(16)疑問代詞
疑問代詞用于問人及物的場合,共有 who、what、which 三個詞。這三個疑問代詞,是單復數通用的,what、which 沒有所有格,其主格及賓格同形,惟有 who 在其格(Case)上有些變化。
主格 |
所有格 |
賓格 |
who |
whose |
whom |
what |
— |
what |
which |
— |
which |
1. who 是用于人的,問人的姓名及血族關系,例如:
① Who is he?He is Mr. Chang.(姓名)
② Who is she?She is my aunt.(血族關系)
2. what 可用于人或物,用于人的時候,就不是問其姓名,而是問其職業,用于物的時候,當然是問物名。
① What is that man?He is a doctor.(職業)
② What do you want?I want some ink.(物名)
3. which 也是人或物都可以用的,常表選擇之意,即“孰”的意思。白話說“哪一個”。
① Which do you like better,novels or poems?(二者擇其一)
② Which do you like best,beer,wine or spirit?(多數中擇其一)
4. 疑問代詞通常置于語句的開頭,可與助動詞同用。
① Whom do you want to see?
② Which do you want?
③ What ought we to do?
但用 be 及 have 時,則不要助動詞,如:
① Which of the two sisters is the prettier?
比較:Which of the two sisters do you like better?
② What have you in your hand?
比較:What did you say?
注意:have 的這種用法是含有“所有”的意思,如無所有的意思,例如在 to have dinner(用餐),to have a good time(行樂)等 phrase 中,則仍須加用助動詞,現舉例比較如下:
①What has he in his left hand?(有所有意)
②What will you have for dinner?(無所有意)
① Have you any sports books?(有所有意)
② Did you have a fine time yesterday?(無所有意)
還有以疑問代詞為主語的肯定句可不用助動詞,但在否定句中則仍須用。
① Who told you that?
② What happened next?
③ Who among these merchants does the largest trade?
④ Which of these trees does not bear fruit?
5. 疑問代詞為介詞的賓格時,那介詞可置于疑問詞之前,也可置于反問詞之后,也有置前置后皆可的。
① |
To whom does this belong? Whom does this belong to? |
② With whom did you speak?
③ Whom are you looking for?
6. 疑問句有兩種,一種是以基本助動詞(例如 be、have 等)開頭的,另一種是以疑問詞(例如 what、who、which、where、whom、how、why)開頭的,通常無論哪一種,都是要把動詞或助動詞置于主語之前的,但如果這疑問句只是一個從句接在其他主句上時,主語和動詞就不必顛倒,如:
Tell me which you like best?
比較:Which do you like best?
在上面以 which 為主語的句中,do(助動詞)置于主語 you 之前,以表示主語和動詞的顛倒。
又,以疑問詞開頭的疑問句,與其他分句結合時有兩種方式,①為接于主句之后,②為把其他的分句插入疑問句之間,例如:
①Do you know who is ill?Yes,I do.
②Who do you know is ill?I think his father is ill.
在第一例句,可以回答 yes 或 no,第二例句就不能回答 yes 或 no,通常是 know、hear、tell、ask 等動詞的分句,置于疑問詞之前,而 think、suppose、believe 等動詞的分句,置于疑問詞之后,但 say 一字則置前置后皆可,不過意思不同罷了。
① Did you say what you wanted?Yes,I did.
②What did you say wanted?I said I wanted some money.
第一句主要是問你說了沒說,故有回答 yes 或 no 的必要,但第二句主要是問你要什么,所以只能答要的東西,不能回答要與不要。
7. 有關 what 的 phrase。
① What if I should fall sick now?(倘若……將如何)
② What though I fall sick now?(縱令……又何妨)
③He talked of rights and duties,and rights and wrongs,and what not.(此外等等)
④ What by threatening,and what by coaxing,he finally accomplished his purpose.(半以……半以……)
⑤ What with the high price of provisions,and what with the occational sickness,the family found it very difficult to live on their income.(或因……或因……)
后二例中的 what 不是代詞,而是副詞。