介词五

介词的结语 

介词是英文的灵魂, 要了解它而不应该死记, 但对初接触英文文法的年青学生, 编辑者见议用背诵整句的方法, 帮助我们了解它们的习惯用法. 

      例如,  ‘我把一个苹果切成两半’, 用英文如何表达呢？
　　         1.  I cut an apple by two.
　　         2.  I cut an apple to two half.
　　         3.  An apple is cut to two pieces by me.

以上的三种说法, 都是用介词短语说明句子的关系的, 没有错; 但不是习惯说法. 

你怎么能分辨呢?  要像美国人顺口成章的说出,  如:  I cut an apple in two. 若没有 

对介词短语下过功夫, 恐怕想不到要这样用 “in” 的介词短语吧.  看看是不是比较

简洁而有力.

介词真有用, 它们使句子简洁, 有力.  学英文不能心急, 罗马不是一天造成的. 只要多读, 多听, 多思考和有一本好的字典在身旁, 就能慢慢的与介词短语的习惯用法做朋友.  虽然, 对我国学生而言, 因语言不同, 在在都生变化, 比较困难些.  但是在我们的文字里也有类似的短语, 仔细的比较, 就能以他山之石, 可以攻玉.     

正确放置介词短语的重要 

介词是用来表示句中词汇之间关系的.  所以它们所在的位置对句子的意义非常紧要.  若放置得不对, 就会失去你所要表达的意念.

     例如,   The stores attracted more customers with bright lights.

                   (高楼大厦吸引住更多带有光彩灯光的顾客.)

                 There will be a movie about square dancing in the library.

                   (常有关于方块舞的电影在图书馆里放映.)

     提示:  第一句的英文的介词短语 ‘with bright lights’ 似放错位置.  难道是顾客带有

‘光彩的灯光’?  下一句介词短语 ‘in the library’放在句末显然表示 “常在图

书馆放映方块舞的电影”的意念.  若把它们的位置改变一下, 就是你要

表达的意思.

      例如,   The stores with bright lights attracted more customers.

                   (高楼大厦的五光十彩的灯光吸引住更多顾客.)

                   In the library , there will be a movie about square dancing.

                   (在图书馆里, 将有关于方块舞的电影放映.)

     注意:  介词短语应紧靠它们所修饰的词汇. 

借作形容词的介词短语要紧接着它所描述的词汇.

     例如,   The dog was swimming in the pool with fleas. (错误放置 ‘with fleas’)                

                 The dog with fleas was swimming in the pool. (比较合理) 

同样借作副词的介词短语要紧接着它们所描述的词汇, 或放在句首.

     例如,   Martin stared at the fire in his easy chair. (错误放置 ‘in his easy chair’)

                 In his easy chair, Martin stared at the fire.  (习惯用法) 

在句首放置作副词应用的介词短语

把主语作一句的开始是英文文法的习惯, 但也不是絶对的.  有些英文作者为了吸引读者的注意及趣味, 有时把用作副词的介词短语置于句首.

     例如,  In the morning, we shall leave for Brazil.

                After dinner, we can play duets on the piano.

      提示:  把介词短语置于句子的前面, 最好在该副词短语的末尾加上点号(,). 

作业六十八 

试重写下列各句, 将介词短语置句首, 并示在何处加上逗点:

1.  The sound of the doorbell could not be heard in the basement.

2.  The deer ran into the woods.

3.  We should have the results of the test by tomorrow morning.

4.  The elephants paraded into the center ring.

5.  The snow fell for eighteen hours during the last blizzard.

6.  The eggs were hatching one by one inside the chicken coop.

7.  We waited in line for tickets to the concert for three hours.

8.  The dancers formed three large circles in the middle of the room. 

介词短语是连接句中有关系的词汇.  美妙动人的文章常常是由多变化的句子所构成.  因此, 介词短语可将松散, 不确定和泛味的短句连接成有趣, 简洁而明确的句子.

   例如,   The man reappeared.

               He was in the restaurant.

               He wore a straw hat.

以上是三句散漫而意义不确定的句子; 经过用介词短语加以连接, 看看下句是否简洁而明确些:

            The man with the straw hat reappeared in the restaurant. 

提示:  造句时要常思想用介词短语组合句子, 使它们能表达你的意念.  

在结束本课前我必须要提醒同学们千万不可过分使用介词.  在不必要之处绝对别乱加介词.

     例如,   The leaves were dropping off of the plant.

                 Where is the plant food at?

     应涂抹去第一句不必要的 ‘of’ 和第二句 ‘at’:

                The leaves were dropping off the plant.

                Where is the plant food ?

  

作业六十九 

将下列句子改正.  若没有错, 则写 ‘正确’:

1. Can the plant fall off of that windowsill?
2. Where are the pliers?
3. The toddler tumbled off the seat?
4. Can you tell me where the bus stop is at?
5. Please do not let the typewriter fall off  of the table.
6. Where is everyone at?
7. Are the leaves falling off the tree yet?
8. Where did you find those skates?
9. Where is the next hockey game at?
10. Your galoshes fall off of my feet.
11. Where is the nearest drugstore?

介词四

介词短语(Prepositional Phrases) 

学习英文的年青人常常说, 文法这门功课是艰深而枯燥的, 我认为他们恐怕是针对英文的介词短语及其应用来说的.  有英文文法学者把 “介词” 编辑成一本书, 可见其应用真的是很广泛而多变化, 这对初学者是难以捉摸. 但我们若把它们与中国的成语应用来比较比较, 就会兴趣丛生 . 

     例如, 中国成语                                                                  英文的介词习惯用语

               “一针见血” 表示对某事做到恰到好处,        “to the point”

                “马到成功”  表示快速的完成.                          “with immediate success”

                “颠三倒四” 表示完全没有秩序.                    “in total disorder”  

介词短语是指由介词后接宾语构成的短语, 如:  in the room, at the station, on the desk, under the tree等. 

      例如,  We heard a strange sound in the room. (我们听到屋里有一种奇怪的声音.)

                An official at the station said the train would arrive late.

                    (火车站的一位官员说这列火车将晚点到达.) 

短语介词则是由短语构成的介词, ，如: according to, because of, in spite of, on behalf of, with reference to等. 

      例如,  He walked slowly because of his bad leg. (他因腿不方便而走得很慢.)

                According to the timetable, the train gets in at 8:27.

                    (根据行车时刻表，火车在8:27进站.)

                The legal guardian must act on behalf of the child.

                    (法定监护人应该维护这个孩子的利益.)

                In spite of these insults, she managed not to get angry.

                    (她尽管受到这些侮辱，还是忍着没发火.) 

短语介词, 如:“because of ” 仍是介词，像in, out, at, on等简单介词一样, 在句中只是虚词汇, 要加上宾语后才在句中发生效用, 作为描述名词, 或代名词的修饰语;  或作为描述动词, 或形容词, 或副词的修饰语.   若能把这点融会贯通, 介词就是你的知己, 供你使用, 一展你的所长, 写出美妙的英文作品.

     例如,  He is absent today because of his illness. 

                  (若只说  “He is absent today because of ” 这句子的意义就不完整.)

说明: “because of ” 是短语介词, 而这短语介词加上宾语“his illness” 才成为描述名词或代名词的修饰语.  因此  “because of his illness” 称为介词短语, 可借作为形容词及副词使用. 

介词短语的组成不只是包括介词及其宾语, 也包含在它们之间的其它修饰语. 

请问在下例句中 ‘介词短语’ 是什么?

       例如,   Mrs. Brenner spoke about a famous modern dancer.    

   提示:  “about”是介词, “dancer”是宾语, 它可以与一些它们之间的其它修饰语在一

            起, 如: “a famous modern”.  因此, 介词短语是介词, 宾语和它有关的修饰语的

            总称. 

介词短语可放置于句子的任何地方.

     例如,    From a great distance, one could see the snow-covered peak.

                  The top of the mountain was barely visible.

                  The mountain looked even more beautiful at close range. 

一个句子中可以有两个或以上的介词短语.  实际上, 一个介词短语可以跟随另一个介词短语之后. 

     例如,    At the top of the mountain, the east wind blew forcefully. 

介词短语的应用 

   1.  介词短语作描述名词或代名词的修饰语, 类似形容词.

        例如,  My aunt has hair of silver.

                   (我的舅母有银色的头发. 介词短语 ‘of silver’ 用如修饰 ‘hair’ .)

                   The herd of sheep obeys the determined dog.

                     (介词短语 ‘of sheep’描述 ‘herd’, 类似形容词)

                   The dog is the one with the fur.

                     (介词短语 ‘with the fur’ 描述宾语 ‘one’) 

2. 介词短语作描述动词, 形容词或副词的修饰语, 类似副词

         例如,    The injured man moved carefully. (要小心地搬动受伤者.)

                      The injured man moved with care.

                       (搬动受伤者需要细心. [‘with care’ 如副词 ‘carefully’ 作修饰动词用.]) 

        试辨明下列的有底下划线的修饰语是形容句中的那一个词汇?

           例如,  Let's meet there.  (修饰语 ‘there’ 形容动词 ‘meet’, 为副词.)

                      Let's meet outside the gate.

                      (介词短语‘outside the gate’ 当作动词 ‘meet’的修饰语. 类似副词)

                 The John has traveled to United Stated.

                 (介词短语‘to United Stated’ 形容动词 ‘has traveled’, 类似副词)

                Argentina is famous for its beef.  (阿根庭以她出产的牛肉著名.)

                 (介词短语 ‘for its beef ’ 修饰形容词 ‘famous’ , 类似副词)

                Spaniards dine late at night. (西班牙人正餐吃得很晚.)

                 (介词短语 ‘at night’ 修饰副词  ‘late’ , 类似副词)  

作业六十七 

试指出下列句中的介词短语, 并说明其所形容的词汇:

1. They visited the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York.

2. The materials on display in the museum had to do with writing tools.

3. In that year, the Ice Hockey Championship was held in Korea.

4. Later we went to Peijing for the Ski Championship.

5. During the World Cup competition, we traveled to Spain.

6. Taiwan is interesting in the spring.

7. Music festivals are common in Europe throughout the summer.