谈几个具体的问题。最常遇到的问题是下面两个句子的区别:
(9)I'm too tired to do it.
(10)I'm only too glad to do it.
这两个句子都是too...to...结构,但为什么二者的意义却不相同甚至相反呢?
例(9)与例(10)的主要区别在于两句中too的含义完全不同。例(9)中的too意谓“过分”,所以全句的意思是: 我太累了,因而不能做此事。例(10)中的 too则意谓“非常”,only只是一个用以加强语气的强调词(intensifier), 所以全句的意思是:我正是非常高兴做此事的。
从语法关系来看,两句中的too所修饰的对象也不相同。例(9)中的too显然只修饰tired, 不可能修饰tired to do it, 因为它不是一个独立的有意义的词组;例(10)中的too(或only too)则是修饰其后的整个有独立意义的词组glad to do it。
从语音的角度看,两句中的too也有所不同:例(9)中的too不重读,而例(10)中的 too则须重读。
有的读者可能要问:一般语法书上都说例(9)中的不定式短语to do it表示一种不能实现的结果,但未说明理由,你可以告诉我们是什么原因吗?
例(9)中的不定式短语to do it 意谓“不可能做此事”乃是一种特殊情况,从字面上是难以做出这样的解释的。答案得从历史演变中去找。据历史语法家们说,例(9)原是一种比较结构。但由于这种比较结构中的比较从句(即than引导的从句)有“结果”的含义,所以比较从句就缩减为不定式短语,但仍保留从属连词than,如有一位语法家提供了这样一个例证:
(11)I think more highly of him than to suppose that he would do it.(这里的不定式短语 to suppose...即由原来的than从句变来)
后来,“too + 原级”又代替了比较级,从而than便无存在的余地,于是发展为今天的:
(12)I think too highly of him to suppose that he would do it.
这就是当今英语的结构too...to...(表不能实现的结果)的来源。这种历史的探讨,显然没有多大实用价值,所以在一般实用语法书中皆不论及。
有读者还可能就例(10)发问:有的词典将only too看作一固定词组,说它=very, 这是不是说too 之前只可用强调词only, 不可用其他强调词呢?
only too 的确似乎最常用。当然,由于just与only同义,所以也常用just too,如:
(13)She was just too anxious to help you.
用其它强调词的情况似乎不多,这里只再举一例如下:
(14)We are far too content to drag out the old stale images that have lost all their savour and only make a fresh mind shudder at their ineptitude.
有的读者可能会问:too之前不用强调词可不可以呢?
在例(10)结构中,不用only等强调词,只用too, 当然也可以,而且并不罕见,如:
(15)“You are too anxious to make decisions," she said.
(16)I shouldn't have come out with him. I was too friendly, too eager to oblige.
(17)The coach felt the referee might have been too quick to hand out bookings.
有趣的是上述句子结构之后还可以再用一个表不能实现的结果的不定式短语,如:
(18)Tildy was too anxious to please to please.
这个句子中的too有双重含义。对第一个to please来说,too意谓“非常”,对第二个to please来说,too和其后的anxious to please一起则意谓“太急于取悦于人”,所以全句的意思是:蒂尔迪由于过分急于取悦于人反而不能取悦于人。
有些读者对于too在什么情况下可以直接修饰过去分词不太清楚。请先看下面两例:
(19)He was too frightened to speak.
(20)He was too much fatigued to eat.
为什么例 (19)用too frightened,而例(20)却用too much fatigued呢?
这是因为frightened已变为形容词,而fatigued则还是一个动词性质较强的过去分词的原故。由此可见,在与过去分词连用时,too的用法就与副词very完全一样了。
有的读者问道:语法书规定必须说:
(21)It's too difficult a task for me.
不可用a too difficult task,这是为什么?
这是结构和意义上的需要。正如必须说:
(22)It's so difficult a task that I can hardly cope with it.
而不可用 a so difficult task 一样。但如不用上述句型,a too difficult task和a so difficult task则并不是不可以说的,如:
(23)There was a too jocular manner in that phone call.
有的词典还明确规定不可说the too hot coffee, 只可说:
(24)The coffee is too hot.
但有人并不遵守它,例如有一位当代著名的英国小说家就曾用过the too straightfor
ward eyes。
关于一般副词 too,最后还有一点值得注意,即不要有这样一种错觉:too的后面的不定式总是状语。你看,下面例句中的不定式并不是状语,而是定语:
(25)You have too much to say. (to say 用作定语,修饰相当于名词的much)
(26)There is too much encouragement to be modest. (to be modest 是定语,修饰名词encouragement)
关于用作一般副词的too, 就谈到这里。现在让我们看看用作句子副词的too吧。关于句子副词too,最常遇到的问题就是:它与另一句子副词also有何不同?
这两个句子副词的意义基本相同,皆作“也”或“并且”解,但其语气、位置和用法不尽一样。too较口语化,常位于句末,前面往往有逗号,后面有句号。有时亦可用于句中,这时其前后常有逗号隔开,如:
(27)They're made in many other cities, too .
(28)Will they, too , be obliged to sing in German?
also 较正式,语气较轻,常位于助动词与动词之间,有时则像连词,位于句首,如:
(29)Ways are also found to make waste water clean.
(30)There's also a film about Doctor Bethune.
(31)You did your exercise incorrectly: also , you did not turn it in on time.
also 有时亦可置于句末,如:
(32)It served one other purpose also .
有时also亦可用于口语中,相当于and also,如:
(33)Remember your watch and money, also tickets.
too和also还有一点不同值得注意,即是too的语气较重,所以可用以突出名词;also则语气较轻,几乎等于and,试比较:
(34)He speaks English, and French too .
(35)He speaks English, (and)also French.
例(34)用too突出了名词French,使人感到他会讲法语是一件不寻常的事。例(35)用also, 并不突出French,只说明French是一种与English并列的语言而已。
有的读者问道:语法书规定否定句不可用too,只可用either,如:
(36)You can't swim. I can't either.
这样说是否有点绝对化呢?
我倒觉得我们应该遵守这条规则。但在非正式英语里,也有人不遵守,如:
(37)— Perhaps I didn't do much damage. I hope not.
— I hope not, too .
例(36)也可以改用too,变为:
(38)You can't swim, and I too can't swim.
最后,应该指出,too除作“也”解外,还有其它的含义。它有时可意谓though,如:
(39)I cannot keep these plants alive; I have watered them too .
在非正式英语里,尤其在美国,too有时还可相当于indeed,如:
(40)— Mr. B is dead.
— Mr. B is not dead, too .
顺便提及,在美国英语里,too还可以置于句首,俨然像一个连词,如:
(41)Too , there were rumours of his incorruptibility.
16 as well与too
有一读者问: as well的确切意思是什么? 是否比too的意思更进一层?
as well与too相似,有一位著名英国学者举过这样一个例子:
(1)Willingness alone won't get the job done. You need skill too/as well .
但as well有时有“同样好”的含义,如:
(2)This pen will do as well .
17 not too...与too...not
有一读者问:
(1)It is not too late to mend.
(2)He is too wise not to see that.
请问这两句话中的not为何处于不同位置?
上述两句中,not位置之所以不同,乃是由于其所否定的对象不同。句(1)的not所否定的是too late to mend(补过为时已晚),所以全句(是一格言)的意思是:补过为时不晚。句(2)的not所否定的是to see that(不明白这一点),所以全句的意思是:他很聪明,不会不明白这一点。
18 可以把very well放在句末吗?
有一读者问:
(1)The butter sold in this shop is very well made.
(2)The picture is very well taken.
可以将其中very well移至句末吗? 意思有什么不同吗?
状语very well在此表示方式。表示方式的副词在被动语态中可以放在过去分词之前,也可以放在过去分词之后,如:
(3)The point was well put.
(4)The point was put well .
二者在意义上无甚差别,只是侧重有所不同: 例(3)侧重动词put,例(4)则应重读well。但实际上,由于过去分词在人们心目中往往与形容词相仿,所以不少副词常被置于过去分词之前,例(1)与例(2)就是较常见的例子。另外再略举几例如下:
(5)It is very well done.
(6)He has been very kindly treated.
(7)It was all very quietly told.
但有时由于明显的原因,副词自应放在过去分词之后,如:
(8)They were treated unfairly as well as unwisely.
19 应如何理解这里的when?
有一读者问:
(1)I remember when this used to be a quiet village.
如何理解这个句子中的 when?
这里的 when = the time when,是一种缩合连接副词(或唤作“复合连接副词”), 常用以引导名词性从句。这种从句可用作主语,如:
(2)When she arrived was Thursday.
亦可用作表语,如:
(3)May is when she takes her last examination.
用作宾语的情况更多,提问者的引文中 when this used to be a quiet village 即用作宾语,再如:
(4)He remembers when things weren't so comfortable for intellectuals in China.
(5)You don't know when you are lucky.
(6)We found a few maids waiting in the hall for when they should be wanted.
请注意由于 when 既可用作缩合连接副词,亦可用作疑问副词,因而有时有歧义,如:
(7)Do you remember when we got lost?
这个句子孤立地看可以意谓“你记得我们迷路时的情景吗?”(when 用作综合连接副词),也可以意谓“你记得我们什么时候迷路的吗?” (when 用作疑问副词),只有在特定上下文中,这个句子才不会有歧义。
除 when 外,缩合连接副词还有 where, why 等,如:
(8)That's where they live. (where = the place where)
(9)That's why he didn't come to school. (why = the reason why)
此外还有 whenever (= at any time when), wherever (= at any place where), however (= no matter how)等,这里就恕不举例说明了。
20 when 在此引导什么从句?
有一读者问:
(1)You don't seem to know when you're lucky.
请问该句中的when引导的是什么从句? when应作“当”讲还是应作“何时”讲?
句中的when并不是连词,所以它不作“当”讲;它也不是疑问副词,所以它也不作“何时”讲。它是一个缩合的连接副词,由the time when缩合而成;为方便起见,也可以说它前面省去了the time(但不可加上)。由此可见,上述句中的when从句是一个名词性从句,用作宾语,全句的意思是:你处在幸运的时刻,而你却似乎不知道,或可译为“你简直是身在福中不知福”。
缩合连接副词when还可以引导用作介词宾语的宾语从句,如:
(2)I'll come back in three day's time, by when you should be cured.
(3)He was talking from when the buggy started rolling.
(4)Your father left it with me for when your manhood training would start.
21 为何将widely放在used之前?
有一读者问:
(1)English is widely used in the world.
这句话中为何不将副词widely放在used之后?
widely是一程度副词。用在被动句中,一般不强调,常置于be与过去分词之间。再如:
(2)The two houses are widely separated.
(3)The story is believed to have been widely read.
widely需要侧重时亦可置于句末,如:
(4)Reactions to the TV play have varied widely .
其它程度副词在被动语态中亦多置于be与过去分词之间,且以greatly为例:
(5)We were greatly moved by his devotion to duty.
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