垂悬修饰语指的是一个句子中同其它词没有明显修饰关系的词或短语.它一般出现在句首,用作状语.垂悬修饰语是英语句子写作中最常出现的一类修饰语错误.下面将从垂悬修饰语的类型、判断原则以及修改方法等方面对其进行讨论.
一、垂悬修饰语的类型 垂悬修饰语通常有以下四种类型:1.分词 Sitting alone in the bedroom,the strange noise frightened me.Captured red-handed,the police questioned the suspect for hours.2.介词加动名词短语 On entering the bedroom,the doorbell rang.By speaking everyday,your oral English will be improved rapidly.3.不定式短语 To play tennis well,the racket must be held properly.To hear him talk in that manner,he would be thought as a foreigner.4.省略分句 While only six years old,my mother required me to do some housework.Although seriously ill,the stepmother made him work till midnight.二、垂悬修饰语的判断原则 判断一个修饰语是否是垂悬修饰语,关键看它的逻辑主语是否与主句的主语一致,如果不一致,那就是垂悬修饰语.上面给出的所有的修饰语的逻辑主语与主句的主语都不一致,故它们都属于垂悬修饰语.三、垂悬修饰语的改正方法 垂悬修饰语的改正方法有两种:一种是修改垂悬修饰语部分,使其与主句有明显的修饰关系;另一种是修改主句部分,使主句的主语与垂悬修饰语的逻辑主语相一致.上面几种类型的垂悬修饰语可以作如下修改:1.分词 When I was sitting alone in the bedroom,the strange noise frightened me.Sitting alone in the bedroom,I was frightened by the strange noise.After capturing the suspect red-handed,the police questioned him for hours.Captured red-handed,the suspect was questioned by the police for hours.2.介词加动名词短语 When I entered the bedroom,the doorbell rang.On entering the bedroom,I heard the doorbell ring.If you speak everyday,your oral English will be improved rapidly.By speaking everyday,you will improve your oral English rapidly.3.不定式短语 If you want to play tennis well,the racket must be held properly.To play tennis well,one must hold the racket properly.When he is heard to talk in that manner,he would be thought as a foreigner.To hear him talk in that manner,people would think him as a foreigner.4.省略分句 While I was only six years old,my mother required me to do some housework.While only six years old,I was required to do some housework.Although he was seriously ill,his stepmother made him work till midnight Although seriously ill,he was made to work till midnight (by his stepmother).