“go on doing结构”的深层分析
——doing 是动名词还是现在分词,作宾语还是作状语?
刘永科
【问题的提出】
关于go on doing结构,doing是动名词,还是现在分词的问题,语法界一直有争论。也有人给出了一个折衷的办法,就是:不要管它是什么,也不要管它作什么成分,只需知道go on doing 即可。表面看来,这是一个不错的主意,但实际上却混淆了现在分词和动名词的区别。从语言研究的角度考量,这显然不够严谨。其实,只要我们认真分析,就可判断出doing是动名词还是现在分词,作宾语还是作状语。
我曾经跟《英语语法网》站长陈仁祯先生,谈到了go on doing的结构问题,我们觉得很有意义。因为我的一贯坚持,最后陈老师认可了我的观点。
我的看法,可能与国内外的一些权威语法书相矛盾。正因为此,我觉得才有讨论的必要。我们先了解一下权威著作的观点:
1.《牛津英语语法》(中文版),说:go on意指 continue(继续)时后边通常跟动名词。但当说话人虽继续谈论同一话题但转到另一个方面时,它通常与explain, talk, tell等的不定式连用。
go on = “continue” and is normally followed by a gerund. But it is used with an infinitive, usually of a verb like “explain, talk, tell”, when the speaker continues talking about the same topic but
introduces a new aspect of it.
2. 张道真《英语语法大全》在1392节说:另一些动词用不定式作宾语和用动名词作宾语意义不同。
He went on teaching lesson five. (= He didn’t stop after teaching some part of lesson five.)
He went on to teach lesson five. (= He began teaching lesson five after finishing lesson four.)
显然,上述两本语法书,都把doing视为动名词,作go on的宾语。
我个人的观点及理由:
我认为:go on doing结构,on 是副词,不是介词;doing是现在分词作状语,不是动名词作宾语。
在go on doing结构中,on是什么词性?表达何种意义?这是问题的焦点。也就是说,怎样认定on的词性。
下面,从三个方面论证我的看法:
▲1. go on doing这个词组,go是不及物动词。查阅词典,在副词条目下,on表示“继续”之意(We use on to say that someone is continuing to do something. )。例如:
They walked on in silence for a while. 他们继续默默无语地走了一会儿。
If the examination shows your company enjoys basically good health, read on. 要是审查表明你们公司的运营状况基本良好,请继续往下读。
He happened to be in England when the war broke out and he just stayed on. 战争爆发时他碰巧在英格兰,于是就继续留在那里了。
既然go是不及物动词,on是副词,那么go on后面的doing肯定不是宾语,而是状语(表示伴随或方式)。反过来说,既然是状语,doing就是现在分词。
▲2.查阅词典,在介词条目下,on 并没有表示“继续”的用法,而是跟某些动词连用,引出所进行的活动,特别在旅行方面。意为“处于...情况中,在从事…中”(We use on to introduce an activity that someone is doing, particularly travelling. )。这说明,介词on虽然可以跟go连用,但不表示“继续”,而是“从事于某中活动”。例如:
go on (a) holiday
I'd love to go on a holiday but I can't afford the time.我倒想去度假,可是抽不出时间来。
go on a trip
As the day was fine, they decided to go on a trip.由于天气好,他们决定作一次短途旅行。
go on a tour
We are going on a tour of the city this afternoon.我们今天下午要到城里去观光。
go on a vacation
He never goes on a vacation but he takes his pet dog. 他每次度假都会带他的狗去。
go on a diet
The doctor says I've got to go on a diet. 医生说我得节食。
go on strike
The workers go on strike to ask for higher pay.为了提高工资,工人们举行了罢工。
go on a hike
We took advantage of the fine weather to go on a hike. 我们利用晴朗的天气去旅游。
go on a journey
He made a resolve to go on a journey early in the next morning.他决意明天一早就动身。
go on a voyage
Captain Cook went on a voyage round the world.库克船长做了一次环球航旅行。
go on an excursion
Weather permitting, we'll go on an excursion to the Western Hills tomorrow.天气要是合适,我们明天将去西山去玩。
go on an expedition
The scientists will go on an expedition to the South Pole.这些科学家们将要去南极考察。
go on an outing
I'll go on an outing with some friends.我与朋友去郊游。
go on an errand
My mother asked me to go on an errand; she wanted me to buy some food.我妈妈叫我跑一下腿,她想让我去买点食物。
go on a picnic
We will play sports or go on a picnic.我们将做户外运动或去野餐。
go on business
I will go on business either this week or next week. 我将在这星期或下星期出差。
▲3. go on doing结构,on到底是不是介词?通过结构看词性,下面我们做个类比:
① go on with
② go on to do
③ go on doing
go on with结构,如果认为 on 是表“继续”的介词,那么,go on with 中的 with岂不多余?
go on to do结构,如果认为 on 是表“继续”的介词,那么,后面能跟不定式to do吗?
三个短语中,on都表达“继续”之意。前两个 on 是副词,go on doing中,on能改变词性吗?
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