再议引述动词的使用问题
2014-10-20解芳
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摘 要:引述动词即那些能够把直接引语转换成间接引语的动词。正确使用引出直接引语或间接引语的引述动词非常重要。
关键词:引述动词;直接引语;间接引语
英语中的直接引语在变为间接引语时,主要有人称、时态、指示代词、时间状语和地点状语五大变化。对这五大变化,教材和一般语法书都有详细的论述,而对引出直接引语或间接引语的引述动词的变化和使用却很少提及。本文试图谈谈这种动词使用中的几个问题。
1.主语和引述动词所构成的引述分句,在引出直接引语时,可以位于直接引语之前、之中、之后。而在引出间接引语时,总是位于间接引语之前。例如:
He said,“Are you interested in English?”
他说:“你对英语感兴趣吗?”
He said that he had told me that news.
他说他告诉了我那个消息。
2.当主语和引述动词所构成的引述分句位于直接引语之中或之后时,主语和作谓语的引述动词的词序可以是正常词序,也可以是倒装词序。例如:
“Now,class,”the teacher asked.“Look at the picture!”
“喂,同学们,”老师要求说,“看图画!”
“Dont you know I am one of you?”asked the bat.
“难道你不知道我也是你们中的一员?”蝙蝠问道。
注意:如果作为谓语的引述动词,紧跟有宾语时,引述分句一般用正常语序。例如:
Wrong:“Are you feeling very well today?”asked me my mother.
Right:“Are you feeling very well today?”my mother asked me.
“你今天感到好些了吗?”我母亲问我。
另外,引述动词有状语修饰时,尽管引述分句可以用到装语序,但通常却多用正常语序。例如:
“Really?”the gentlemen said in surprise.
“是真的吗?”那位先生吃惊地说道。
3.直接引语变间接引语时,引述动词的变化有以下几种情况:
(1)直接引语是陈述句,变为间接引语时,其引述动词一般不变。例如:
He promised,“Ill come to see you tomorrow.”
他答应说:“明天我将来看你。”
He promised that he would come to see me the next day.
他答应第二天来看我。
(2)直接引语是疑问句,引述动词是ask,inquire,demand等表示问话的动词;直接引语是祈使句,引述动词是tell,beg,order等包含吩咐、命令、建议等意味的动词;直接引语是感叹句,引述动词是explain,say,tell,remark等动词。这类情况下,直接引语变为间接引语时,一般引述动词不改变。例如:
“They dont live in groups,do they?”he asked.
“他们不在一起住,对吗?”他问道。
He asked whether they lived in groups.
他问他们是否在一起住。
“How well he looks!”she said.
她说:“他看上去身体多健康啊!”
He said how well he looked.
她说他看上去身体是多么健康。
(3)直接引语是疑问句,如果引述动词是say,cry等不表示问话的动词,变为间接引语时,引述动词要变为ask,inquire,demand或wonder等。例如:
“Does Xiao Li really mean it?”he said.
他说:“小李真是这个意思吗?”
He wondered whether if Xiao Li really meant it.
他想知道小李是否真有这个意思。
4.say to sb.和tell不仅可以引出直接引语,而且可以引出间接引语。例如:
He said to us,”Can you speak English?”
他对我们说:“你们能讲英语吗?”
“How brave you are!”he told me.
“你是多么勇敢!”他对我说。
He told me that he had his lunch.
他告诉我他已吃过午饭了。
5.直接引语是以let开头,表示建议、提议或劝告的祈使句。
变为间接引语时,可选用以下几种句型:
(1)“suggest+that”从句(或+V-ing形式)。例如:
Marie Curie said,“Lets go down there for a moment.”
玛丽·居里说:“我们去那儿呆一会儿。”
此句可变为:
Marie Curie suggested that they should go down there for a moment.
(2)“ask sb.to let...”例如:
“Della,”he said,“Lets put our Christmas gifts away and keep
them a while.”
“德拉,”他说,“咱们把圣诞节的礼物暂时收起来存着吧。”
此句可变为:
He asked Della to let them put their Christmas gift away and keep awhile.
(3)“offer+不定式”。例如:
“One moment----let me show you out,sir,”said the owner.
“请您稍等一会儿,——我送您出去,先生。”老板说道。
此句可变为:
The owner asked Henry to wait a moment and he offered to show him to the door.
(4)“urge/advise+宾语从句”(谓语中含有should)。例如:
The Party secretary said,“Lets do our best to win still greater victory.”
党支书说:“让我们尽最大努力,以赢得更大的胜利。”
此句可以变为:
The Party secretary urged that we should do our best to win still greater victory.