漫谈英语句子转换的意义和方法

甘肃省武威市凉州区教育局教学研究室 王玉德

漫谈英语句子转换的意义和方法

甘肃省武威市凉州区教育局教学研究室 王玉德

何谓英语句子转换？就本质而言，英语句子间的转换就是句式之间的转换。那句式转换的意义在于什么？以及如何指导学生在实际运用过程中自如地做到这种句式转换呢？就这两个问题，笔者将结合多年的教学经验，从英语句式转换的意义和技巧这两方面进行深入探讨，以期对学生英语语言运用和高考应试能够有所裨益。

英语句子；句式转换；意义；方法

1.英语句子转换的意义

中文常说：“话有三说，巧说为妙”，其意为：根据说话对象、场景、语域等因素的差异采用最佳的表达方式，以避免由于表达不当而造成语言交际者之间的误解，充分体现了语言交际中表达方式的重要性与智慧。英文亦是如此，相同的意思，可以有不同的表达方式，以避免表达落入枯燥乏味，千人一面的尴尬境地。

（1）从实用角度讲

在实际的语言运用过程中，如果能够通过句式转换用多种表达方式表达相同的意义，将极大程度地体现语言学习者的语言功底。

例如：“玛丽刚走出家门雨就开始下了。”这句话可以通过换词（用hardly/scarcely/as soon as/the moment替换no sooner）及倒装形成六种不同的表达方式，呈现出了多样性，使人耳目一新。

→Mary had no sooner left her house than it started to rain.

→No sooner had Mary left her house than it started to rain.

→Mary had hardly/scarcely left her house when it started to rain.

→Hardly/Scarcely had Mary left her house when it started to rain.

→It started to rain as soon as Mary left her house.

→The moment Mary left, it started to rain.

再比如下面两个句子谓语部分的替换，显得既简单又流畅自然。

→How much money we should spend on endangered tigers is being discussed.

→How much money we should spend on endangered tigers is under discussion.

（2）从应试角度讲

但凡英语写作或书面表达，从评分标准来讲，将从内容完整、语言高级和、逻辑连贯三个角度对考生作文进行评分。在这三个标准中，考生作文语言是否高级显得更尤为重要。语言的高级性具体如何呈现呢？利用词汇的多变性和句子的多样性可有效解决语言高级性的问题。如：

→He was so clever that he could count all the way up to 100 at one year old.

→He was so smart that he could count all the way up to 100 at one year old.

分析：通过高级词汇smart替换clever使表达呈现多样性。

→You work hard and never give up. You will succeed in your studies.

→If you work hard, you will succeed in your studies.

→Work hard, or you will not succeed in your studies.

分析：通过使用从属连词if或or将两个关系松散的简单句进行连接，使句子内部结构紧凑，有一气呵成之感。

2.英语句式转换的方法

2.1 实现英语句式转换的常用方法

（1）形容词←→名词

The meeting was extremely silent.

A hush fell upon the meeting.

（2）名词←→动词

The old man made a motion for the girl to pay a visit.

The old man motioned for the girl to pay a visit.

（3）副词←→名词

Tom looked at the room desperately.

Tom looked at the room with desperation.

（4）形容词←→名词

Her graceful performance won outbursts of applause.

The grace of her performance won outbursts of applause.

（5）形容词←→副词

The girl laughed a merry laugh.

The girl laughed merrily.

（6）动词←→名词

The living standard has greatly improved in rural areas.

Great improvement has been made in rural areas.

（7）副词←→介词短语

Particularly, he handed over his weapon.

In particular, he handed over his weapon.

（8）介词短语←→主语

The contest was hosted on the morning of January 5.

The morning of January 5 saw the hosting of the contest.

（9）介词宾语←→同源宾语

Tom expressed his relief with a deep sigh when informed of the news.

Tom had a deep sigh of relief when informed of the news.

（10）从句←→分词短语

As she was lying on the bed, she missed her mother very much.

Lying on the bed, she missed her mother very much.

（11）从句←→不定式短语

Tom shouted loudly so that he can be heard.

In order to be heard, Tom shouted loudly.

（12）从句←→形容词短语

Because he was tired and hungry, he gave up proceeding.

Tired and hungry, he gave up proceeding.

（13）伴随状语←→独立主格

Tom stayed up late, his head lowered.

Tom’s head lowered, he stayed up late.

（14）否定←→双重否定

There are some important issues.

There are no unimportant issues

（15）正常语序←→倒装语序

The sense of responsibility rarely deserted Lily.

Rarely did the sense of responsibility desert Lily.

通过以上十五种词性和句式相互转换的方法，可以将原本单调的句子进行“美容”和“升级”，使得语言的表达呈现出张力和丰富性。下面再通过一句中译英练习，充分展示句式转换方法在具体运用过程中的作用和意义。如：“将这些措施付诸实践，水资源的短缺问题就可以解决。”这一句话，我们可以利用英语句子的语法结构来实现不同的表达方式。

（1）简单句+简单句

These measures are put into practice. The shortage of water can be solved.

（2）并列句

These measures are put into practice and the shortage of water can be solved.

（3）复合句

If these measures are put into practice, the shortage of water can be solved.

（4）非谓语形式或复合结构

(With) These measures put into practice, the shortage of water can be solved.

（5）强调句

It is only when these measures are put into practice that the shortage of water can be solved.

（6）倒装句

Only if these measures are put into practice can the shortage of water be solved.

2.2 英语句子转换的主要技巧

英语句子转换的主要技巧有：替代、删节、位移、邻接和添加。我们可以通过“皮特丢失了自己的自行车，他不得不步行上学。”这一句话的不同翻译方式来呈现英语句子转换的技巧和方法。

Peter lost his bike. He had to go to school on foot.（用简单句+简单句）

Peter lost his bike, and had to go to school on foot.（用并列连词and）

Peter lost his bike—he had to go to school on foot.（用破折号和代词he）

Peter lost his bike, so he had to go to school on foot.（用并列连词so）

Peter lost his bike; therefore he had to go to school on foot.（用分号和连接词therefore）

When he lost his bike, Peter had to go to school on foot.（用从属连词when）

As he lost his bike, Peter had to go to school on foot.（用从属连词as）

Peter had to go to school on foot, because he had lost his bike.（用从属连词because）

Peter, who had lost his bike, had to go to school on foot.（用定语从句）

Having lost his bike, Peter had to go to school on foot.（用现在分词短语）

Peter, having lost his bike, had to go to school on foot.（用现在分词短语）

His bike lost, Peter had to go to school on foot.（用独立主格结构）

It was on foot that Peter had to go to school because he had lost his bike.（强调上学方式）

It was because he had lost his bike that Peter had to go to school on foot.（强调步行上学的原因）

综合以上例子，我们可以洞悉如若想要使用不一样的句型去表达相同的意思，首先要对各种句式的使用和特点有所了解，同时也要了解句子构成不一致但意思基本相似的句型之间的关系。正如我们所知道的那样，英语是一种变化各异的语言，同一内容可以使用不同的方式进行表达，只要我们平时学习时尽量使用多种句型进行灵活变换，终有一日会达到灵活自如的效果。

3.句子转换技巧演练

3.1 单句演练

“只有老龄化问题得到很好的解决，我们才可以创造稳定、和谐的社会。”这句话我们可以用以下几种方式进行同义表达。

（1）简单句+简单句

The old age problem is well handled. Thus we can maintain a stable and harmonious society.

（2）并列句：

The old age problem is well handled so we can maintain a stable and harmonious society.

（3）复合句

Provided that the old age problem is well handled,we can maintain a stable and harmonious society.

（4）非谓语形式或复合结构

(With) The old age problem well handled, we can maintain a stable and harmonious society.

（5）强调句

It is only when the old age problem is well handled that we can maintain a stable and harmonious society.

（6）倒装句

Only as long as the old age problem is well handled can we maintain a stable and harmonious society.

3.2 段落演练

一般表达：

You don’t want to waste much time on media of communication or in the hotel room. You are more likely to be involved in going hiking. You enjoy a joyful trip. In the meantime, you will maintain close contact with the nature and take exercise. You have chance to go hiking easily and you needn’t spend a lot of money. You can hike close to home or travel to other places. You need the basic equipment: comfortable shoes, clothes,and one bag. You can not only hike in the mountains, in a forest or along a river, but also in the city.

较好表达：

Compared with wasting much time on media of communication or in the hotel room, you are more likely to be involved in going hiking. It is a good way to enjoy a joyful trip. In the meantime, you will maintain close contact with the nature and take exercise. Hiking is easy for most people and it does not cost much. The place you travel may be close to your house or other distant ones. The fundamental equipment is easy-toget: comfortable shoes, clothes and one bag. Hiking in the mountains, in a forest or along a river is wonderful.Hiking in the city is also one of your choices.

很显然，在具体实施英语句子转换时，其方法和技巧往往是综合使用的。两个或两个以上句子意思绝对相同的情况是比较少的，句子结构、文体选择、语气、甚至语调等均会引起句子之间的语义差异。但是，如果知道哪些词语或句型结构可以相互转换，意思基本不变，运用语言就会更灵活一些。同时，同样一个意思可以有几种不同的表达方式，因而可以根据实际情况（如不同的文体、使用场合、上下文连贯等）选择最合适的词语或句型结构，这样运用语言也就会更主动、更精确一些。

英语句子转换可以将平淡无味、平铺直叙、表达单一、语句呆板、档次不高的句子转换为新型别致、灵活多变、表达高级、亮点闪耀的句子，使得句子以及篇章“活”起来，“美”起来。

韩琴. 2005. 浅谈英语句型转换方法[J]. 安徽工业大学学报•社会科学版(6)：87-89.

许小珂. 2002. 英语句型的奥秘[M]. 北京：中国国际广播出版社.

张秀芝. 2004. 浅谈英语教学中的句型转换问题[J]. 西安教育学院学报(1)：84-85.