113 从属单字连词(二)

                                                  英语语法进深──博客

113  从属单字连词(二)                                                                            12/8/2014

                                           

that   是一个用得很广泛的从属单字连词.  它可用作连接同位子句(apposition clause).

例如: 

The fact that he went there proves his interest. 

(他去那里说明他的兴趣 “that he went there” 与 “the fact” 同位.)

编辑者来到美国实在是享往它的民主和自由.  下面引述我早年读林肯总统的闻名于世的盖兹堡演说, 他把整个的感情(passion)灌注在这只有267个字的短文中.  我用该文来显示 “that” 的用法.

    Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. (1)

    八十七年前我们的国父禀承于孕育自由的理念, 及上帝创造人平等的信仰, 在这块土地上, 肇建了一个新的国家.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. (2)  We are met on a great battle field of that war. (3)  We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. (4)  It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. (5)

    现在我们正陷入一场伟大的内战中,  以考验着这个国家, 或任何肇基于该孕育和信念建造的国家能否永垂不朽.  我们现在相聚于此内战中伟大的战场上, 我们正要把这战场中的一部分献上作为给这些以自己生命换取国家得以勉能生存的同胞, 作最后永远安息之地. 我们必须如此的去作的奉献之举, 是完全应该而且非常恰当的.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. (6)  The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. (7)  The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. (8)  It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. (9)  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (10)

但是, 从更广泛的意义上来看, 我们不能够献上这块土地, 也不能够使这块土地圣洁, 更不能够神圣化这块土地.  曾在此奋不顾身的勇敢的战士们, 无论是生或死, 他们早已成就这块土地像他们所作所为的那么神圣化,  这远不是我们微薄的力量所能增减的.  全世界不会留意, 也不会长久记得我们在此说些什么, 但是, 全世界却永远不会忘记他们于此战场曾经做了些什么. 无寧说, 倒是我们些仍然活着的人, 理应责无旁贷的把自己献身于眼前战士们已经崇高地先前推展但尚未完成的使命上.  倒是我们应该在这里把自己献身于仍然留在我们前面的未完成的伟大的任务: 以便使我们向这些光荣的牺牲者吸取更多献身的精神, 来完成战士们已经完全彻底为之献身的事业; 以便我们在此恳切的肯定答应战士们, 他们的死决非白白的牺牲; 而这国家在上帝的福佑之下得自由的新生;  并且这民有、民治、民享的政府当永世长存.

最后一句, 林肯总统说出了心中为自由而战的确信.  一共是五个子句, 一个独立子句 (It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us.),  和 四个都是以 that 开始的同位从属子句(appositive  subordinate clauses). 其相互的关系配合得恰如其分.

      感谢上帝赐我四个多月的时间, 让我得以完成 “英语语法进深” 最后一个博客.  留下的工作是造句, 写段落及最后写文章. 求爱我的主耶稣基督也祝福您们有一个为庆祝祂为世人赎罪而降到人间, 由童女所生的日子 ── 快乐的圣诞节.

112 从属单字连词(一)

                                                      英语语法进深──博客

 112      从属单字连词(一)                                                                                      12/2/2014

当句子的构想是依靠另一个子句才能完备, 那么从属连词就被用来连接从属子句与具有来完成这句子的构想的独立子句.  所有的从属连词只能连接从属子句与独立子句形成句子.  例如, Although he failed again and again是个子句, 它有主语 “he” 和本动词 “failed”, 但它不能表达一个完整的构想. 译成中文 “虽然他一再失败” ,  没有全备的思想, 不能成为句子; 它必须要用从属连词去连接具有构想的独立子句. 如, Although he failed again and again, he never ceased to try. (虽然他一再失败, 他从未停止一试再试.) 这句子的构想才完善了.

从属单字连词有 as, because, since, although, though, if, unless, than, where,
whence, wherever, whither, lest, that, so, after, as, before, now, that, since,
till, until, when, whenever, after, when, while  等.  在应用上有各种不同的功能. 
需要仔细研读和领悟:

1.  表示原因 (cause) 有 as, because,  since
    例如:

             We believe these things because we see them in the newspaper.
                     (我们想信这些事情, 因为我们在报纸上见到它们.)
             Since it is already late, I must return.    
                    (因为天晚了, 我们必须回去.)
             As it was a national holiday, all the banks were closed.
                    (因为是国定假日, 所有的银行都关门了.)
 
2.  用作显示让步(concession) 的有although, though
     例如:
              Although he is young; he is the best in his class.
                  (虽然他年轻, 却是班中最好的.)
             Although he failed again and again, he never ceased to try.
                 (虽然他一再失败, 他从未停止一试再试.)
              I didn’t get the job though I had all the necessary qualifications.
                 (虽然我具有所有必备的条件, 却还是没有得这工作.)
      [注] : 使用它们在口语时, 多般你会听到在一句话的结尾有 “though”
                这从属单字连词.
        例如:
                The house isn’t very nice.  I like the garden though.
                  (虽然房子不怎么理想, 我却喜欢花园.)
                I see him every day.  I’ve never spoken to him though.
                  (虽然我天天看到他, 却从没有和他谈过话.)

3.  作表达条件 (condition) 的应用, 有 if, unless, providing, provided 等.
    例如:
             If you have done your best, you need not feel bad about your failure.
                 (若你尽力而为, 你就不要因失败而懊恼.)
             I am glad to help you provided (that) you try to help yourself.
                 (若你试着自己帮助自己, 我乐意恊助你. 注: 可不加 “that”)
             Unless we go early, we shall not be able to get a seat. 
                 (除非我们早些走, 否则将不会有坐位.)

4.  作比较 (comparison) 的使用, 有 as, than
   例如:
            He was (as) sly as a fox.
                (他像狐一般地狡滑.)
            You are looking better than I had expected.
               (你面色比我所想象的要好看些. )
           
5.  用于表示地方 (place), 有where, wherever, whence, whither 等
   例如:
           No one knows whence they come.
              (没有人知道他们从何处来的.)
           Keep your things where you can find them.
              (把东西放在你能够寻找的地方.)
           I know not whither they have gone.
              (我不知道他们已到了那儿去.)
           He carries a book wherever he goes.
              (他无论到什么地方总带一本书.)
 
6.  用作表示目的  (purpose ) 有 lest, that 等.
    例如 :
           Please remind me lest ( 等于that not)I forget.
               (请提醒我, 否则我会忘记.) 
          We study that we may some day succeed.
              (我们研究, 有一日我们成功的.)

7. 用作表示结果 (result) 有 so
   例如 :
           I was making little progress, so I decided to quit.
               (我没有什么进步, 所以我决定停止.) 
 
8. 用作肯定时间 (to fix a time) 有, after, as, before, now, that, since, till, until, while,
 when, whenever 等
   例如 :
           Before you go, I want to tell you something.
               (在你去之前, 我要告诉你一些事情.)
           After you have done it a few times, it should be easy.
               (你已经做了它几次之后, 它该是容易做了.)
           Since you were her last many things have happened.
               (自从你上次在这里以来, 有许多事情发生过.)
           Don't stop till you have reached your destination.
               (不要停步, 直到你到达目的地.)
           May I keep this magazine until I finish it!
               (我可以留着这杂志, 直到我读完它么?)
           While you were away someone called to see you. 
               (当你不在家的时候, 有人访问你.)
            I could read when I was six rears old.
               (我六岁时就能读.)
            Whenever you need any help please come to me.
                (无论什么时候你需要帮助, 请来找我.)