Everyone, it seems, knows someone who did not come home Sept.11. Everyone, it seems, was touched by the tragedy.
译文:似乎每个人都认识一个在9/11那天离家未归的人,似乎每个人都被这场悲剧所触动。
1) 请问老师,原文为何不用介词on, On Sept.11?
2) it seems 是插入语吗? 还是将原句还原成:It seems that everyone knows someone who did not come home Sept.11. It seems that everyone was touched by the tragedy. 哪种理解更恰当,还是两者都是?作者为何将 Everyone 放置 it seems 的前面?
刘老师:
网友提的两个问题很好,有一定的代表性。
第一个问题:属于介词省略。
英语在向着表达简洁的方向发展,介词省略现象比较常见。阅读时下的英语新闻,在星期、日期之前省略介词on,可以说比比皆是。又如:
The U. S. delegation will arrive (on) Tuesday. 美国代表团要在星期二到达。
Let’s meet again (on) June 21st. 我们6月21日再见吧。
第二个问题:it seems,在本句是插入语。
英语插入语,其实是一种独立成分。与句子没有关系或关系不大、独立于句子之外的成分称为独立成分。有时候,某个结构原本在句首,可能因为表达的需要而调换了位置。这时,就变成了“插入语”。例如:下两句中的 I think 和I am afriad,本应在句首,现在插在了句中或句末。
This is the good chance, I think, that you can win. 我认为这是你能赢的最好机会。
I can't make it Friday, I'm afraid. 恐怕星期五不行。
一、以句子面貌呈现的插入语,常见的有:
I think 我认为
I believe 我相信
I say 我说
I'm afraid 恐怕
do you think/believe/suppose 你认为
as far as I'm concerned 在我看来,就我而言
It seems 看起来
二、这类插入语的特点和作用是:
1. 表达了说话者对句子内容的看法和评价。
2. 为了突出其他信息,让这些看法和评价,不再成为句子的主要成分,而是起附和的作用。
如果把I think 和I am afraid 放在句首,那样就把原句变成了宾语从句,削弱了句子的主要内容和信息。
三、关于问题中的句子:
Everyone, it seems, knows someone who did not come home Sept.11. Everyone, it seems, was touched by the tragedy.
这两句把it seems 用作插入语,都是为了强调Everyone 的意义。如果放在句首,则突出了It seems。一般来说,先说什么,强调什么。
陈老师:
首先同意刘老师解答观点
Everyone, it seems, knows someone who did not come home Sept.11. Everyone, it seems, was touched by the tragedy.
译文:似乎每个人都认识一个在9/11那天离家未归的人,似乎每个人都被这场悲剧所触动。
1) 请问老师,原文为何不用介词on, On Sept.11?
解答:属于介词省略
2) it seems 是插入语吗? 还是将原句还原成:It seems that everyone knows someone who did not come home Sept.11. It seems that everyone was touched by the tragedy. 哪种理解更恰当,还是两者都是?作者为何将 Everyone 放置 it seems 的前面?
解答:属于“it seem”插入语用法
英语中的插入语探究
插入语一般对一句话作一些附加的说明。通常与句中其它部分没有语法上的联系,将它删掉之后,句子结构仍然完整。插入语在句中有时是对一句话的一些附加解释、说明或总结;有时表达说话者的态度和看法;有时起强调的作用;有时是为了引起对方的注意;还可以起转移话题或说明事由的作用;也可以承上启下,使句子衔接得更紧密一些。掌握这一语言现象不仅有利于对英语句子等的理解,还有利于提高写作等的水平。插入语的类型较多,常见的如下几种:
【1】形容词(短语)作插入语。 能用作插入语的形容词(短语)常见的有:true,wonderful,excellent,strange to say,most important of all, sure enough等。
True,it would be too bad.
真的,太糟了。
Wonderful,we have won again.
太好了,我们又赢了。
Strange to say,he hasn’t got my letter up to now.
说来也奇怪,他到现在还没有收到我的信。
Most important of all,we must learn all the skills.
最重要的是,我们必须掌握所有的技巧。
【2】副词(短语)作插入语。 能用作插入语的副词(短语)有:indeed,surely,still,otherwise,certainly,however,generally, personally,honestly,fortunately,luckily,though,besides,exactly,perhaps,maybe,probably,frankly,or rather等。
When he got to there,he found,however,that the weather was too bad.
可是到了那儿之后他发现,那儿的天气太坏了。
Otherwise,he would still be at home.
不然的话,他还会在家的。
【3】介词短语作插入语。 能用作插入语的介词短语有:in fact,in one’s opinion,in general,in a word,in other words,in a few words,of course,by the way,as a result,for example,on the contrary,on the other hand,to one’s surprise,in short,as a matter of fact,in conclusion,in brief等。
You can’t wait anymore-in other words,you should start at once.
你不能再等了——换言之,你得立即出发。
On the contrary,we should strengthen our corporation with them. 相反,我们应该加强和他们的合作。
【4】V-ing(短语)作插入语。 能用作插入语的V-ing(短语)常见的有:generally speaking,strictly speaking,judging from by,talking of, considering等。
Generally speaking,the weather there is neither too cold in winter nor too hot in summer.
一般来说,那儿的气候冬天不太冷,夏天不太热。
Judging by his clothes,he may be an artist.
从衣着来判断,他可能是个艺术家。
【5】不定式短语作插入语。 能用作插入语的不定式短语有:to be frank,to be honest,to be sure,to tell you the truth,to make matters worse,to sum up,to start with,to begin with等。
To be frank,I don’t quite agree with you.
坦率地说,我不太同意你的意见。
To tell you the truth,I’m not so interested in the matter.
跟你说实话,我对这件事情的兴趣不大。
To sum up,success results from hard work.
总而言之,成功是艰苦努力的结果。
【6】、句子(陈述句和一般疑问句)作插入语。 能用作插入语的句子有:I am sure,I believe,I think,I know,I suppose,I hope,I’m afraid,you see, what’s more,that is to say,as we know,as I see,believe it or not, it seems 等。
Some animals only half-hibernate,that is to say,their sleep is not such a deep one.
有些动物只是半冬眠,就是说,它们的睡眠并不是深度睡眠。
I believe,China will catch up with the developed countries sooner or later.
我确信,中国迟早会赶上发达国家。
He can’t pass the exam,because he doesn’t study hard. What’s more,he isn’t so clever.
他不能通过这次考试,因为他学习不认真,更何况他又不太聪明。
What should I do first?
What do you think I should do first?
(被插入的疑问句原来为倒装语序,插入后成为陈述语序)
Who is singing?
Who do you think is singing?
(被插入的疑问句原来就是陈述语序,不需要做调整)
曹老师:
一个主从复合句,主句是主要信息,说话人希望听话人的注意力集中在主句。因此,如果说I think he is wrong。听话人应该理解说话人强调他的个人看法。如果说He is wrong, I think.I think成了插入语。听话人就明白说话人强调He is wrong. 因此说话人会根据具体需要采用两个结构中的一种,而英语是母语的听话人也会理解其中的差别。