英文文法~有關省略的問題~

Question

我嘗試造句如下

I walked silently and carefully across the passage, afraid of being found by my mother.

因為我學文法都是用直覺的，所以突然寫出這段句子，也不知道是對是錯，特此到知識請益。

　　這句話似乎有因果關係：我小心翼翼地穿過走廊，因為我怕被我媽媽發現。如果沒有因果關係的話：我小心翼翼地穿過走廊，而且我害怕被我媽媽發現。不同的翻譯可能會導致不同省略法嗎？
　　我不知道我省略的是1) and I was 或是 2) because I was ？我怕帶給閱卷者不同的認知。

In order to compare with this case, attempting to find an example of, and looking for a resolution to, I have retrieved information on the internet for a week.

另外，請問上面這樣的句子有什麼問題呢？語意不清或是文法錯誤。而，開頭的In order to compare 是否可以省略成Comparing呢?

Answer 1

版主您好:

您說: 不同的翻譯可能會導致不同省略法. 沒錯, 但說得更明確一點, 應該是:

不同的語意必須用不同的語法來表達.

從中文出發, "我小心翼翼地穿過走廊，(而且我)害怕被我媽媽發現", 後半段是伴隨前半句主要動作的"心理背景", 所以可以用分詞表達, 寫出來就是您的句子:

I walked silently and carefully across the passage, (being) afraid of being noticed by my mother.

1. 這裡的"被...發現"用[notice察覺]比較適合
2. 就中文而言, "而且我"三個字通常也不會寫出來, 較為順暢, 這恰好與英文的分詞寫法相對稱. 所以如果把省略掉的[being]還原為[, and I was ...], 雖然不能說完全不對, 但是並不是所有對等子句都能夠轉化為分詞而完全不影響語意的.

如果您要說"我小心翼翼地穿過走廊，因為我怕被我媽媽發現", 則寫法是:

I walked silently and carefully across the passage, because I was afraid of being noticed by my mother. OR

Afraid of being noticed by my mother, I walked silently and carefully across the passage.

在中文裡, "因為..."的擺放位置並不造成明顯的語意差別, 但是, 在英文裡, 表"原因"的分詞是放在句首的.


第二題比較複雜. 先說明[compare]這個動詞的用法.

[compare]當"比較"講的時候, 一定會有兩個主體[A]&[B].
可以用主動語態: Compare A with B, and you will know what I mean.
可以用被動語態: When A is compared with B, the difference is self-evident.
以上屬於及物動詞用法.

也可以用名詞:
To know A better, you can make a comparison with B.
You can make a comparison between A and B.

可是當您寫:
A compares with B.
含意是"A可以和B相提並論", 而並不是單純的比較. 這是不及物動詞用法.

再來看您的句子. 寫法是有不妥之處, 但是在下並不清楚您真正要表達的語意為何, 所以只好自行揣測.

1. 為了要和這個個案作一對照, 我已經用一周的時間從網路上收集資料, 企圖找到類似的案例, 並尋求解決的方案.

In order to make a comparison with this case, I have retrieved information from the internet for a week, attempting to find an example of and a resolution to it.

此句的分詞是說明"心理背景".

2. 為了要和這個個案作一對照, 企圖找到類似的案例, 並尋求解決的方案, 我已經用一周的時間從網路上收集資料.

In order to make a comparison with, find an example of, and work out a resolution to this case, I have retrieved information from the internet for a week.

表示"目的"的副詞語意, 通常用"不定詞", 而非分詞.



2007-10-30 01:02:56 補充：
如果用[comparing]開頭, 表示的不是目的, 而是:

1. 原因:

Comparing this case with others, I have retrieved information from the internet for a week, attempting to find an example of and a resolution to it.
但是這樣的語意是不通的.

2007-10-30 01:03:13 補充：
2. 時間:

When comparing this case with others, I have retrieved information from the internet for a week, attempting to find an example of and a resolution to it.
語意同樣不通.


不管說或寫, 用直覺當然是最高境界. 但是要具備自我檢查的能力, 才能確保自己說或寫出來的文句經得起別人的考驗. 這就是學習文法的目的. 看得出您是有心人, 一起加油吧!

Answer 2

1. 這句應該沒有錯。你省略的是 because I was.
2. in order to 後該用現在式的動詞，所以 attempting, looking 用現在式比較好，建議這句改成這樣：
In order to compare with this case, attempt to find an example, and look for a solution, I have searched the Internet for a week.