1.
今天,我看書的時候,看到了下面這句很普通的句子,"How Do We Get Started on These Programs?"。我突然感到有一點糊塗,什麼叫"Get started" ?這句話同"How do we start on these programs?"又有什麼區別呢?
我查了詞典裡關於"get+動詞分詞"結構的解釋,發現這種常見結構其實很複雜,既可以表示主動(We Get Started on These Programs),又可以表示被動(I got invited to her party yesterday)。
下面就是我整理的筆記。
2.
首先,"get+過去分詞"是一種被動形式。
我們都知道,英語中表示被動的方法是"be+過去動詞",但是其實還有第二種方法,那就是"get+過去分詞",這兩者的意思基本上是類似的。但是,後者用得比較少,尤其少用於正式的書面文體。
請對比下面三句話:
a) The bus hit John.
b) John was hit by the bus.
c) John got hit by the bus.
上面這三種說法都是對的。被動的含義除了可以用"be + 過去分詞"表示以外,還可以用"got + 過去分詞"來表示。
請看下面的例句:
* It is upsetting when a person gets punished for a crime that he didn't commit.
* The picture got damaged (= was damaged) when we were moving.
* If they make such criticisms they will get treated with the contempt they deserve.
* I don't want to get mixed up with the police again.
* After working here selflessly for several years,Mr. Li got promoted at last.
* They got delayed because of the holiday traffic.
3.
"get+過去分詞"和"be+過去分詞"有幾個區別。
(1)在"be+過去分詞"的結構中,be是助動詞(auxiliary),可以用來獨立構成否定句和疑問句;get不是助動詞,在否定句和疑問句,必須增加助動詞。
請看下面的例句。
* Was Kim attacked by a tiger?
* Kim was not attacked by a tiger.
* Did Kim get attacked by a tiger?
* Kim did not get attacked by a tiger.
以上四句話都是正確,下面兩句則是錯誤的。
* Got Kim attacked by a tiger? (×)
* Kim got not attacked by a tiger. (×)
(2)"get+過去分詞"結構可以用於進行時態,"be+過去分詞"結構就不行。
請看下面的例句
* You will be getting cursed.
* My brother has been getting examined
(3)"get+過去分詞"結構通常不帶"by+動作主體"的部分,但這不是絕對的。
請看下面兩句話,其中第二句話是錯誤的。
* I got caught in the rain.
* I got caught by the rain. (×)
但是,在下面的例句中可以使用by:
* He got caught by the police.
* He got hit on the head by the burglar.
* Raghu got kicked in the shin by a donkey.
* He got punched in the nose by his opponent.
(4)"get+過去分詞"結構極少用於無生命的物體。
請看下面兩句話,其中第二句話是錯誤的。
* Gunfire was heard in the auditorium.
* Gunfire got heard in the auditorium.(×)
4.
除了表示被動以外,"get + 過去分詞"結構還可用於談論為自己做的事,表示主動的行為而不是被動的行為,即起到了強調主語、加重語氣的作用。
請對比下面兩句話:
a) Joe was dressed [by someone]
b) Joe got dressed.
a句表示其他人幫助Joe穿衣服,b句則表示Joe自己穿衣服。
除了get dressed(穿衣服)以外,類似的常用短語,還有以下這些:get divorced(離婚)、get engaged(訂婚)、get confused(迷惑不解)、get lost(迷路)、get washed(洗臉) 、get married(結婚)等。
5.
為什麼英語中有兩種表示被動的結構?為什麼"get+過去分詞"結構既可以表示主動的行為,又可以表示被動的行為,它們之間是否有聯絡?
在普通的"be+過去分詞"結構中,動作主體(subject)與動作受體(object)之間的關係一般是同等重要的。下面兩個例句是完全等價的:
* Marconi invented the radio.
* The radio was invented by Marconi.
但是,"get+過去分詞"結構不是這樣。不管加不加動作主體,關注的重點永遠是在動作的受體上。這也是,這種結構為什麼通常不帶"by+動作主體"的原因。(即使帶了,句子的重心也依然是在前半部分。)
所以,只要使用了"get+過去分詞"結構,一定是強調句子的主語的。
6.
我不清楚get used to是不是這種結構。資料中都沒有提到這個短語,所以可能不是。
7.
學習了這麼久,又是這麼麻煩的東西,太傷腦筋了。
下面是輕鬆一刻,貼幾張漫畫。
He got hit!
I got caught.
I got lost.
We got married.
Mike got dressed for bed.
8.
[練習]
(1) I don't know how it happened, but I ____ in San Francisco.
a) was lost b) got lost
(2) That evening the Greek embassy was having a party. I ____ by a friend who worked there.
a) was invited b) got invited
(3) I had been out all day sightseeing. When I returned it was late, so I ____ quickly and left the hotel.
a) was dressed b) got dressed
(4) Fortunately, I ____ a map before I left the hotel.
a) was given b) got given
(5) As I was leaving the hotel, I almost ____ by a taxi.
a) got hit b) was hit
(6) The embassy was only a few blocks away. So I walked. Somewhere along the way, I ____ .
a) got disoriented b) was disoriented
(7) I took a wrong turn and walked the wrong direction. Finally, I hailed a taxi and ____ to the party.
a) was driven b) got driven
答案:(按下右鍵,拖動滑鼠察看)
(1)b (2)a (3)b (4)a (5)a/b 兩者都正確 (6)a (7)a
References
* http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1795330
* http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/dec222005/dheducation15201020051221.asp
* http://edu.sina.com.cn/en/2002-08-07/4742.html
* http://smccd.net/accounts/sevas/esl/reviewlesson/passive2.html
(阮一峰,2006年6月25日)
附:
"英語學習"系列筆記之一:字首un-和in-