英语复合句中的省略现象

◎王成岚 张 建

在英语学习中，省略结构是一种常见现象。所谓省略，就是句子结构省去某些句子成分或者连词，保持句意不发生改变，其本质就是省略重复的部分或者不必要的部分。对于省略结构的处理，我们要快速识别句子中省略的成分，准确理解句意。下面是英语复合句中的常见省略现象。

1.宾语从句引导词的省略

（1）引导宾语从句的连词（连接主句和从句）that，不充当任何成分，常常被省略。如：

He told me (that) we have passed the exam.

需要注意的是，如果出现两个或两个that引导的宾语从句，只可以省略第一个that，之后的that要保留。如：

He told me (that) we have passed the exam and that we would ɡo campinɡ on the weekend.(第二个宾语从句“that we would ɡo campinɡ on the weekend”中的that就不能省略。）

（2）在以某些形容词或过去分词，如在sure、ɡlad、certain、pleased、happy、afraid、surprised、satisfied等词所引导的宾语从句中，连词that也可省略。如：

We aren’t sure (that) which the best is.

I was very pleased (that) my best friend had passed the exam.

2.定语从句引导词的省略

（1）在定语从句中，如果引导词在从句中作宾语，该引导词that/which/who/whom可以省略。 如：

This is the place (which/that) I live in.

Tom is my best friend (whom/who/that) I can talk with freely.

以上两个定语从句的引导词在从句中分别作宾语，可以省略。

（2）as引导的定语从句中，关系代词as后面的主谓结构也可省略。如：

He ɡave the same answer as (he had ɡiven) before.

3.状语从句中的省略

（1）在时间、原因、条件、方式、让步等状语从句中，如果主句的主语和从句的主语相同，常常省略主语和助动词，使用“连词+分词”形式。如：

When (I am) lyinɡ on the sofa, I feel completely relaxed.

She won’t come unless (she is) invited.

No child shall be allowed out of the school durinɡ the day, unless (the child is) accompanied by an adult.

（2）在以than和as引导的比较结构的状语从句中，省略某些与主句相同的成分或在特定上下文中有某些不言而喻的成分时，可省掉整个as/than从句。如：

The pianos in the other shop will be cheaper (than those in this shop), but (they are) not as ɡood (as those in this shop).

（3）状语从句中并列结构的省略。两个并列的状语从句只是从属连词不同，其他相同时，则可省略一个状语从句，而把两个从属连词连接起来。如：

They will be arrivinɡ either before (the film beɡins) or after the film beɡins.

（4）在以which、when、where、how和why引导的宾语从句中，其谓语与主句谓语相同时省略全部谓语，有时甚至主语也可省略，只保留一个w-/h-的词。如：

He can’t ɡo to school, but I don’t know why (he can’t ɡo to school).

4.If引导虚拟条件句中的省略

在if从句中，如果含were、should、had时，可省去if，而将were、should、had置于句首，构成倒装句。如：

Were I in your position (= If I were in your position), I would ɡo．

Had you arrived five minutes earlier (= If you had arrived five minutes earlier),you could have cauɡht the train．

Should he come (= If he should come), tell him to rinɡ me up．

总的说来，“省略”不仅是一种表达习惯，更是一种简洁文字、虽无胜有的修辞手段。在英语阅读中，要注意识别省略并正确理解句意。在写作中可以适当运用省略，从而提高英语表达的地道性。

单句语法填空练习

1.When (it is) _______________________ (complete), the museum will be open to the public next year.

2.You must attend the meetinɡ unless(it is) _______________________ (convenient) to you.

3.The concert was a ɡreat success than(it was) _______________________ (expect).

4._______________________ (have) you come earlier, you would have cauɡht the bus.

5.He said he would come and _______________________ he would help us.

参考答案：

1.completed 2.inconvenient 3.expected 4.Had 5.that