第八章 名词性从句的简化

1. 名词性从句的简化

名词性从句中的重复信息大部分可以省略。一般来说，名词性从句（如Sb/Sth does sth），有以下两种简化形式：

在大多数情况下，如果一个名词性从句的谓语动词块含有情态动词或其谓语动词块的时间为将来或过去将来，该名词性从句可以采用TO DO的简化形式，否则采用DOING的简化形式。简化后，谓语动词块的时间取决于上下文。下面我们来学习此规则在名词性从句的简化中的具体运用，如：

  1. I remember that he objected to the scheme. 我记得他曾经反对该计划。
    → I remember his objecting to the scheme.
    *采用了DOING的简化形式。我们可以通过上下文（remember: to have a picture or idea in your mind of people, events, places etc from the past），推测出I remember his objecting to the scheme中objecting的时间为过去。注意功能词that没有意义，也被省略了。

  2. What upset the child was that he was not allowed to visit his mother in the hospital. 使这个小孩心烦的是他被禁止去医院看望他的妈妈。
    → What upset the child was his not being allowed to visit his mother in the hospital. *采用了DOING的简化形式，was not allowed变成了not being allowed。注意采用简化形式后，not要位于DOING或TO DO之前。

  3. I hear that he is singing. 我听到他正在唱歌。
    → I hear him singing.
    *当一个名词性从句作感官动词的宾语时，按习惯其通常采用TO DO的简化形式。因为主句的谓语主动词hear为感官动词，所以其后的宾语名词性从句需采用TO DO的简化形式：he is signing → for him to be signing → him singing。to be没有实际意义省略，又考虑到整个名词性从句作宾语，按习惯for也省略。

  4. Do you think that it is likely? 你认为这事可能吗?
    → Do you think it likely?
    *当一个名词性从句作主观判断动词的宾语时，按习惯其通常采用TO DO的简化形式。因为主句的谓语主动词think为主观判断动词，按习惯，其后的宾语名词性从句需采用TO DO的简化形式：it is likely → for it to be likely → it likely。to be没有实际意义省略，又考虑到整个名词性从句作宾语，按习惯for也省略。

  5. It's important that the figures should be updated regularly. 经常更新这些数值很重要。
    → It's important for the figures to be updated regularly.
    *it指that...regularly。句中名词性从句的谓语动词块含有情态动词should，需采用TO DO的简化形式：the figures should be updated regularly → for the figures to be updated regularly。

  6. That she should have survived such an ordeal was remarkable. 她居然能经得起这种磨难, 真了不起。
    → For her to have survived such an ordeal was remarkable. *采用TO DO的简化形式。should表意外惊讶。

  7. It's useless that we will continue. 我们继续下去是徒劳的。
    → It's useless for us to continue.
    *句中名词性从句的谓语动词块的时间为将来，需采用TO DO的简化形式：we will continue → for us to continue。

  8. It's very likely that she'll ring me tonight. 很可能今晚她给我打电话。
    → She is very likely to ring me tonight. *采用TO DO的简化形式。简化后，原句变成了It's very likely for her to ring me tonight。但习惯上我们会调整语序并进一步简化：将for her放到原本主语的位置（此时it已没有意义，所以去掉），同时将for去掉，并将her变成主格she。

  9. The workers were proud that their products were praised highly by the public. 因产品受到公众的高度评价，工人们感到很自豪。
    → The workers were proud of their products being praised highly by the public. *be proud of sth。一般来说当动词不定式（to do）或that引导的名词性从句作介词的宾语时，为了语言的简洁和流畅，介词在绝大多数情况下都要省略。上例原句中that...public是介词of (be proud of sth)的宾语，按习惯of省略，但当这个名词性从句简化后of需恢复。

  10. He was very anxious that Tom should take the examination. 他渴望汤姆参加这次考试。
    → He was very anxious for Tom to take the examination. *be anxious for sth。名词性从句的谓语动词块（should take）含有情态动词should，因而采用TO DO的简化形式：for Tom to take the examination。在本例中，sth=for Tom to take the examination作介词for（be anxious for sth）的宾语。考虑到整个名词性从句的简化形式作介词for的宾语，按习惯这个简化形式自带的for省略。

  11. I insist that you take immediate action to put this right. 我坚决要求你立刻采取行动把事情处理好。
    → I insist on your taking immediate action to put this right. *Insist on sth。名词性从句采用了DOING的简化形式，your=of you。采用简化形式后on需加上。

  12. It is said that he is the richest man in the world. 据说他是这个世界上最富有的人。
    → He is said to be the richest man in the world.
    *当一个名词性从句作报道性动词(如：report和say)的宾语时，通常采用TO DO的简化形式。本例中，当使用主动语态时，因为主句的谓语主动词say为报道性动词，所以其后的名词性从句（宾语从句）采用TO DO的简化形式，而本句中使用的是被动语态，所以主语从句（即原来的宾语从句）采用TO DO的简化形式：he is the richest man in the world → for him to be the richest man in the world。实际使用中，我们会调整语序并进一步简化：将for him放到原本主语的位置（此时it已没有意义，所以去掉），同时将for去掉，并将him变成主格he。

  13. It is really thoughtful that you remember my birthday. 你真体贴，记得我生日。
    → It is really thoughtful of you to remember my birthday / You are really thoughtful to remember my birthday.
    *如果一个名词性从句体现这个名词性从句的主语的某种个人品质，通常这个名词性从句采用TO DO的简化形式（for sb to do sth），且其中的for用 of代替（即of sb to do sth）。

  14. I don't know what I should say. 我不知道我该说什么。
    → I don't know what to say.
    *当疑问句作名词性从句时，如果它的谓语动词块含有情态动词或谓语动词块的时间为将来或过去将来，且其主语为重复信息时，通常采用TO DO的简化形式。本例中，名词性从句的谓语动词块含有情态动词should，且其主语I为重复信息，所以采用了TO DO的简化形式。

  15. I don't know how I can get to your house. 我不知道怎么到你家。
    → I don't know how to get to your house.
    *名词性从句的谓语动词块含有情态动词can，且其主语I为重复信息，所以采用了TO DO的简化形式。

  16. Have you thought about what you should send as a present? 你想过应该送什么东西作为礼物吗？
    → Have you thought about what to send as a present?
    *名词性从句的谓语动词块含有情态动词should，且其主语you为重复信息，所以采用了TO DO的简化形式。

  17. He told us whether we would have a picnic was still under discussion. 他告诉我们说是否去野炊还在讨论中。
    → He told us whether to have a picnic was still under discussion.
    *名词性从句的谓语动词块的时间为过去将来，且其主语we为重复信息，所以采用了TO DO的简化形式。

  18. I lie in bed with the window open. 我躺在床上，窗户开着。
    MC: I lie in bed.
    NRC: which (=I lie in bed) is with that the window is open.
    介词with指出事件对象A (I lie in bed) 与事件对象B (the window is open) 之间的静态关系（空间和时间），即两者同时同地存在。
    NRC 简化：→ with that the window is open. *which和is省略。
    with的宾语名词性从句 the window is open再简化 → the window open. *采用DOING的简化形式：the window is open → of the window being open → the window open。考虑到这个名词性从句作介词with的宾语，所以of省略，being也省略。

2. 名词性从句的简化规则

通过分析大量来自权威语料库的句子，作者总结出了名词性从句的简化规则，如下表所示：

简化规则示例
1. 当陈述句作名词性从句时1.1 当NC的谓语动词块不含情态动词时—
1.1.1 当NC的谓语动词块的状态为一般—
1.1.1.1 当NC的谓语动词块的时间是将来或过去将来通常采用TO DO的简化形式：It's useless that we will continue → It's useless for us to continue.
1.1.1.2 当NC的谓语动词块的时间是过去或现在通常采用DOING的简化形式：Do you remember that the students and teachers protested against the new rule? → Do you remember the students and teachers protesting against the new rule?
但当这个NC作感官动词/使动词/主观判断动词/报道性动词的宾语时，通常采用TO DO的简化形式：I saw that he left a few minutes ago → I saw him leave a few minutes ago.
1.1.2 当NC的谓语动词块的状态为进行通常不简化。但当这个NC作感官动词/使动词/主观判断动词/报道性动词的宾语时，通常采用TO DO的简化形式：I saw that she was running away from the scene of the crime → I saw her running away from the scene of the crime.
1.1.3 当NC的谓语动词块的状态为完成或完成进行—
1.1.3.1 当NC的谓语动词块的时间是将来或过去将来通常采用TO DO的简化形式：I expect that I will have read this book by next Tuesday → I expect to have read this book by next Tuesday.
1.1.3.2 当NC的谓语动词块的时间是过去或现在通常采用DOING的简化形式：I regret that he ever has raised the matter → I regret his ever having raised the matter. 但当这个NC作感官动词/使动词/主观判断动词/报道性动词的宾语时，通常采用TO DO的简化形式：I believe it to have been a mistake.
1.2 当NC的谓语动词块含有任意以下情态动词（且含有如括号里所示的意义）时：
can/could (表能力), must (表义务), should/ought to (义务/必要性), will/would(表意愿或习惯), should (表意外惊讶)		通常采用TO DO的简化形式：It's important that the figures should be updated regularly → It's important for the figures to be updated regularly.
2. 当疑问句作名词性从句，且疑问句的主语为重复信息时，如果NC的谓语动词块的时间为将来或过去将来，或含有任意以下情态动词（且含有如括号里所示的意义）时：
can/could (表能力), must (表义务), should/ought to (义务/必要性), will/would(表意愿或习惯)		通常采用TO DO的简化形式：I don't know what I should say → I don't know what to say.

3. 练习

A. 尝试简化以下句子中的名词性从句。

  1. It's customary that the women should sit apart.
  2. It is important that students (should) attend all the lectures.
  3. Is it necessary that we should meet?
  4. We advised that they should start early.
  5. It's unusual that he should refuse a drink.
  6. It seems inappropriate that we will intervene at this stage.
  7. It'll take a long time that she will recover from the illness.
  8. They believed that he was insane.
  9. I believe that it has been a mistake.

B. 单选：选择最合适的答案。

  1. The discovery of new evidence led to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A. the thief having caught B. catch the thief C. the thief being caught D. the thief to be caught
  2. Victor apologized for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to inform me of the change in the plan. A. his being not able B. him not to be able C. his not being able D. him to be not able
  3. Robert is said \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ abroad, but I don't know what country he studied in． A. to have studied B. to study C. to be studying D. to have been studying
  4. I still remember \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to the Famen Temple and what I saw there. A. to take B. to be taken C. taking D. being taken
  5. I hear they've promoted Tom, but he didn't mention \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ when we talked on the phone. A. to promote B. having been promoted C. having promoted D. to be promoted

注：此处仅保留部分代表性练习，完整练习请参考纸质版或后续版本。

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