法则十六:互有联系的词要在一起
句中单词的位置是表现它们之间关系的主要方式。因此写作者必须尽可能语义相关联单词或词组,而分割那些不相关的。
依此律,句中主句和谓语之间不应插入本可放于句首的词组或从句,如:
Wordsworth, in the fifth book of The Excursion, gives a minute description of this church. | In the fifth book of The Excursion, Wordsworth gives a minute description of this church. | Cast iron, when treated in a Bessemer converter, is changed into steel. | By treatment in a Bessemer converter, cast iron is changed into steel. | |
插入语的缺点是可能会打乱句子的自然顺序。但当插入的是个关系从句和同位语时,通常产生麻烦。再者,插入圆周句的插入语是为了引起悬念的话,也不会产生麻烦。(见法则十八所举之例)。
依此律,关系代词应当紧随其先行词。
There was a look in his eye that boded mischief. | In his eye was a look that boded mischief. | He wrote three articles about his adventures in Spain, which were published in Harper's Magazine. | He published in Harper's Magazine three articles about his adventures in Spain. | This is a portrait of Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry Harrison, who became President in 1889. | This is a portrait of Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry Harrison. He became President in 1889. | |
若不引起歧义,那么先行词是词组的话,关系词则应在该词组之后。
The Superintendent of the Chicago Division, who | A proposal to amend the Sherman Act, which has been variously judged | A proposal, which has been variously judged, to amend the Sherman Act | A proposal to amend the much-debated Sherman Act | The grandson of William Henry Harrison, who | William Henry Harrison's grandson, Benjamin Harrison, who | |
同位语应在先行词和关系词之间,因为这不会引起歧义。
The Duke of York, his brother, who was regarded with hostility by the Whigs | |
修饰语应尽量紧随被修饰语。如果几个修饰语修饰相同的词,它们应当被恰当安排,以避免产生歧义,如下:
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All the members were not present. | Not all the members were present. | He only found two mistakes. | He found only two mistakes. | Major R. E. Joyce will give a lecture on Tuesday evening in Bailey Hall, to which the public is invited, on "My Experiences in Mesopotamia" at eight P. M. | On Tuesday evening at eight P. M., Major R. E. Joyce will give in Bailey Hall a lecture on "My Experiences in Mesopotamia." The public is invited. | |
【本文翻译仅为外语学习及阅读目的,原文作者个人观点与译者及译言网无关】