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第二十三章 減化子句練習
減化子句，亦即一般文法書所謂的非限定子句(Non-finite Clauses)，是高度精簡的句型，也是較具挑戰性的句型，在TIME中俯拾皆是。本書一連幾章介紹這個比較龐大的概念，現在已到了驗收的時候。這一章就用sentence combining的型態來練習如何精簡複雜的句子。
首先回顧一下減化子句的兩大原則：
一、 對等子句中，相對應位置（主詞與主詞，動詞與動詞等）如果重複，擇一彈性省略。
二、 從屬子句（名詞子句、形容詞子句與副詞子句）中，省略主詞與be動詞兩部分，留下補語。不過主詞若非重複或空洞的元素，就應設法保留，以免句意改變。
這兩項原則的共同目的都是為了增強句子的精簡性：儘量刪除兩個子句間重複或空洞的元素，但以不傷害清楚性為前提。現在就藉一些例句的組合來練習如何寫作高難度的句型。
例一
1. The patient had not responded to the standard treatment.
（病人對標準療法沒有反應。）
2. This fact greatly puzzled the medical team.
（醫療小組對此深感不解。）
這兩個單句中，句2的主詞this fact指的就是整個句1敘述的那件事。兩句經由這個交集建立了關係，可以考慮用關係子句（即形容詞子句）連結起來。亦即把句2的交集點this fact改寫為關係詞，附於句1上作關係子句，成為：
The patient had not responded to the standard treatment, which greatly puzzled the medical team.（不夠清楚 ）
如此組合這兩句話，文法上看來可以，但修辭上有嚴重的缺點：關係詞which 固然可以代表逗點前的整句話（表示病人缺乏反應這一點令人困惑），但是它也可以代表逗點前面的名詞the standard treatment（表示標準治療方式本身令人困惑）。如此一來，一個句子有兩種可能的解釋，犯了模稜兩可(ambiguous)的毛病，也就是沒有把意義表達清楚，不如嘗試另一種組合方式。
既然整個句1是句2主詞this fact的內容，不妨把它改成名詞子句（前面加上連接詞that即可），然後直接置於句2中this fact的位置當主詞使用，成為複句：
That the patient had not responded to the standard treatment greatly puzzled the medical team.
這個句子中的名詞子句（that引導的子句）可再進一步減化，一般作法是刪除主詞與be動詞。但這個子句中主詞是the patient，在主要子句中並無重複，無法省略。動詞had not responded，其中也沒有be動詞可以省略，那麼該怎麼做？首先，動詞減化的共通原則是：
一、 有be動詞即省略be動詞；
二、 有語氣助動詞（can, must, should... 等）則改為不定詞 (to V)；
三、 除此之外的動詞一律加上 -ing保留下來。
以had not responded這個動詞片語而言，符合第三種情形，所以改寫為not having responded，以取代原先的名詞子句。原來的主詞the patient改為所有格(the patient's)置於前面，再刪除無意義的連接詞that即完成了減化的動作，成為：
The patient's not having responded to the standard treatment greatly puzzled the medical team.
另外，也可以直接進行詞類變化，把動詞改寫為名詞後，成為：
The patient's failure to respond to the standard treatment greatly puzzled the medical team.
這種講法讀起來會比上一種講法更自然一點。
例二
1. The summer tourists are all gone.
（夏季的觀光客都走光了。）
2. The resort town has resumed its air of tranquillity.
（這個度假小鎮又回復了平靜。）
這兩句話之間沒有重複的元素，但有邏輯關係存在：在觀光客走了之後，或是因為觀光客都走了，小鎮才得以恢復寧靜。這時可以用副詞子句的方式，選擇恰當的連接詞（after, because, now that... 等）附在句1前面，再把句1與句2並列即可：
Now that the summer tourists are all gone, the resort town has resumed its air of tranquillity.
Now that引導的副詞子句若要進一步減化，關鍵在主詞、動詞兩個部分。主詞the summer tourists與主要子句並無重複，必須保留下來以免傷害句意。動詞部分有be動詞(are)，後面還有補語(gone)。這時若去掉be動詞，留下主詞與補語，就破壞了這個副詞子句的結構，可以省略連接詞now that，成為：
(With) the summer tourists all gone, the resort town has resumed its air of tranquillity.
如果最前面沒有加上with，而是以the summer tourists all gone直接代表一個減化的副詞子句，這種講法比較文謅謅，不夠口語化。
較口語化的作法是，用介系詞with來取代連接詞now that的意義，而把the tourists放在with後面作它的受詞，all gone仍然作補語，即成為上句中多一個with在前面的句型。
例三
1. Confucius must have written on pieces of bamboo.
（孔子當年一定是在竹簡上寫字。）
2. Confucius lived in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
（孔子是東周時代的人。）
3. Paper was not available until the Eastern Han Dynasty.
（紙到東漢時期才有。）
這三句話中，句1和句2有一個交集：Confucius。經由這個交集點建立關係，可用關係子句的方式連結，將句2的Confucius改寫為關係詞who，成為：
(1+2) Confucius, who lived in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, must have written on pieces of bamboo.
這個關係子句(who lived in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty)可以進行減化，省略重複的主詞who，再把普通動詞lived改寫為living，即成為減化形容詞子句：
Confucius, living in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, must have written on pieces of bamboo.
東周時代的孔子為什麼要用竹簡寫字？是因為句3：紙到東漢時期才有。句3的內容表示原因，所以用副詞子句的方式——外加連接詞because成為副詞子句，與主要子句並列，即得到：
(+3) Confucius, living in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, must have written on pieces of bamboo, because paper was not available until the Eastern Han Dynasty.
句中的副詞子句（because之後的部分）如要進一步減化，又要觀察主詞與動詞部分。主詞paper沒有重複，必須留下來。動詞雖然是be動詞，可是副詞子句的減化中，一旦留下主詞，就得有個分詞配合（傳統文法稱為分詞構句），所以使用be動詞來製造分詞being，並省略連接詞because，即成為減化的副詞子句：
Confucius, living in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, must have written on pieces of bamboo, paper not being available until the Eastern Han Dynasty.
例四
1. The movable-type press was invented by Gutenberg.
（古騰堡發明活版印刷。）
2. The movable-type press was introduced to England in 1485.
（活版印刷在一四八五年引進英國。）
3. This event marked the end of the Dark Ages there.
（這件事標示英國黑暗時期的結束。）
這個例子中的句1和句2也有一個交集：the movable-type press，可以將它改寫為關係詞which，以關係子句方式連接：
(1+2) The movable-type press, which was invented by Gutenberg, was introduced to England in 1485.
這個關係子句（which引導的部分）可以直接減化，省略主詞which和be動詞was，只保留補語invented這個部分，即成為減化的形容詞子句：
The movable-type press, invented by Gutenberg, was introduced to England in 1485.
句3中的主詞this event（這個事件）指的就是上面整句話的那個事件。這時候因為上面的句子比較長，可以先加個同位格an event，再用它和句3主詞the event的交集構成關係子句，成為：
(+3) The movable-type press, invented by Gutenberg, was introduced to England in 1485, an event which marked the end of the Dark Ages there.
要進一步減化這個句子，可以把重複部分an event刪除，再省略關係子句的主詞which，把動詞marked改成分詞marking：
The movable-type press, invented by Gutenberg, was introduced to England in 1485, marking the end of the Dark Ages there.
例五
1. Lee Tenghui was educated in the U.S.
（李登輝曾赴美念書。）
2. Lee Tenghui shows a global view at times.
（李登輝有時表現出有世界觀。）
3. Lee Tenghui deals with economic matters at these times.
（這時李登輝是處理經濟事務。）
句1和句2之間有因果關係：因為在美國讀過書，所以才培養出世界觀。那麼就在句1前面加上連接詞because成為副詞子句，與句2的主要子句並列，成為：
(1+2) Because he was educated in the U.S., Lee Tenghui shows a global view at times.
這個句子中，減化because引導的副詞子句，可以直接省略he was，再把連接詞because刪去，只保留補語educated部分，成為：
Educated in the U.S., Lee Tenghui shows a global view at times.
這個句子要與句3連結，可以觀察到句尾的at times就是句3結尾部分的at these times。以這個交集改寫為關係詞when，構成關係子句的型態：
(+3) Educated in the U.S., Lee Tenghui shows a global view (at times) when he deals with economic matters.
句中括弧部分的at times是副詞類，屬於次要元素，又與後面的when重複，可以先行省略。進一步的減化作法仍是一樣：把主詞he省略，動詞deals改成dealing。不過，由於原先的at times已經省略，所以與它重複的when不宜省略。把when留下來，即成為：
Educated in the U.S., Lee Tenghui shows a global view when dealing with economic matters.
例六
1. I'd like something.
（我希望一件事。）
2. You will meet some people.
（你去見見一些人。）
3. Then you can leave.
（然後你就可以走了。）
句1中的受詞something就是整個句2敘述的那件事，所以在句2前面加上一個連接詞that，成為名詞子句，然後放入句1中something的位置作為like的受詞：
(1+2) I'd like that you (will) meet some people.
附帶提一下，1+2合併時，that子句的語氣成為祈使句的語氣，所以助動詞will應省略成原形動詞，但減化時仍變成不定詞。以下的例子若看到助動詞上加個括弧都是同樣的原因。這裡的名詞子句要減化時，因主詞you與主要子句並無重複，所以要留下來，把它放在like後面的受詞位置。減化子句的作法是把助動詞減化為不定詞to V，因為語氣助動詞must, should, will(would), can(could), may(might) 等都可以改寫成be+to的形式。省略be動詞後就剩下to，所以上面這個子句中的will meet就改成to meet當補語用，成為：
I'd like you to meet some people.
再把句3加上去。句3是表示時間，可以用連接詞before把它改成副詞子句：
(+3) I'd like you to meet some people before you (can) leave.
這個副詞子句若進一步減化，得把before留下才能表達「在…之前」的意思。但before這個連接詞也可當介系詞用，一旦後面的子句減化了，它就成為介系詞，只能接名詞型態。因此把重複的主詞you省略後，原來的動詞leave要改成動名詞leaving的型態，成為：
I'd like you to meet some people before leaving.
例七
1. I have not practiced very much.
（我練習不多。）
2. I should have practiced very much.
（我應該多練習。）
3. I am worried about something.
（我擔心一件事。）
4. I might forget something.
（我可能忘記東西。）
5. What should I say during the speech contest?
（演講比賽中該說些什麼？）
句1和句2可以用比較級as...as的連接詞合成複句：
(1+2) I have not practiced as much as I should (have practiced).
因為「練習不夠」，才會造成句3「我很擔心」的結果。表示這種因果關係，可以使用because的副詞子句來連接：
(+3) Because I have not practiced as much as I should, I am worried about something.
Because引導的副詞子句，減化時可把重複的主詞I省略。動詞部分have not practiced因為沒有be動詞，也沒有語氣助動詞，就只能加上 -ing，成為not having practiced，再把連接詞Because刪去，成為：
Not having practiced as much as I should, I am worried about something.
這個句子中，「擔心的事情」something，就是句4的內容「我可能會忘記東西」。因為something是放在介系詞about的後面，要連成複句的話可以先改成about the possibility，再把句4加上連接詞that，形成名詞子句，作為possibility的同位格，成為：
(+4) Not having practiced as much as I should, I am worried (about the possibility) that I might forget something.
這個句子中的介系詞片語about the possibility意思和下文的that子句重複，可以省略。但是如果要減化其後的that子句，就得把介系詞about留下來，減化的結果才有地方安置。that子句的減化，省去重複的主詞I之後，動詞might forget的減化一般是改成不定詞to forget。可是現在要放在介系詞about後面，不能用不定詞的型態，只能改成forgetting：
Not having practiced as much as I should, I am worried about forgetting something.
現在，這個句子中「擔心會忘記的」那件something，就是句5的問題：「演講比賽該說什麼？」只要將這個疑問句改成非疑問句，就是一個名詞子句，可直接取代上句中的something，作為forget的受詞：
(+5) Not having practiced as much as I should, I am worried about forgetting what I should say during the speech contest.
最後一步是減化what引導的名詞子句。做法一樣：省略主詞I，動詞should say改為不定詞to say：
Not having practiced as much as I should, I am worried about forgetting what to say during the speech contest.
例八
1. James Sung was Secretary General of the KMT then.
（宋楚瑜當時是國民黨祕書長。）
2. James Sung is Governor of Taiwan Province now.
（宋楚瑜現在是台灣省長。）
3. James Sung saw something.
（宋楚瑜當時見到一件事。）
4. The KMT failed in the important Legislative Yuan election.
（國民黨在重要的立委選舉中失利。）
5. James Sung offered something.
（宋楚瑜提議做一件事。）
6. He would assume responsibility.
（宋楚瑜願意負責。）
7. He would tender his resignation.
（宋楚瑜將提出辭呈。）
這裡一共有七個句子，要合併在一起，而且其中六個都得減化，只許留下一個完整的子句。這可能是個不小的挑戰，請讀者仔細觀察如何逐步完成整個動作。
首先，句1和句2分別敘述宋楚瑜當時與現在的職位。這兩句在內容與句型上對仗工整，適合以對等子句方式表現，故加上對等連接詞and來連接：
(1+2) James Sung was Secretary General of the KMT then and he is Governor of Taiwan Province now.
對等子句的減化方法是：兩子句間相對應位置如有重複，則省略一個。因此把and右邊那個子句重複的he is去掉，成為：
(A) James Sung was Secretary General of the KMT then and Governor of Taiwan Province now.
這個描述宋楚瑜職位的句子，我們稱作句A，先放著備用。
下一步來組合3和4兩句。句3中「宋楚瑜見到」的something就是整個句4的內容：「國民黨選舉失利」。所以把句4冠上連接詞that成為名詞子句，置於句3中取代something ，做為saw的受詞：
(3+4) James Sung saw that the KMT failed in the important Legislative Yuan election.
that引導的這個名詞子句可以如此減化：主詞KMT改為所有格留下，動詞failed直接改為名詞的failure，成為：
(B) James Sung saw the KMT's failure in the important Legislative Yuan election.
「宋楚瑜眼見國民黨失利。」這句話我們稱作句B，也先放著暫時不用。
接下來組合5和6兩句。句5「宋楚瑜提出」的something，就是句6的「他要負起責任」。所以如法炮製把句6改成名詞子句置入句5來取代something，成為：
(5+6) James Sung offered that he (would) assume responsibility.
這個句子可再將助動詞減化為不定詞to V的減化子句he be to assume，而be動詞可再省略成為：
James Sung offered to assume responsibility.
現在就用這個句子來把前面整理的結果堆砌上去。先把句A拿出來。句A內容是描述宋楚瑜的職位，有補充形容宋楚瑜身分的功能，所以拿它來做關係子句，將James Sung改為關係詞who，附於上句的主詞James Sung之後，成為：
(+A) James Sung, who was Secretary General of the KMT then and Governor of Taiwan Province now, offered to assume responsibility.
句中這個who引導的關係子句可以減化，省略主詞who和be動詞was，留下名詞類補語（一般所謂的同位格），成為：
James Sung, Secretary General of the KMT then and Governor of Taiwan Province now, offered to assume responsibility.
「當時的祕書長，現今的省長宋楚瑜，表示要負責。」為什麼？因為句B：「他目睹國民黨選舉失利。」現在把句B拿出來用，它和上句的關係是因果關係，所以加上連接詞because，做成副詞子句與上句並列：
(+B) Because he saw the KMT's failure in the important Legislative Yuan election, James Sung, Secretary General of the KMT then and Governor of Taiwan Province now, offered to assume responsibility.
句子愈來愈長了，現在來減化一下。上句中because引導的副詞子句，主詞he和主要子句的James Sung重複，可以省略。動詞saw因無be動詞與助動詞，可直接改成seeing，再把多餘的because去掉，成為：
Seeing the KMT's failure in the important Legislative Yuan election, James Sung, Secretary General of the KMT then and Governor of Taiwan Province now, offered to assume responsibility.
別忘了，一直未動用到句7：「宋楚瑜打算提出辭呈。」從內容來看，它是說明上句中「負責」(assume responsibility)的方式。也就是句7應拿來修飾上句中的原形動詞assume一字。「以…方式」的最佳表達是用by的介系詞片語，所以把句 7 (He would tender his resignation.) 直接放入by的後面，不過，by是介系詞，後面只能接受名詞片語，所以要將句7減化為名詞片語的型態。省略主詞he，動詞would tender因為要放在介系詞後面，只能改成動名詞tendering，成為：
(+7) Seeing the KMT's failure in the important Legislative Yuan election, James Sung, Secretary General of the KMT then and Governor of Taiwan Province now, offered to assume responsibility by tendering his resignation.
（眼見國民黨在重大的立委選舉中失利，當時的國民黨祕書長，也就是現在的台灣省長宋楚瑜，表示要提出辭呈以示負責。）
終於大功告成。讀者經過這一番演練，當可了解上面這個句子實際上隱含多達七句話。然而經過減化的過程，刪掉了一切多餘的元素，最後的結果並不顯得太長或太複雜，這就是減化子句的功效。
如開場白中所述，減化子句是高難度句型，頗富挑戰性。讀者若看到這裡都能大致了解，那麼句型觀念可說已相當完整，欠缺的只是大量的閱讀功夫，那要靠日積月累的培養。有清晰的句型觀念，再加上大量的閱讀，日後自然能寫出一手好文章。
下面再附上一篇練習，請讀者先自行嘗試組合、減化其中的句子，再比對附在後面的參考──只是參考，因為減化子句沒有一定的做法，也沒有標準答案。在告別句型之前，還有一個問題要處理：倒裝句。下一章我們就來研究這個也很重要的問題。
Test 21
將下列各題中的句子寫在一起成為複句或合句，然後再減化到最精簡的地步：
1.
Lee Tenghui was educated in the US. (because)
Lee Tenghui has a worldview.
Lee Tenghui deals with economic matters. (while)
2.
I'd like something.
You will meet some people. (that)
3.
I'm not sure.
What should I do?
4.
He worked late into the night.
He was trying to finish the report. (because)
5.
The soldier was wounded in the war. (after)
He was sent home.
6.
He used to smoke a lot.
He got married. (before)
7.
I am afraid.
The DPP might win a majority. (that)
8.
I have nothing better to do. (when)
I enjoy something.
I play poker. (that)
9.
Mike won the contest. (when)
Mike was awarded ten thousand dollars.
10.
The motorcyclist was pulled over by the police car.
The motorcyclist did not wear a safety helmet. (who)
11.
The mayor declined.
The mayor was a very busy person. (who)
The mayor was asked to give a speech at the opening ceremony. (when)
12.
Tax rates are already very high. (although)
Tax rates might be raised further to rein in inflation.
13.
The resort town is crowded.
There has been an influx of tourists for the holiday season. (because)
14.
The student had failed in two tests. (though)
The student was able to pass the course.
15.
The president avoided the issue. (that)
This was obvious to the audience.
16.
Anyone could tell he was upset.
He had the look on his face. (because)
17.
Michael Crichton is in town.
He is author of Jurassic Park. (who)
He could promote his new novel. (so that)
18.
I am a conservative. (although)
I'd like to see something.
The conservative party is chastised in the next election. (that)
19.
The man found a fly in his soup. (when)
The man called to the waiter.
20.
It is a warm day. (because)
We will go to the beach.
Answer 21
（參考答案）
1.
Because he was educated in the US, Lee Tenghui has a world view while he deals with economic matters.
減化為
Educated in the US, Lee Tenghui has a world view while dealing with economic matters.
2.
I'd like that you will meet some people.
減化為
I'd like you to meet some people.
3.
I'm not sure what I should do.
減化為
I'm not sure what to do.
4.
He worked late into the night because he was trying to finish the report.
減化為
He worked late into the night trying to finish the report.
5.
After the soldier was wounded in the war, he was sent home.
減化為
(After being) wounded in the war, the soldier was sent home.
6.
He used to smoke a lot before he got married.
減化為
He used to smoke a lot before getting married.
7.
I am afraid that the DPP might win a majority.
減化為
I am afraid of the DPP's winning a majority.
8.
When I have nothing better to do, I enjoy that I play poker.
減化為
When I have nothing better to do, I enjoy playing poker.
9.
When Mike won the contest, he was awarded ten thousand dollars.
減化為
(Upon) winning the contest, Mike was awarded ten thousand dollars.
10.
The motorcyclist who did not wear a safety helmet was pulled over by the police car.
減化為
The motorcyclist not wearing a safety helmet was pulled over by the police car.
11.
The mayor, who was a very busy person, declined when he was asked to give a speech at the opening ceremony.
減化為
The mayor, a very busy person, declined when asked to give a speech at the opening ceremony.
12.
Although tax rates are already very high, they might be raised further to rein in inflation.
減化為
Although already very high, tax rates might be raised further to rein in inflation.
13.
The resort town is crowded because there has been an influx of tourists for the holiday season.
減化為
The resort town is crowded with an influx of tourists for the holiday season.
14.
Though the student had failed in two tests, he was able to pass the course.
減化為
Though having failed in two tests, the student was able to pass the course.
15.
That the president avoided the issue was obvious to the audience.
或It was obvious to the audience that the president avoided the issue.
減化為
The president's avoiding the issue was obvious to the audience.
或The president's avoidance of the issue was obvious to the audience.
16.
Anyone could tell he was upset because he had the look on his face.
減化為
Anyone could tell he was upset, with the look on his face.
17.
Michael Crichton, who is author of Jurassic Park, is in town so that he could promote his new novel.
減化為
Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park, is in town to promote his new novel.
18.
Although I am a conservative, I'd like to see that the conservative party is chastised in the next election.
減化為
Although (being) a conservative, I'd like to see the conservative party chastised in the next election.
19.
When the man found a fly in his soup, he called to the waiter.
減化為
Finding a fly in his soup, the man called to the waiter.
20.
Because it is a warm day, we will go to the beach.
減化為
It being a warm day, we will go to the beach.
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