分詞構句,是一種compound sentence。也就是把兩句simple sentences,合成一句話,合成一句compound sentence。
要寫成分詞構句的兩句simple sentences,有一個最重要的原則,兩句話的主詞要一樣。第一句是I,第二句也要是I,第一句是Taipei,第二句也要是Taipei,請看以下的例子:
例一:I was tired. I stopped and took a rest.
例二:He knows where I live. He never comes to see me.
再看以下的例子:
Taipei looks beautiful at night. We can see Taipei from the mountain.
你立刻會說,等等,你不是說要同樣的主詞嗎?這兩句的主詞,不一樣ㄚ(一個是Taipei另一個是We)!其實第二句,可以改成:Taipei can be seen from the mountain.如此一來:
例三:Taipei looks beautiful at night. Taipei can be seen from the mountain.
兩句話的主詞就都是Taipei了。同樣的,以下的例子:
Helen’s smile attracted John. John talked to Helen.
可以改成:
例四:John was attracted by Helen’s smile. John talked to Helen.
接下來,決定哪一句話,是你要強調的。以上面的四個例子來說:
例一:I was tired. I stopped and took a rest. 第二句
例二:He knows where I live. He never comes to see me. 第二句
例三:Taipei can be seen from the mountain. Taipei looks beautiful at night. 第二句
例四:John was attracted by Helen’s smile. John talked to Helen. 第二句
決定了主要的句子後,直接看另一句,看主詞是主動型式,還是被動型式;主動用ing,被動用過去分詞。
例一I was tired. 主動型式 => Being
例二He knows where I live. 主動型式 => Knowing
例三Taipei can be seen from the mountain.被動型式 => Seen
例四John was attracted by Helen’s smile.被動型式 => Attracted
最後把兩句合起來,就成了分詞構句:
例一:Being tired, I stopped and took a rest.
例二:Knowing where I live, He never comes to see me.
例三:Seen from the mountain, Taipei looks beautiful at night.
例四:Attracted by Helen’s smile, John talked to her.
到此,你可能會說,上面的例子,一下子就可以看出主要的句子,有沒有看不出來的時候?問的好,請看以下的例子:
I am shorter than John. I am a better basketball player.
如果你要強調better,句子就是:Being shorter than John, I am a better basketball player.如果你要強調shorter,句子就是:Being a better basketball player, I am shorter than John.
以例四為例,如果你要強調第一句attracted,分詞構句就成為:Talking to Helen, John was attracted by her smile. 意思是:John跟Helen講話時,被Helen的笑容吸引。也就意味,先講話,後被笑容吸引。也就是:講話是因,然後被Helen的笑容吸引是果。
如果這句話是:Attracted by Helen’s smile, John talked to her. 意思就是:John被Helen的笑容吸引,而跟Helen講話。也就意味:先被笑容吸引,然後試著跟Helen講話。也就是:被Helen的笑容吸引是因,而跟Helen講話是果。兩句話的意義有些不同。
強調兩句先後順序的分詞構句
如果你要強調這兩句話的先後順序,可以在分詞的句子前,加before或after。
After being tired, I stopped and took a rest. 強調是覺得累了以後,才休息的。
After being attracted by Helen’s smile, John talked to her.(因為After後面,動詞要加ing,而attracted分詞無法加ing,於是把being加上來,又有ing,而且還是被動型態)強調是被smile吸引後,才講話。當然例四也可以是:After talking to Helen, John was attracted by her smile.在講話後,才被微笑吸引。
主詞不同的分詞構句(可以不用看)
至此分詞構句,已經懂了。接下來的不是很懂,也沒關係。也就是我所說的,只要讀懂,就可以了,不懂文法也沒關係的部分。再次強調,懂文法是為了寫作文,只要你知道意思,讀懂就好了,以下的部份英文,寫作上你不會用,懂了這文法,也沒用,所以不懂沒關係。
如果主詞不同,可以不可以用分詞構句?答案是可以的,只是在這種情況下,主詞不可以省略。
Weather permits. We will have a picnic tomorrow. 主詞Weather和We不同,而且沒法改成一樣的主詞,Weather就不能省略,分詞構句就成為:Weather permitting, we will have a picnic tomorrow.
It is a fine day. We are going on a picnic. 主詞It和We不同,而且沒法改成一樣的主詞,It就不能省略,分詞構句就成為:It being a fine day, we are going on a picnic.
如何寫分詞構句(結語)
記得以下的要項
l 兩句話主詞一樣。
l 決定哪一句話重要。
l 看次要句子的型態是主動(ing)還是被動(過去分詞)並去掉主詞。
l 將兩句合起來。
只要你注意了以上的要項,要寫分詞構句,其實很容易。只要多練習寫幾次,就可以抓住重點了。如果沒有把握,你可以把你練習的句子,寄給我,我們再討論就可以了。呼!終於寫完了。希望你能從此了解分詞構句,如果要進一步討論,再通知我吧!