一、概說
4.1 代詞的定義和特征
代詞是代替名詞以及起名詞作用的短語、分句和句子的詞。英語代詞使用得很廣泛;漢語代詞用得似較英語少些。如:
(1)Because he had a bad cold, Jack decided to stay in bed the whole day. 杰克由于患重感冒,遂決定整天臥床休息。(代詞he代替名詞Jack)
(2)The Browns said they might move to California. 布朗一家說他們也許要搬到加利福尼亞州去。(代詞they代替名詞短語the Browns)
(3)Bob always answers his teacher’s questions well; that shows that he works very hard at home. 鮑勃一向對教師的問題回答得很好;這說明他在家很用功。(代詞that代替前面的分句)
(4)I had a chat with our group leader. It was very helpful. 我和組長談了一次話。這對我?guī)椭艽蟆?代詞It代替前面的整個句子)
代詞和名詞在形態(tài)上有所不同:第一,許多代詞有比名詞多的表示人稱、數(shù)、格與性的屈折變化;第二,代詞沒有名詞特有的派生詞尾,如-tion,-ment等。
代詞之間相異之處也很多,如有的可以隨便選用,有的則不能;有的可用作替換詞,有的則不能;有的有屈折變化,有的則沒有;有的可用形容詞修飾,有的則不可。但代詞之間有兩點共同之處:第一,它們本身的詞義都很弱,必須從上下文來確定;第二,許多代詞都有兩種功用:一可單獨取代名詞的位置,二可起修飾語的作用。
4.2 代詞的種類
代詞可分為八類:
1) 人稱代詞(personal pronoun)
a)主格 I ,you,he, she, it, we, you, they
b)賓格 me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them
2)物主代詞(possessive pronoun)
a)形容詞性物主代詞 my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their
b)名詞性物主代詞 mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs
3)反身代詞(reflexive pronoun) myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves, oneself
4)相互代詞(reciprocal pronoun) each other, one another
5)指示代詞(demonstrative pronoun) this, that, these, those, it, such, same
6)疑問代詞(interrogative pronoun) who, whom, whose, which, what
7)關系代詞(relative pronoun) who, whom, whose, which, that, as
8)不定代詞(indefinite pronoun) some, something, somebody, someone, any, anything, anybody, anyone, no, nothing, nobody, no one, every, everything, everybody, everyone, each, much, many, little, a little, few, a few, other, another, all, none, one, both, either, neither
二、人稱代詞
4.3 人稱代詞的形式
人稱代詞表示人稱范疇以及它們的屈折變化形式,有人稱、性、數(shù)與格之分:
數(shù) 單數(shù) 單數(shù) 復數(shù) 復數(shù)
格 主格 賓格 主格 賓格
人稱
第一人稱 我 I me 我們 we us
第二人稱 你 you you 你們 you you
第三人稱 陽性 他 he
陰性 她 she
中性 它 it him
her
it 他們
她們 they
它們 them
4.4 人稱代詞的指代
顧名思義,人稱代詞表示人。然而,人稱代詞并不全指人,也指物。人稱代詞有三個人稱,每個人稱又分單數(shù)和復數(shù)(第二人稱單數(shù)與復數(shù)同形),第三人稱單數(shù)還有陽性、陰性和中性之分。人稱代詞的人稱、數(shù)和性取決于它所指代的名詞,而人稱代詞的格則取決于它在句中的地位。
1)第一人稱單數(shù)I代表說話者,須大寫。如:
(1)I beg your pardon, Is this your handbag? 對不起,這是你的手提袋嗎?
(2)That’s what I mean. 那就是我的意思。
2)第一人稱復數(shù)we代表說話者一方(二人或二人以上)。如:
(3)We walked together up the garden path. 我們一道沿著園中小徑漫步。
(4)We need one more telephone. 我們還需要一部電話機。
we有時也包括聽話者。如:
(5)Shall we call a taxi? 咱們叫一部出租車好嗎?
(6)Let’s go, shall we? 咱們走吧,行嗎?
we可以代表一個集體。如:
(7)We should like to duplicate the order we sent you last month. 我們想復制一份上月給你們的訂單。( we代表公司或政府)
(8)We do not necessarily support the views expressed in this column. 我們并不一定贊同這一欄目中所表達的觀點。 ( we代表報紙)
(9)We wish to record our special thanks to R. A. Close for his detailed work revising the manuscripts. 我們特別感謝R. A. 克勞斯對本書手稿所作的詳細校定。(we代表著者)
We也可以用來泛指大家。如:
(10)We all fear the unknown. 對于未知的事物我們都感動害怕。
(11)We all get into trouble sometimes. 我們有時都會遇到麻煩。
3)第三人稱單、復數(shù)you代表聽話者或對方(復數(shù)you代表二或二人以上)。如:
(12)“Whatever you want you shall have,” said the Fairy. “你要什么就會有什么,”仙女說。
(13)I choose you three; the rest of you can stay here. 我選你們?nèi)齻€,其佘的可以留在這里。
you究竟是表示單數(shù)或復數(shù),往往要根據(jù)句意和語境來確定。如:
(14)Are you ready, David? 戴維,你準備好了嗎?(you表單數(shù))
(15)You must both come over some evening. 你們倆必須找個晚上過來一趟。(you表復數(shù)
you也可以用來泛指大家。如:
(16)You never know what may happen. 誰也不知道會發(fā)生什么事。
(17)World trade is improving, but you cannot expect miracles. 世界貿(mào)易正在改善,但誰也不能期望出現(xiàn)奇跡。
(18)You should do your best at all times. 你無論何時都應盡你的最大努力。
4)第三人稱單數(shù)陽性he代表已提到過的男人。如:
(19)He is a powerful man. 他是個有權勢的人物。
(20)Where’s John? ——He’s gone to the cinema. 約翰在哪里?——他看電影去了。
在一些諺語中he可以泛指大家。如:
(21)He who hesitates is lost. 當斷不斷,必受其患。
(22)He who laughs last laughs best. 誰笑到最后,誰笑到最好。
5)第三人稱單數(shù)陰性she代表已提到過的女人。如:
(23)Where is Charlotte? ——She’s outside sunbathing. 夏洛特在哪里?——她在外邊曬太陽。
(24)She had a lively sense of humour. 她有一種很強的幽默感。
6)第三人稱單數(shù)中性it代表已提到過的一件事物。如:
(25)That vase is valuable. It’s more than 200 years old. 那個花瓶很珍貴,它有200多年的歷史。
(26)I love swimming . It’s keeps me fit. 我喜歡游泳,它能使我保持健康。
(27)You have saved my life; I shall never forget it. 你救了我的命,我將永生不忘。
當說話者不清楚或無必須知道說話對象的性別時,也可以用it來表示。如:
(28)It’s a lovely baby. Is it a boy or girl? 寶寶真可愛,是男孩還是女孩?
it用來指代團體。如:
(29)The committee has met and it has rejected the proposal. 委員會已開過會,拒絕了這項建議。
it常用來指代時間、距離、自然現(xiàn)象等。如:
(30)It is half past three now. 現(xiàn)在是三點鐘。
(31)It is six miles to the nearest hospital from here. 這里離最近的醫(yī)院也有六英里。
(32)It was very cold in the room. 房間里很冷。
it有時非確指。如:
(33)How’s it going with you? 你近況如何?
(34)Take it easy. 不要緊張
it還常用于固定習語,it所指為對方所熟知,故無必要明確指出。如: cab it 乘車 come it 盡自己分內(nèi) walk it 步行 come it strong 做得過分 make it 辦成 take it out of somebody 拿某人出氣
7)第三人稱復數(shù)they(不分性別)代表已提到過的一些人或事物。如:
(35)John and Susan phoned. They’re coming round this evening. 約翰和蘇珊來了電話,他們今晚要來。
(36)Where are the plates? ——They are in the cupboard. 盤碟在哪兒?——在碗櫥里。
(37)Our curtains look dirty. They need a good wash. 我們的窗簾看來很臟了,需要好好洗一洗。
they也可以用于一般陳述,泛指“人們”。如:
(38)They say that honesty is the best policy. 人們說誠實是上策。(they泛指人們)
(39)One of the best ways of seeing London, they used to say, is from the top of a bus. 過去人們常說,從公共汽車頂上看倫敦,是最好方法之一。(they泛指人們)
they常用來指“當局”等。如:
(40)They ‘re putting up oil prices again soon. 當局即將再次提高油價。
8)人稱代詞一般出現(xiàn)在它所指代的名詞之后,但有時也出現(xiàn)在它所指代的名詞之前。如:
(41)Though he did not know it, Jerome was now close to the sea and was padding in a new kind of river. 杰羅姆還不知道,其實他這時已接近大海,正在一條新河中劃著船。
(42)They tremble — the sustaining crags. 它們顫動了,這些支撐著的巖石。
9)第三人稱代詞在句中一般指代離它最近的名詞或代詞。如:
(43)He reminded his friend that he must come back before five clocks. 他提醒他的朋友務必五時前回來。
(44)The butler knew and welcomed him. He was subjected to no stage of delay. 管家認得并歡迎了他;他是不容有一點怠慢的。
但有時不明確,需要從上下文去判斷。如:
(45)Tom wasn’t going to tell George the truth as he was supposed to do. 湯姆決定不告訴喬治實情,雖然他應該這樣做。(這里的he顯然代表Tom,不代表George)
(46)Wu Da could not help seeing that Zhang treated his wife as though she belonged to him, but he was not in a position to object. 武大眼看張某待其妻就像他的一樣,但卻無可奈何。(him自然指張某,但卻指he武大)
10)人稱代詞有時有擬人化的作用,即用it指代的事物改用he或she以及相應的物主代詞或反身代詞指代。如:
(47)The emigrants embarked in a little ship. She probably leaked copiously. 移民們上了一只小船,那船可能漏得厲害。
(48)The aircraft moved slowly forward‥‥she became airborne‥‥and she rose clean as a swallow. 飛機慢慢向前移動‥‥它起飛了,它完全像一只燕子起飛了。
(49)A fox sneaked along the side of the hedge. “There he goes,” said Mr. Long. 一只狐貍沿著籬笆潛行。“他跑了,”朗先生說。
11)人稱代詞有時亦可用作名詞。如:
(50)It’s not a she, it’s a he. 那不是個女孩,是個男孩。
(51)This me you look at is my whited sepulcher. 你看到的這個我是假的我。
(52)The other him is the person she loves. 她愛的是另一個他。
4.5 人稱代詞的功用
人稱代詞在句中用作主語、賓語、表語等。
1)人稱代詞主格在句中主要用作主語。如:
(1)I lost my wallet in the park. 我在公園把錢包丟了。
(2)She hesitated a moment, and then sat down beside me. 她猶豫了一會兒,然后在我身邊坐下來。
(3)We both started as we saw each other. 我們兩人一見面,都吃了一驚。
2)人稱代詞賓格在句中主要用作賓語,包括直接賓語、間接賓語與介詞賓語。如:
(4)I saw you in the street. 我在大街上看見了你。
(5)There was nobody to tell him, to hint him, to give him at least a word of advice. 沒有人告訴他,或暗示他,或起碼給他一句忠言。
(6)The stew tastes fiat; you’d better salt it. 這燉肉味淡,你最好給它加點鹽。(直接賓語)
(7)If you see Jim, give him my regards. 如果你見到吉姆,請代我問候他。(間接賓語)
(8)This pen is bad. I cannot write with it. 這支鋼筆不好,我沒法用它寫字。(介詞賓語)
兩個人稱代詞分別用作間接賓語和直接賓語時,間接賓語前應加to,并置于直接賓語之后。如:
(9)I gave it to him. 我把這個給了他。(而不說I gave him it.)
如其中一個為其它代詞,則可采用間接賓語在前、直接賓語在后的形式。如:
(10)I gave him some. 我給了他一些。
3)人稱代詞在句中作表語時一般用賓格。如:
(11)Oh, it’s you. 啊,是你。
(12)“This is us,” said Thomas. “是我們,”托馬斯說道。
如跟有who或that引導的從句,則常用主格。如:
(13)It’s I who did it. 是我的。
4)人稱代詞單獨使用時,一般不用主格而用賓格。如:
(14)—I’d like to go back in here. 我想回到這里來。
—Me too. 我也想。
(15)—Will anyone go with him? 有人愿和他一同去嗎?
—Not me. 那不會是我。
5)人稱代詞用于as和than之后,如果as和than用作介詞,也往往用賓格。如:
(16)He’s younger than me. 他比我年輕。
(17)Edward is as good a student as him. 愛德華和他一樣都是個好學生。
如果as和than用作連詞,則須用主格。如:
(18)She’s as old as I am. 她與我同歲。
(19)You’re taller than she is. 你比她高。
6)在感嘆疑問句中,人稱代詞賓格可用作主語,起強調作用。如:
(20)Me get caught? 我全被逮住?
(21)Him go to the States! 他怎會去美國!
7)we和you可用作同位語結構的第一部分。如:
(22)We girls often go to the movies together. 我們女孩子經(jīng)常一起去看電影。
(23)He asked you boys to be quiet. 他要你們男孩子安靜些。
4.6 引詞it的用法
it除用作代詞,還可用作引詞(anticipatory)。引詞本身無實義,只起一種先行引導的作用,引詞不重讀。
1)用作形式主語。如:
(1)It is difficult to translate this article. 翻譯這編文章很難。(真實主語是不定式短語)
(2)It is stupid to fall asleep like that. 像這樣睡覺真愚笨。(真實主語是不定式短語)
(3)It is getting harder every day for a lazy man t get a living. 懶漢謀生是日益困難了。(真實主語是不定式復合結構for a lazy man t get a living)
(4)What time would it be most convenient for me to call again? 什么時候我再給你打電話最合適?(真實主語是不定式復合結構for me to call again)
(5)It is no use going there so early. 這么早去那里沒有用。(真實主語是動名詞短語)
(6)It won’t be easy finding our way home. 尋找回家的路不容易。(真實主語是動名詞短語)
(7)It has been a great honour your coming to visit me. 你的來訪是我很大的榮幸。(真實主語是動名詞復合結構your coming to visit me)
(8)It’s waste of time your talking to him. 你和他談話是白浪費時間。(真實主語是動名詞復合結構your talking to him)
(9)It is strange that he did not come at all. 真奇怪,他竟還沒來。(真實主語是that引導的從句)
(10)It doesn’t matter what you do. 你干什么都沒關系。(真實主語是what引導的從句)
2)用作形式賓語。如:
(11)I found it difficult to explain to him what had happened. 我覺得向他解釋清發(fā)生了什么事很困難。(真實賓語是不定式短語to explain to him what had happened.)
(12)He thought it best to be on his guard. 他認為他最好還是要警惕。(真實賓語是不定式短語to be on his guard)
(13)He thought it no use going over the subject again. 他認為再討論這個問題沒有用了。(真實賓語是動名詞短語going over the subject again)
(14)You must find it exciting working here. 你一定會發(fā)現(xiàn)在此工作是激動人心的。(真實賓語是動名詞短語working here)
(15)They kept it quiet that he was dead. 他們對他的死保密。(真實賓語是that引導的從句)
(16)I take it you have been out. 我想你出去過了。(真實賓語是省去that的從句you have been out)
3)用于強調結構。英語常用的強調結構是:It is (was) + 被強調部分(主語、賓語或狀語)+ who (that)‥‥。一般來說,被強調部分指人時用who,指物時用that(但that亦可指人)。如原句為:
(17)John wore his best suit to the dance last night. 約翰昨晚穿著他最好的一套衣服去參加舞會。
我們即可用強調結構來強調句中的主語、賓語和狀語:
(18)It was John who (that) wore his best suit to the dance last night. 是約翰昨晚穿著他最好的一套衣服去參加舞會。(強調主語)
(19)It was best suit (that) John wore to the dance last night. 約翰昨晚是穿著他最好的一套衣服去參加舞會的。(強調賓語)
(20)It was last night (that) John wore his best suit to the dance. 約翰是昨晚穿著他最好的一套衣服去參加舞會的。(強調狀語last night)
(21)It was to the dance that John wore his best suit last night. 約翰昨晚穿著他最好的一套衣服是去參加舞會的。(強調狀語to the dance)
[注] 強調結構強調狀語時只可用that從句。
強調結構亦可強調某些狀語從句,如:
(22)It was because I wanted to buy a dictionary that I went to town yesterday. 我昨晚是由于想買一本字典而進城的。(強調because從句)
(23)It is only when you nearly lose someone that you because fully conscious of how much you value them. 只有當你差點失掉一個人時,你才會充分意識到你是多么珍視他。(強調only when引導的從句)
在強調結構的who從句中,who也常用作賓語。如:
(24)It must be your mother who you are thinking of. 你在想的一定是你的母親。(who常代之以that,在正式文體中亦可用whom)
表語與賓語補語偶爾亦可為被強調部分。如:
(25)It was a doctor that he eventually became. 他最后成了一名醫(yī)生。(表語一般不可用作被強調部分)
(26)It’s dark green that we’ve painted the kitchen. 我們把廚房漆成了深綠色。
強調結構中的時態(tài)一般應一致,即主句與從句的時態(tài)應皆用現(xiàn)在時,或皆用過去時,或皆用將來時。如:
(27)It is not I who am angry. 發(fā)怒的不是我。(皆用現(xiàn)在時)
(28)It was my two sisters who knew her best. 是我的兩個姐妹最了解她。(皆用過去時)
(29)It will not be you who will have to take the blame for this. 對此須受責難的將不是你。(皆用將來時)
但有時主句與從句所用的時態(tài)并不一致。如:
(30)It is Miss Williams that enjoyed reading novels as a pastime. 是威廉斯小姐以讀小說來消遣。
(31)It is these very novels that Miss Williams enjoyed reading as a pastime. 威廉斯小姐作為消遣所讀的就是這些小說。
強調結構中的that與who在非正式文體中可以省略。如:
(32)It was the President himself spoke to me. 是總統(tǒng)親自和我談了話。(省去從句的主語who)
(33)It was the dog I gave the water to. 我是給那條狗水的。(省去從句的賓語that)
(34)It was yesterday I first noticed it. 我是昨天開始注意到的。(省去連詞that)
有時還可以省去句首的it is,如:
(35)A good, honest trade you’re learning, Sir Peter! 彼得爵士,你學的是一種很好而誠實的一行啊!
強調結構中的被強調部分有時可入在句首,如:
(36)Now was it that his life was done, and the fate which he could not escape was upon him. 就在這時,他的生命完結了,他所逃不脫的命運降臨了。