不转不是中国人知乎:英语语法原本很可爱——关于快速、轻松学习英语语法的几点看法

英语语法原本很可爱——关于快速、轻松学习英语语法的几点看法

一、     在学习语法之前最好先搞清楚什么是语法

什么是语法？

有很多种说法，我们不妨大概地了解其中的几种：

最狗屁的说法：语法是语言的法则。

最有意境的说法：语法是把合适的词放在句子中合适位置的一种艺术。

最简单的说法：语法是组词成句的方法。

最罗嗦的说法：语法是研究语言结构规律的一门知识。懂得一些这方面的基本知识，可以提高我们遣词造句的能力。语法是语言学的一个分支，研究按确定用法来运用的词类、词的屈折变化或表示相互关系的其他手段以及词在句中的功能和关系。语法是语言表达的规则。各种语言都有不同的语法，包括人类语言和计算机语言等。语法学是语言学的一部分。现代语法学包括语音学、音系学（见音韵学）、形态学（词法）、句法学、语义学。

最深奥的说法：语言是由语音形式、语义内容、结构关系三个方面构成的统一体，三个方面缺一不可，互相作用，构成了语言。语音是语言的形式部分，词汇是语言的意义部分，语法是语言单位的关系部分，说的是符号与符号怎样组合的问题。三个部分在语言中的作用，我们可以这样简单来表述：没有语音形式，语言就无法存在，没有词汇的内容意义，语言就是一个毫无作用的空壳，没有语法，语言就是一盘杂乱而毫无章法的散沙。

个人比较赞成最简单的说法：语法是组词成句的方法。

最反对把语法说成是“语言的法则”。个人以为“法则”显得过于严肃。

二、     语法不是严谨的科学

请大家先读一读下面的内容：

If you think that grammar is an exact science, get ready for a shock. Grammar is a science, all right — but it is most inexact.

下面再分析一下：

If you think that grammar is an exact science, get ready for a shock. Grammar is a science, all right — but it is most inexact.

get ready v.准备好

这里我们重点学习一下exact和inexact：

exact[i^5zAkt]adj.精确的, 准确的, 原样的, 精密的（ex+act）

inexact[7ini^5zAkt]adj.不精确的, 不正确的，不严格的, 不仔细的（in+exact）

in-这里作否定前缀

这段话选自Norman Lewis的《Word Power Made Easy》。如果您学习了N年的英语却读不懂这样的内容，相信您就是“把语法看成是精密科学”的牺牲品。

很多朋友学习了很多年的英语，但学习的内容却并不是真正的英语。甚至有的朋友学习了十年以上的英语还依然没有接触过真正的英语。

建议你认真地学习《新概念英语》第三册中的10课内容以后就去买一本《Word Power Made Easy》。把这本书反复、认真地读熟读透，绝大多数的朋友都可以在单词和语法上获得双丰收。

三、     学习英语一定要学习语法吗？

不一定。至少在学习初期不要学习过多的语法知识。如果你的母语水平比较高，完全可以通过汉语句子和英语句子的比较来快速提高自己阅读英语文章的能力。

当你可以读懂英语文章以后，要想了解一些语法知识也完全可以直接读英语版的相关资料。

当然当你可以读懂英语文章再回头看那些以前以为十分复杂的语法教材如今也会变得简单易懂了。汉语版的英语语法教材并没有错，错的只是大家选择了在错误的时间去学习它：在连简单的英语文章都读不懂的情况下学习过多、过细的用汉语描述的英语语法知识。最可怕的是还有人强迫自己“背”语法规则。

四、     汉语是帮助我们学习英语语法的好帮手

下面的内容来自《新概念英语》第二册第25课。题目是：Do the English speak English? (英国人讲的是英语吗？)。

请大家放下包袱（暂时不用在意任何的语法概念）把它读熟。

I arrived in London at last. 

我终于到了伦敦。

at last  adv.终于

联想记忆：

at least adv.至少

The railway station was big, black and dark. 

火车站很大，又黑又暗。

railway station n.火车站

I did not know the way to my hotel, so I asked a porter. 

我不知道去饭店的路该怎么走，于是向一个搬运工打听。

I not only spoke English very carefully, but very clearly as well. 

我的英语讲得不但非常认真，而且咬字也非常清楚。

spoke[spEuk]speak 的过去式

not only … but … as well或not only … but also 表示“不但……而且”，as well或also可省略。

The porter, however, could not understand me. 

然而搬运工却不明白我的话。

I repeated my question several times and at last he understood. 

我把问话重复了很多遍。他终于听懂了。

He answered me, but he spoke neither slowly nor clearly. 

他回答了，但他讲得既不慢也不清楚。

neither nor 既不...也不...

 'I am a foreigner,' I said. 

 “我是个外国人，”我说。 

foreigner[5fCrinE]n.外国人, 外地人（foreign+er）

foreign[5fCrin]adj.外国的

reign[rein]vi.统治, 支配

Then he spoke slowly, but I could not understand him. 

于是他说得慢了，可我还是听不懂。

My teacher never spoke English like that! 

我的老师从来不那样讲英语！

The porter and I looked at each other and smiled. 

我和搬运工相视一笑。

each other adv.彼此, 互相

Then he said something and I understood it. 

接着，他说了点什么，这回我听懂了。

understood[7QndE5stud]vbl.understand的过去式和过去分词(under+stood)

understand[7QndE5stAnd]v.懂, 了解(under+stand)

请比较一下stand和stood:

stood[stud]vbl.stand的过去式和过去分词

 'You'll soon learn English!' he said. 

 “您会很快学会英语的！”他说。

I wonder. In England, each person speaks a different language. 

我感到奇怪。在英国，人们各自说着一种不同的语言。

The English understand each other, but I don't understand them! 

英国人之间相互听得懂，可我却不懂他们的话！

Do they speak English? 

他们说的是英语吗？

我特别反对用“死记硬背”的办法学外语，但对于这一课，真的希望大家能在熟读的基础上“背”下来。

五、     多读英语原著是快速提高分析能力的最佳办法

下面是一篇国外大学网站上关于英语从句的文章。如果你读不懂这样的文章，建议你最好不要学习过多的汉语版的英语语法。

=============================

轻松阅读、学语法：Using Clauses as Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs

友情提示：所谓的从句其实就是把一个句子作为一个词用。作名词使用的就是名词性从句，作形容词使用的就是形容词从句，作副词使用的就是副词从句。阅读英语文章真的是一件非常有趣的事情，如果我们因为大量地“背”导致自己失去了“阅读”的兴趣，还不如彻底抛弃“死记硬背”。

If a clause can stand alone as a sentence, it is an independent clause, as in the following example:

Independent

the Prime Minister is in Ottawa

Some clauses, however, cannot stand alone as sentences: in this case, they are dependent clauses or subordinate clauses.

dependent clause n.从属子句

subordinate clause n. 〈语法〉从句

Consider the same clause with the subordinating conjunction "because" added to the beginning:

subordinate conjunction 从属连词

Dependent

when the Prime Minister is in Ottawa

In this case, the clause could not be a sentence by itself, since the conjunction "because" suggests that the clause is providing an explanation for something else.

Since this dependent clause answers the question "when," just like an adverb, it is called a dependent adverb clause (or simply an adverb clause, since adverb clauses are always dependent clauses).

adverb clause 副词从句

Note how the clause can replace the adverb "tomorrow" in the following examples:

adverb

The committee will meet tomorrow.

adverb clause

The committee will meet when the Prime Minister is in Ottawa.

副词从句（或状语从句）其实就是一个句子作一个副词使用。

Dependent clauses can stand not only for adverbs, but also for nouns and for adjectives.

Noun Clauses

A noun clause is an entire clause which takes the place of a noun in another clause or phrase.

take the place of v.代替

Like a noun, a noun clause acts as the subject or object of a verb or the object of a preposition, answering the questions "who(m)?" or "what?".

Consider the following examples:

noun

I know Latin.

noun clause

I know that Latin is no longer spoken as a native language.

no longer adv.不再

native language母语

In the first example, the noun "Latin" acts as the direct object of the verb "know."

direct object n.[语法]直接宾语

In the second example, the entire clause "that Latin ..." is the direct object.

In fact, many noun clauses are indirect questions:

indirect question n. 间接疑问句

noun

Their destination is unknown.

noun clause

Where they are going is unknown.

The question "Where are they going?," with a slight change in word order, becomes a noun clause when used as part of a larger unit -- like the noun "destination," the clause is the subject of the verb "is."

Here are some more examples of noun clauses:

about what you bought at the mall

This noun clause is the object of the preposition "about," and answers the question "about what?"

the object of the preposition介词宾语

preposition[7prepE5ziFEn]n.【语】前置词; 介词，前面的位置（pre+position）

Whoever broke the vase will have to pay for it.

pay for v.偿还, 赔偿

This noun clause is the subject of the verb "will have to pay," and answers the question "who will have to pay?"

The Toronto fans hope that the Blue Jays will win again.

This noun clause is the object of the verb "hope," and answers the question "what do the fans hope?"

Adjective Clauses

An adjective clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adjective in another clause or phrase. Like an adjective, an adjective clause modifies a noun or pronoun, answering questions like "which?" or "what kind of?" Consider the following examples:

Adjective

the red coat

Adjective clause

the coat which I bought yesterday

Like the word "red" in the first example, the dependent clause "which I bought yesterday" in the second example modifies the noun "coat."

Note that an adjective clause usually comes after what it modifies, while an adjective usually comes before.

英语中单个的形容词修饰名词多置于名词之前（前置定语），短语、从句修饰名词多置于名词之后（后置定语）。实际上，如果能读懂上面的英语句子，我们就完全用不着再去学习什么是“定语”。

In formal writing, an adjective clause begins with the relative pronouns "who(m)," "that," or "which."

In informal writing or speech, you may leave out the relative pronoun when it is not the subject of the adjective clause, but you should usually include the relative pronoun in formal, academic writing:

informal

The books people read were mainly religious.

formal

The books that people read were mainly religious.

informal

Some firefighters never meet the people they save.

formal

Some firefighters never meet the people whom they save.

Here are some more examples of adjective clauses:

the meat which they ate was tainted

taint[teint; tent]v.感染

This clause modifies the noun "meat" and answers the question "which meat?".

about the movie which made him cry

This clause modifies the noun "movie" and answers the question "which movie?".

they are searching for the one who borrowed the book

The clause modifies the pronoun "one" and answers the question "which one?".

Did I tell you about the author whom I met?

The clause modifies the noun "author" and answers the question "which author?".

Adverb Clauses

An adverb clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adverb in another clause or phrase.

An adverb clause answers questions such as "when?", "where?", "why?", "with what goal/result?", and "under what conditions?".

Note how an adverb clause can replace an adverb in the following example:

adverb

The premier gave a speech here.

adverb clause

The premier gave a speech where the workers were striking.

Usually, a subordinating conjunction like "because," "when(ever)," "where(ever)," "since," "after," and "so that," will introduce an adverb clause.

Note that a dependent adverb clause can never stand alone as a complete sentence:

complete sentence 完全句

independent clause

they left the locker room

locker room n.衣帽间

dependent adverb clause

after they left the locker room

The first example can easily stand alone as a sentence, but the second cannot -- the reader will ask what happened "after they left the locker room".

Here are some more examples of adverb clauses expressing the relationships of cause, effect, space, time, and condition:

cause

Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle because the uncle had murdered Hamlet's father.

The adverb clause answers the question "why?".

effect

Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle so that his father's murder would be avenged.

avenge[E5vendV]vt.为...报复, 报仇（a+venge）

a-=ad-(to)

venge源自vengier [报复]

The adverb clause answers the question "with what goal/result?".

time

After Hamlet's uncle Claudius married Hamlet's mother, Hamlet wanted to kill him.

The adverb clause answers the question "when?".

Note the change in word order -- an adverb clause can often appear either before or after the main part of the sentence.

either or 不是...就是..., ...或...

place

Where the whole Danish court was assembled, Hamlet ordered a play in an attempt to prove his uncle's guilt.

in an attempt to 力图, 试图

The adverb clause answers the question "where?".

condition

If the British co-operate, the Europeans may achieve monetary union.

monetary[5mQnitEri]adj.货币的, 金钱的

money[5mQni]n.货币, 钱, 金钱

The adverb clause answers the question "under what conditions?"

Written by David Megginson