英語里有一些在人們的語言交流中約定俗成的習慣性省略,介詞的省略就屬於這類現象。
常見的介詞省略
1. 與spend, have difficulty (trouble, a hard time), waste no time, lose no time等搭配時,in + doing 結構中的介詞in 可省略。如:
I spent the whole summer and fall (in) hunting for a job.
我用了整個夏天和秋天來找工作。
2. 當in ... way 中way 被限定詞 the, this, that等修飾時,介詞in可省略。如:
“Jim!” she cried, “don’t look at me (in) that way.”
“吉姆!” 她高聲叫道,“不要那樣看着我。”
3. 與動詞choose, elect, name, consider及think of 等連用時,as引導的介詞短語作補語,此時的介詞as可以省略。如:
We always consider him (as) a respectable senior.
我們總是把他看作是令人尊敬的長者。
4. 在 prevent ... from + doing 和 stop ... from + doing的結構中,from可以省略。如:
In many countries, laws have been passed to prevent people (from) killing wild animals.
在很多國家,已經制定了法律來防止人們捕殺野生動物。
5. 與某些名詞詞組連用作時間狀語時,for通常可省略。如:
The drought in Chongqing this year lasted (for) two months until the new term began.
重慶今年的干旱持續了兩個月,直到新學期開始(才結束)。
6. 當表時間的名詞或名詞詞組被last, next, this, that, every, any等修飾時,與它們搭配的介詞(in, on, at等)常常省略。如:
You may phone me (at) any moment tomorrow.
你明天任何時候都可以給我打電話。
7. 與 age, colour, height, shape, size, use, weight等詞連用時,of 往往可以省略。如:
I’d like to buy a pair of gloves for my daughter, a girl (of) her age.
我想給我的女兒——像她這么大年齡的一個女孩——買一雙手套。
介詞省略分類
1. 介詞on的省略
表示星期、日期等的時間的介詞on有時可省略:
I’ll arrive (on) Friday. 我將星期五到。
See you (on) June 21st. 6月21日見吧。
2. 介詞for的省略
(1) 表示一段時間或距離前的介詞有時可省略:
I lived there (for) ten years. 我在那兒住了10年。
They walked (for) fifty miles. 他們走了50英里。
但在否定句中或用於句首時,介詞for通常不能省略:
For ten years he lived here. 他在這里住過10年。
We have not heard from him for a long time.
我們很久沒收到他的來信了。
另外,若所修飾的動詞不是在整個時間范圍內都自始自終延續,則for也不省略:
I taught her for three years. 我教過她三年。
(其中的for不能省略)
(2) 某些結構中表示原因的介詞for有時可以省略:
Pardon me (for) interrupting you.
請原諒我打斷你的話。
We quite envy you (for) your success.
我們十分羡慕你的成功。
Please forgive me (for) my fault. 請原諒我的過錯。
3. 介詞at的省略
what time前的介詞at通常可以省略:
What time did he leave here? 他是什么時候離開這兒的?
另外,在“about [around] 時間名詞”前的介詞at也通常省略:
He arrived (at) about ten o’clock. 他大約(在)10點鍾到的。
at home 這一短語中的介詞at在美國英語中通常省略:
Let’s stay (at) home this evening. 今晚我們就呆在家里吧。
4. 介詞of的省略
all of, both of, half of 用於帶限定詞(如my, the, these等)的名詞前時,其中的介詞of通常可以省略:
All (of) the students have passed the exam. 所有的學生都考及格了。
Both (of) my parents are interested in history. 我的父母都對歷史感愛好。
Half (of) the milk had been drunk. 有一半牛奶已被喝了。
【注】若用於人稱代詞前,則其中的of不可省略:
All (Both, Half) of us wanted to leave. 我們大家(倆,有一半人)都想走。
5. 介詞from的省略
在 prevent [stop]…from doing sth(阻止…發生),save…(from) doing sth(免去…做某事)等結構中的介詞from通常可以省略:
The heavy rain prevented him (from) coming. 大雨使他不能來。
If I can stop them (from) going there, I’ll do it. 要是我能夠阻止他們去那里,我會這樣做的。
If you do it tonight, it will save you (from) having to get up early. 你假如今晚做這事,明天早上你就不必早起了。
【注】在被動語態中from通常不宜省略。另外,在表示類似含義的prohibit…from doing sth 中的from習慣上不省略,而在與此同義的keep…from doing sth中,from則絕不可省略,否則含義不同:
He kept me from working. 他不讓我工作。
He kept me working. 他要我不停地工作。
6. 連接代詞和副詞前介詞的省略
在tell, ask, depend, look, certain, clear, sure, idea, decide 等常用詞后面,who, which, what, where, whether, how 等引導的從句前面的介詞通常可以省略:
Have you any idea (of) when he will come? 你知道他什么時候來嗎?
I’m not certain (of) what I’m supposed to do. 我不肯定我應該做什么。
It depends (on) whether you can afford it. 這要看你是否買得起。
Tell me (about) what he said to you. 告訴我他給你講了些什么。
若以上從句被簡化為“疑問詞 不定式”,其前的介詞也可省略:
I’m not quite clear (about) what to do. 我不很確定要做什么。
【注】除以上提到的少數情形外,在其他情況下則通常不宜隨便省略:
We’re worried about where he is. 我們擔心他上什么地方去了。(about不能省)
7. 介詞in的省略
(1) 在 in this way, in that way, in the same way, in another way 等表達中的介詞in 通常可以省略:
Do it (in) this way. 這樣做。
Let me put it (in) another way. 讓我用另一種方式解釋。
(2) 許多動名詞前的介詞in可以省略:
Be careful (in) crossing the street. 過街道要小心。
He lost no time (in) answering the question. 他馬上就回答了那個問題。
但若介詞 in 出現在句首,則通常不宜省略:
In crossing the street he was run over. 他在穿過馬路時被汽車撞倒。
在這類用法中要非凡注重一些常用句型:
be busy (in) doing sth 忙於做某事
be late (in) doing sth 做某事做晚了或做遲了
spend money [time] (in) doing sth 花錢(時間)做某事
waste money [time] (in) doing sth 浪費錢(時間)做某事
have luck (in) doing sth 做某事時有運氣(走運)
have difficulty (in) doing sth 做某事有困難
have trouble (in) doing sth做某事有困難
have bother (in) doing sth 做某事費勁
have a problem (in) doing sth做某事有困難
have a good time (in) doing sth 做某事很開心
have a hard time (in) doing sth 做某事很辛勞
find difficulty (in) doing sth 做某事發現有困難
There is no difficulty (in) doing sth 做某事沒有困難
There is no use (in) doing sth 做某事沒有用
There is no point (in) doing sth 做某事沒有意義
轉載自:http://www.360doc.com/content/12/1114/11/7607720_247758245.shtml