浅析英语中的省略现象

俞江涛

省略是英语中常见的语法现象，在高考中也曾常考到。它是一种修辞手法，用于避免重复，目的是突出新的信息，并使上下文连接紧密。笔者结合自己的教学实践对此现象进行了归纳总结，希望能对我们的中学生有所帮助。英语的省略主要有以下几种情况：

1．在祈使句中常省略主语，如：（You） Come in, please!但如果要强调主语，也可以不省略。如：You be quiet!

2.在感叹句中，常省略主语及谓语。如：What a hot day (it is)!

3.疑问句及答语的省略。

(1)当双方都清楚对方及提出的问题时，常省略主语及谓语。如：

（Do you have） Any question?

(2)回答疑问句时，常只对所提问题作针对性的回答，而省略其余部分。如：

——How long have you been studying English?

——(I have been studying English) For about five years.

4.并列句中的省略。

当并列连词and, but或相当于并列连词的分号连接两个分句时，第二个分句常省略和第一个分句相同的成分。如：

①It is one thing to talk, but (it is) another thing to do.

说是一回事，但做是另一回事。

②She has gone to the library, and they have (gone to the library) too.

5.陈述句中的省略。

(1)在“主语+be+表语”结构中，当主语是表示人的心理状态或对人评价夸奖的词时，常省略主语及系动词be。如：

①(You are) Great!

②(I am) Glad to see you again!

(2)在向对方提出希望或表达祝愿时，常省略主语。如：

Wish you a pleasant journey!

6.年龄和钟点的省略。如：

①He is forty (years old).

②It is ten (oclock).

7.所有格后的名词表示处所时的省略。如：

My home is near the barbers.

8.动词不定式的省略。

(1)当一个动词（短语）在上文已经出现过，下文再次以不定式的形式出现时，常把这个动词短语省略，只保留不定式符号to。如：

——Would you like to play football with us?

——Yes, Id like to (play football with you).

但如果动词不定式后接有be或have时，则要保留be或have。如：

——I havent finished my homework.

——You ought to have.

(2)当几个动词不定式作为并列成分出现时，第一个动词不定式的to要保留，其余动词不定式的to可省略。如：

The teacher told us to hand in our homework and (to) clean the classroom before we went home.

但若强调几个动词不定式的对比时，动词不定式的to不能省略。如：

He doesnt know whether to get married now or to wait.

9.宾语从句中的省略。

(1)当宾语从句表达的是上文已经出现的内容时，宾语从句可省略除引导词以外的部分。如：

He didnt go home last night. I dont know why (he didnt go home last night).

(2)引导宾语从句的引导词that常可省略。如：

I think (that) he is a good boy.

10.定语从句中的省略。

(1)在限制性定语从句中，作宾语的关系代词that, which, whom常可省略。如：

①The boy (whom) you just refer to is Jim.

②The book (that) you borrowed just now is my sisters.

但在“介词+关系代词”引导的定语从句中，关系代词不能省略。

(2)在the same…as和such…as引导的定语从句中,可省略与主句相同的部分。如：

①We do the same work as they (do).

②Im using such a pen as he (is using).

(3)当定语从句的先行词为way/time/direction等时，定语从句的关系代词常可省略。如：

①The way (in which/that) he speaks to his mother is impolite.

②The day (when) the murderer was brought to trial finally came.

11.状语从句中的省略。

(1)在时间状语、条件状语、让步状语、方式状语从句中，当从句的主语与主句的主语一致时，可将从句的主语（及助动词）省略，构成“从属连词+现在分词/过去分词+主句”句型，其中主语也可置于句首。如：

①I wont go unless (I was) invited.

②After graduating from university, he went to work as a lawyer.

=After he graduated from university, he went to work as a lawyer.

(2)在时间状语、条件状语、让步状语、方式状语从句中，当从句的谓语有be，且主语又与主句的主语一致或是it时，从句的主语和be动词常省略。如：

①Though (it is) small, the room is clean and tidy.

②When (I am) in trouble, I always turn to him for help.

(3)比较状语从句中的省略。

①如从句中含有与主句相同的成分，通常仅保留参与比较的部分，其它部分省略。如：

This film is moving as that one (is moving).

②如从句中含有形式主语it时，通常省略it和其指代的部分。如：

He spent more money than (it) was intended (that he should spend).

12.虚拟语气中的省略。

(1)若虚拟语气条件句中的谓语有were/had/should时，可省略if，并将were/had/should移到句首。如：

①Were I you, I would get up early every morning.

②Had I time, I would come.

(2)在as if引导的从句中，若从句的主语与主句的主语是同一个人或物，且从句的谓语含有be的某种形式时，从句的主语或be的某种形式可省略。如：

He stared at me as if (he were) to beat me.

(3)in case (that), for fear that, its time/important…that及表示建议（如suggest, advise等）、命令（如command, order等）的动词后接从句时，谓语动词用“should+动词原形”, should常可省略。如：

He suggested we (should) hold a meeting to discuss the question.

Its important that we (should) have computer classes next term.

13.一些固定结构中的省略。

(1)在the+比较级…，the+比较级…结构中，可省略be或there be。如：

In studying driving, the more practice (there is), the better (it is).

(2)在spend…in doing sth., have difficulty/trouble in doing sth., be busy in doing sth., have a…time in doing sth.等短语中，常省略in。如：

①I have trouble (in) learning Japanese.

②He spends his free time (in) playing computer games.

(3)在so that连接的从句中，常省略so或that。如：

I am very tired (so) that I had better hurry home.

（高考真题再现）

1. Can you tell me the name of factory ____ you visited last week?

(1990MET)

A. what B. where C. / D. when

2. ——Let me introduce myself; Im Albert.

——____.(1993MET)

A. What a please B. Its my please

C. Pleased to meet you D. Im very pleased

3. ——Ill be away on a business trip. Would you mind looking after my car?

——Not at all. ____. (1995NMET)

A. Ill no time B. Id rather not

C. Id like it D. Id be happy to

4. ——Wasnt it Dr Wang who spoke to you just now?

——____.(1996上海)

A. I didnt know he was B. Yes, it was

C. No, he wasnt D. Yes, he did

5. ——You havent been to Beijing, have you?

——____. How I wish to go there.(1998NMET)

A. Yes, I have B. Yes, I havent

C. No, I have D. No, I havent

6. ——What do you think made Mary so upset?

——____ her new bicycle.(1997上海)

A. As she lost B. Lost

C. Losing D. Because of losing

7. ____ for the free tickets, I would not have gone to the films so often.(1995 上海)

A. If it is not B. Were it not

C. Had it not been D. If they were not

8. How beautiful she sings!I have never heard ____.(1996NMET)

A. the better voice B. a good voice

C. the best voice D. a better voice

9. ——She isn't a dancing teacher, is she?

——____.(1989MET)

A. Yes, she isn't B. No, she is

C. Yes, she wasn't D. No, but she was

10. ____ more attention, the trees could have grown better.(1990MET)

A. Given B. To give C. Give D. Having given

Key:1.C 2.C 3.D 4.B 5.D 6.C 7.C 8.D 9.D 10.A