2.4 运用名词结构

一个名词或名词短语往往可以表示一个句子的意思。在英语中，句子包括从句一定

要有主、谓、宾，其中主要成分一般不能省略。而用了名词结构，它的一些成分

就可以省掉，使行文更紧凑。R.Quirk 在《英语句法大全》中举了一个例子：

a）Lanzarotti was disappointed by the fact the reviewers criticized his play in a hostile

manner.

b）Lanzarotti was disappointed by the reviewers’ hostile criticism of his play.

c）Lanzarotti was disappointed by the reviewers’ hostile criticism.

这个例子说明名词词组是一种简练的语言形式，运用名词结构，可以省掉前文说

到的“his play”, 而句子结构不能省，结果名词短语起到了句子的作用。

2. 他每天花三小时看体育节目。他把心思都放在体育上，这对他的学习是有妨碍的。

a）He spent nearly 3 hours on watching sports events. The fact that he was

completely absorbed in sport interfered with his studies.

b）He spent nearly 3 hours on watching sports events. His complete absorption

interfered with his studies.

在上句已说到 sport 的情况下，要在这句中避免重复 sport, a）句的句法是不允许的。

而 b）句可以，这样为句子压缩为词组创造了条件。

3. 我的观点是，一代人经常去抱怨他们下一代人，这是不可避免的。

a）My point is that one generation frequently complains about the one that

immediately follows it, which is inevitable.

b）My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one

immediately following it is inevitable.

4. 孩子们看到这个菜就眉开眼笑，可知他们是难得吃这种菜的。

a）The children are delighted when they saw the dish. It showed that it was a rarity.

b）The delight of the children at the sight of the dish showed that it was a rarity.

5. 违反这些规则，将会被吊销执照。

Disregard for these rules will result in revoking of the licenses.

6. 我从未忘记第一次在我的花园里看到一只蜂鸟时的那种心跳的感觉——一只披

着炫目的羽、小得令人难以置信的生灵正勇敢地在花丛中飞来飞去。

The thrill of seeing my first hummingbird in my garden has never left me—the sight

of seeing this unbelievably tiny creature with dazzling plumage flitting boldly from

flower to flower.