本文通過分析what引導(dǎo)的名詞性從句,幫助讀者弄清楚連接代詞what與關(guān)系代詞型what引導(dǎo)名詞性從句的區(qū)別,以及關(guān)系代詞型what引導(dǎo)名詞性從句的特別之處。關(guān)系代詞型“What”連接代詞“what”先行詞關(guān)系代詞型What引導(dǎo)的名詞性從句在英語中經(jīng)常出現(xiàn),它表達的意思往往令學(xué)習(xí)者感到困惑。尤其是初學(xué)者在閱讀理解,或英中對譯,或?qū)懽鞅磉_方面,對引導(dǎo)名詞性從句的關(guān)系代詞型what的含義和用法極容易產(chǎn)生誤解和錯誤。本文擬通過分析常見的what引導(dǎo)的名詞性從句,幫助讀者弄清楚連接代詞what與關(guān)系代詞型what引導(dǎo)名詞性從句的區(qū)別,以及關(guān)系代詞型what引導(dǎo)名詞性從句的特別之處。1.連接代詞what引導(dǎo)名詞性從句時,實際上是其作為疑問代詞的一種借用,即將疑問代詞what用作連詞引導(dǎo)從句,這時它表示的是一個問題。⑴ It was clear enough what she meant. 她究竟是什么意思是再清楚不過的。 ⑵ I don’t care what she thinks.我不在乎她會怎么想。⑶ Let me see what you’ve chosen.讓我看看你選的是什么。⑷ I can’t describe to you what I felt at that moment.我無法向你描述我當(dāng)時是什么感覺。⑸ You have no idea what I suffered.你不了解我有多苦。⑹ No one can tell what will happen next.每人能夠預(yù)見往后會發(fā)生什么。⑺ I don’t know what motive he could have had.我不知道他的動機是什么。⑻ I asked him what clothes I should wear.我問他我應(yīng)該穿什么衣服。⑼ What Miss Fulton did, Bertha didn’t know.富爾頓小姐干啥的,伯莎并不曉得。⑽ You would have absolute freedom as to what researches you thought it best to pursue.你認為從事何種研究最好,你可以有絕對的自由。對此,有的語法學(xué)家提出了一個標(biāo)準(zhǔn),即在表示詢問,懷疑,不肯定,好奇的句子中,what引導(dǎo)從句時表示疑問,通常譯為“什么……?”以上各句中what引起的從句相當(dāng)于一個特殊疑問句。⑾ What did she mean?⑿ What does she think?⒀ What have you chosen?⒁ What did I feel at that moment?⒂ What did I suffer?⒃ What will happen next?⒄ What motive could she have had?⒅ What clothes should I wear? ⒆ What did Miss Fulton do?⒇ What researches did you think it best to pursue?2.關(guān)系代詞型what引導(dǎo)的名詞性從句相當(dāng)于帶有定語從句作后置修飾語的名詞詞組,即the things + that-clause或the persons + that-clause,它表示的不是一個問題,而是一件事情,通常譯為“(所)…的(東西)”;“(所)…的(人)”。(21)What(=the things that)caused the accident is a complete mystery.(所)造成這場事故的原因還完全是個迷。(22)What(= anything which)is done cannot be undone.幾成定局的事情無可挽回(23)What(= the thing that) is one man’s meat is another’s poison.對甲有利的事情未必對乙也有利。(24) What(= anything that)snow conceals, the sun reveals. 積雪掩蓋的東西,太陽曝光之。(若要人不知,除非己不為)(25) This book is just what(= the book that)I have been looking for.這本書正是我所一直在找尋的那本書。(26) The novel is what(= a novel that)people call a nonstop page turner.這本小說是人們稱之為引人入勝、欲罷不能的那種作品。(27) Do not put off till tomorrow what(= the things that)you can do today.今天可以干好的事情絕不要拖到明天。(28) Don’t criticize what(= the things that)you don’t understand.不可批判自己不能理解的事物。(29) I can’t make out what(= the things that)you are talking about.我無法理解你所談?wù)摰氖虑?。?0) There is in English what(= a metaphor that)we call the “mixed metaphor”, an unhappy marriage of two different figures of speech.英語里有一種我們稱之為“混雜隱喻”的東西,即兩種不同的修辭格的生硬結(jié)合。例句(21)—(30)中what引導(dǎo)的從句并不表示疑問意思,因此不可改寫成特殊疑問句。此外,關(guān)系代詞型what由于已經(jīng)包含了先行詞(thing或things;that或 those;person或persons),它與通常引導(dǎo)定語從句的關(guān)系代詞that, which, who不同。(31)Philip was depressed by what ( = those that) he had gone through.菲利普的苦難經(jīng)歷使他感到很消沉。(32)He seemed to have forgotten all that he had gone through.他似乎把他受的苦全忘了。(33) Rachel was what (= the kind of person who ) was known as a DonQuixote.雷切爾就是那種人們稱之為不切實際的理想主義者。The man who was sick is now well.患病那個人現(xiàn)在好了。例(31)、(33)中的關(guān)系代詞型what由于在意義上已經(jīng)包含有先行詞those,the kind of person,所以在它前面不需要在加其他名詞性短語。例(32)、(34)中的關(guān)系代詞that,who必須跟在先行詞之后,所以在其前面必須用別的名詞性短語,all,the man。3.關(guān)系型代詞what在意義上具有特指和泛指的區(qū)別。關(guān)系型代詞what表示特指的有如上述的例(21)、(23)、(25)、(27)、(28)、 (29),再如:(35) What (特指 = that which) caused the accident was a broken bottle.造成事故的原因是一只破瓶子。(36)Quality is what(特指= that which) counts most..質(zhì)量是最重要的方面。關(guān)系型代詞what表示泛指的有如例(22)、(24)、(26)、(30)。關(guān)系型代詞what表示泛指時,其包含的先行詞相當(dāng)于一個不定代詞,它引導(dǎo)的從句表示不必或不可能說得十分具體的事物:(37) What (泛指 = anything which ) caused the accident has not yet been found. 是什么原因造成這一事故目前還沒有弄清楚。(38)What(泛指= anything which )she looks like doesn’t matter.她長相怎么樣無關(guān)重要。關(guān)系代詞型what具有的泛指意義可通過復(fù)合詞whatever得到強調(diào),但實際上二者常常起相同的作用,只不過whatever表示泛指的意義更突出一些。(39)Well, I’ll do what(= anything that) I can.對了,我要盡力而為。(40) I’ll do whatever(= anything that) you wish.你想要我干什么,我就干什么。(41)They did what(= all that) they could to console her.他們盡量安慰她。(42)Whatever(= anything that) she says goes.她說怎么樣就怎么樣。(43)Give me what(= anything that) there is.有什么就給我什么。(44)Whatever(= all that) I have is at your service. 我所有的一切都任由你使用。4.關(guān)系型代詞what包含的先行詞表示的意思既可以是單數(shù)(the thing which, anything that),也可以是復(fù)數(shù)(the things which; those which, all that);既可以指物,又可以指人(the person that):(45) As a friend of yours, I want to tell you what (=all that ) I hear.作為你的朋友,我要告訴你我聽到的一切。(46) I should like to be a teacher. That’s what (=the kind of person that) I want to be.我想做一位老師,那是我心向往之的理想。(47)It was a small place then compared to what(=the place that ) it is now.和今天的規(guī)模相比,那里當(dāng)時僅僅是個小地方。已如前述,關(guān)系代詞型what具有泛指意義,它所表示的內(nèi)容從what本身是看不出來的。這時可以根據(jù)關(guān)系代詞型what引導(dǎo)的從句中的動詞來進行推敲和理解,就不難確定what表達的意思。(42)She was no happy at what he had said.她對他說的話感到不快。(43)But what follows is the narrative of his experience.而以下內(nèi)容是敘述他的人生經(jīng)歷。(44)What she saw gave her a little fright.她見到的景象使她感到有些害怕。關(guān)系代詞型what的含義與用法與其說是個語法問題,不如說是英語中的一個表達習(xí)慣。英語學(xué)習(xí)者經(jīng)過大量閱讀、細心體會和反復(fù)練習(xí),必能熟練掌握它的特點,在翻譯,寫作實踐中加以靈活運用,曲盡其妙。
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