基本信息
grammar
省略
在英语中,为了使语言简洁或避免重复,常省略句中的一个或几个句子成分,这种语法现象称为省略。
一、简单句中的省略
◆陈述自己的意见时,常有一个或几个成分被省略。如:
(it) looks like rain. (you’d) better take an umbrella with you.
◆在口语或非正式英语中,疑问句、祈使句中也常常会省略一个或几个成分。如:
(is there) anyone wishing to go to the cinema with me tonight?
◆回答他人的问题或对别人的话作出回应时,可以省略重复的成分。如:
—what do you think made mary so upset?
—losing her bicycle (made her upset).
二、并列句中的省略
在由并列连词and, but, or等连接的并列句中,后一分句中与前一分句中相同的部分可以省略。如:
my room is on the fifth floor, and hers (is) on the eighth (floor).
三、不定式符号to的省略
为避免重复,不定式常省去前面出现的相同部分,而只保留不定式符号to。但如果在省略的不定式结构中含有be, have, have been时,这些词通常要保留。如:
the boy wanted to ride his bicycle in the street, but his mother told him not to.
i’m not an engineer, but i want to be.
—hasn’t he finished writing the report?
—no, but he ought to have.
四、复合句中的省略
◆当状语从句的主语与主句的主语一致时,从句的主语和系动词be可以省略。如:
shanghai is one of the largest cities in the world, if (it is) not the largest.
◆当状语从句的主语和谓语是it is / was时,it is / was常被省略。如:
the teacher tells us to practice speaking english whenever (it is) possible.