- 翻譯的技巧
- 錢歌川
- 3042字
- 2020-06-03 18:27:40
(7)第四句型的授與構造
主語 + 述語 + 間接賓語 + 直接賓語
這是在一句當中用兩個賓語的造句法。普通的他動詞只要有一個賓語就行了,但這種他動詞卻需要兩個賓語,即除了直接的賓語外,還需要有一個間接的賓語。那個間接賓語,在拉丁文中稱為與格(Dative Case),Dative意為英文的giving.因此對于要有間接賓語的這一類的動詞,就稱為授與動詞(Dative Verb)。英文與拉丁文不同,間接賓語與直接賓語并沒有各自不同的形態,所以間接賓語并無所謂授與格的名稱,不過形態雖同,在意味上卻是有這種授與格的存在的,因此在英文中也仍然保留著Dative這個名稱。
間接賓語通常是人,而直接賓語則通常是說的事物,如That will save me a lot of trouble.(那將省我不少的麻煩。)但偶然也有間接賓語不是說人的,如He allowed his imagination full play.(他任意胡思亂想。)
通常是把間接賓語放在直接賓語的前面的,但有時為著加強語氣,或使意義更為明白起見,也可以把間接賓語移到直接賓語的后面去,不過在那時候,就得在間接賓語前加上“to”,“for”,“of”等介詞,而把它做成介詞片語,使之完全失去賓語的性質了,例如:
He gave me a book. = He gave a book to me.
He will buy me a knife. = He will buy a knife for me.
I wish to ask you a favour. = I wish to ask a favour of you.
He played our master a dirty trick. = He played a dirty trick on our master.
但兩個賓語如果都是簡短的代名詞時,間接賓語即令移到直接賓語的后面去,也不要加用介詞,如:
Her mother did not give it her.(她母親并未把那個給她。)
We rather shrank back when she proffered it us.(Caskell,Cranford)(當她提出那個來的時候,我們都退縮了。)
間接賓語移到了直接賓語的后面仍不加介詞,是因為省略掉了,而且只有在簡短的代名詞如it,me,her,him等時才可省略,不省當然是可以的,如說Please give it to her.(美國說法)。省略后便成為Please give it her.(英國說法)。凡遇到間接與直接二者全是短字,也可以說成Please give her it. 但如直接賓語不是代名詞而是名詞時,要前后調動就非加介詞不可,那時我們必須說:
Please give the book to her.
若照平常的次序說Please give her the book. 當然是可以的。應該注意的是,我們不可以說Please give the book her. 因為直接賓語不是代名詞,故“to”不能略去。間接賓語為名詞,而不是代名詞時,也不能把“to”略去,如
I gave it to the beggar.
不能說I gave the beggar it. 但可以說I gave the beggar a coin. 或是I gave a coin to the beggar.
如果間接與直接兩種賓語的音價(phonetic value)相等,或直接的更輕,那么,還是要維持原來的次序的,如
I grudge him you.(Shaw)(我不肯把你交給他。)
Do not send me those.(Onions)(不要把那些東西送給我。)
Bring me him down like a ripe apple.(Stevenson)(把他當作一個熟透了的蘋果一般,小心地帶到我這兒來。)
Tell him this.(Onions)(把這件事告訴他。)
間接賓語多半是人,而且是受惠者:(a)他是獲得什么東西,看到什么東西,或聽到什么東西的人(the person to whom something is given,shown or told);或是(b)別人為他做了什么的人(the person for whom something is done)。這便是間接賓語為數最多的兩大類。間接賓語如果不是受惠者,如
He asked me a few questions.(他問了我幾個問題。)
I can forgive him anything and everything.(一切我都可以赦免他。)
等句中的間接賓語,是不能得到任何利益的。這時節我們就不妨把兩個賓語都看作直接賓語。
授與動詞可以細分為四類,即授與(give)東西,告知(tell)事情,貢獻(render)服務,及施行(perform)恩惠(有關得失的)。前三類中的間接賓語都可以加“to”改成介詞片語,即to-phrase,for-phrase(有的文法家將此視為一個間接賓語)等,如:
Give me the book. = Give the book to me.
Tell us a story. = Tell a story to us.
Do me a favour. = Do a favour to me.
唯有最后一類不能用“to”,要用表示目的的介詞“for”來把間接賓語改寫為介詞片語,如
Get me a glass of water. = Get a glass of water for me.
這種用法的動詞在現代英語中為數極少,如果在古代的話,則幾乎任何動詞上都可以加一個恩惠的授與格(Dative of Favour),如Open me the door.今則說Open the door for me.他如Shakespeare說的:Heat me these irons hot.(趁熱為我打鐵)等等都是的。
只有授與動詞如give,bring,teach,show,ask,send,make,lend,owe,tell,sell,cost,read,write,offer,pass,pay,promise,choose,find,leave,get,play,reach,sing等,才能接用兩個賓語,其他的他動詞則只能接用一個賓語。今就同義的動詞舉例比較如下:
(a)We gave him a watch.( = gave a watch to him)
(b)We presented him with a watch.(presented a watch to him)
(a)A litle was given him.
(b)A litle was conferred on him.
(a)He teaches us English.
(b)He instructs us in English.
(a)He asked me a question.
(b)He put a question to me.
1. 有授與意味的授與動詞——茲就其慣用句法例示如下:
我在一個月前通知他解職。
I have given him a month’s warning(notice).
我當面責備他是撒謊。
I gave him the lie in his throat.
公平地說,敵人是勇敢的。
To give the devil his due,the enemy are quite brave.
接到來函使我大為高興。
Your letter has afforded me much pleasure.
他每月給他兒子五百元。
He allows his son five hundred dollars a month.
我在他頭上給以重重的一擊。
I struck him a hard blow on the head.
我將盡量給你幫助。
I’ll lend you all the assistance in my power.
他傳言說要來。
He has sent us word that he is coming.
如果有什么信件寄來請轉給我。
Please forward me any letter that may come.
他答應給我職務。
He has promised me an appointment.
我去烹點茶來給你喝。
I will make you some tea.( = I will make some tea for you.)
她自制了一襲新衣。
She made herself a new dress.( = She made a new dress for herself.)
她為他做一個好妻子。
She made him a good wife.(Cf. 她會成為一個好妻子的。譯成She will make a good wife. 句中的make = become. 此句為第二句型,即“主語+ 述語+ 補語”。)
2. 有告知意味的授與動詞:
王先生教我們的英文。
Mr. Wang teaches us English.
請你告訴我去車站的路好嗎?
Will you please show me the way to the station?
孩子們要我講故事給他們聽。
The children want me to tell them a story.
你唱支歌給我聽吧,在我離去之前。
Sing me a song before I leave.
讓我把他剛來的信念給你聽。
Let me read you his letter just received.
3. 有貢獻意味的授與動詞:運動是對你有益的。
Exercise will do you good.
喝少量的酒是無害的。
A little wine will do you no harm.
公平地說一句,他并不是壞人。
To do him justice,he is not a bad man.
請你幫我一個忙好嗎?
Will you do me a favour?
在我貧困時,他給了我不少的幫助。
He has rendered me great help in time of need.
4. 有得失意味的授與動詞:
我去替你買張戲票來。
I will get you a ticket.
你有了這張票即可入場。
This ticket will gain you admission.
我要盡量使你獲得好的條件。
I will try to procure you the best terms I can.
那本書使他出了名。
The book won him a reputation.
他太遲鈍了,以致失掉了那個機會。
His slowness lost him the chance.
5. 還有一種變則的授與動詞,是只有間接賓語而無直接賓語的,與文法原則相反,故稱變則。
這件衣服你穿了很合適。
The dress becomes you very well.
年輕人宜彬彬有禮。
Modesty becomes a young man.
我已有準備來應付可能到來的最壞的情形。
I am prepared for the worst that can befall me.
這幢房子花了我三萬元。
This house cost me thirty thousand dollars.
你多久才把英文學好的?
How loog did it take you to master English?
這件衣我穿了五年。
This coat has lasted me five years.
我的英文知識給了我很大的用場。
My knowledge of English stood me in good stead.
在第四句型的構造中有下列三種形式:
1. S. + Vt. + Noun(Pronoun) + Noun:
I gave John(him)the book.
I bought John(him)the book.
I asked John(him)the question.
2. S. + Vt. + Noun(pronoun) + how(when,where,what,which) + to-Infinitive:
I taught John(him)how to drive a car.
Did he tell you when to start?
Please show me where to find them.
He told me what to do next.
He showed me which(which way)to choose.
3. S. + Vt. + Noun(pronoun) + that(what,which,who,how,when,where,why,if,whether)Clause:
He told me that he did not know it.
He asked me what was the right way to do it.
Will you tell me which(which book)you have read?
He does not tell me who is going with us.
He does not tell us whom he is going to bring.
He asked me how(where,when,why)I was going to do it.
Will you ask him if(whether)he is coming with us?
習題4
試將下列各句譯成英文,句中須采用授與動詞。
1. 只有人類有天賦的說話才能。
2. 他讓了座位給她。
3. 他父親留給他一大筆遺產。
4. 我把那錢付給他了。
5. 我來把信念給你聽。
6. 你給我唱一支中國歌好嗎?
7. 我很羨慕你運氣好。
8. 我很恭維了他。
9. 敬祝成功愉快。
10. 我很抱歉給你許多麻煩。
11. 他們甚至連極微薄的報酬都不給我。
12. 我希望你不至拒絕我的請求。
13. 旅客只許帶三十磅的行李。
14. 中國古話說,女子無才便是德。
15. 他們對自己的國家沒有一點責任感。
16. 她要不是為著對她孩子的愛她就愿意死去。
17. 我并不羨慕闊人的財富,那使他們非常憂煩。
18. 公平地說一句,他一直是一個好丈夫,也是一個好父親。
19. 那個惡棍長久逃避追捕終于落網。
20. 微物請賜哂納為幸。