英语中的省略有两种:一是替代省略,即用其他词代替句子中重复或相同的部分;二是结构省略。即根据语境需要,承前或后省略句子中相同的某些句子成分。这类题型在历届高考试题中屡见不鲜。

　　一、替代省略

　　1.用it, one, that替代句子中重复出现的名词、代词或句子。

　　one是指代同名称的另一样东西(同类异物),代替前面句子中重复出现的可数名词;that替代特指可数或不可数名词,后面常跟有in或of短语作后置定语;it指代同名称的同样事物(同类同物)。

　　[考例]

　　1) Meeting my uncle after all these years was an unforgettable moment, ______ I always treasure.

　　A. that B. one C. it D. what (NMET2002)

　　析:正确答案是B.one代替泛指的an unforgettable moment,在句中作同位语,起补充说明的作用.I will always treasure是定语从句修饰one.

　　2) -Why don't you take a break?

　　-Didn't we just have _____?

　　A. it B. that C. one D. this (NMET2000)

　　析:由题干分析,代词指代的是前面的a break,为单数泛指概念,故答案为C.one代替泛指的单数名词,相当于"a / an+单数名词".若替代前面提到的泛指复数名词要用ones,替代特指复数名词则用those或the ones.

　　3) Equipped with modern facilities,today's libraries differ greatly from ________.

　　A. those of the past

　　B. the past

　　C. which of the past

　　D. these past (2003春上海卷)

　　析:答案是A.those代替the libraries.

　　2.在两个分句中,当两者(人或物)情况或意思完全相同,第二个分句用so, neither, nor, either等引出时,出现省略现象,其中neither, nor, so还可引起倒装结构,表示"也不……"、"也……"。

　　[考例]

　　4)-David has made great progress recently.

　　- ______ and ______ .

　　A. So he has; so you have

　　B. So he has; so have you

　　C. So has he; so have you

　　D. So has he; so you have (1997上海卷)

　　析:正确答案是B项.So置于句首,构成"So+主语+助动词(情态动词)"结构,表示同意对方的话;So置于句首,构成"So+助动词(情态动词)+主语"的倒装结构,表示"……亦如此"。

　　3.有时可用so代替名词性从句,以避免重复前面所说的内容,可以用于这类结构的动词有think, believe, suppose, expect, imagine, guess, hope等.肯定回答结构为"主语+动词+so",否定回答结构为"主语+助动词否定形式+动词+so"或"主语+动词+not"。但动词为hope, guess时,否定回答只能说hope (guess) not,不能说don't hope (guess) so。

　　[考例]

　　5)-The boys are not doing a good job at all,are they?

　　-___________.

　　A. I guess not so

　　B. I don't guess

　　C. I don't guess so

　　D. I guess not(2003春北京卷)

　　析:正确答案是D.I guess not相当于I guess they aren't doing a good job at all。

　　二、结构省略

　　1.动词不定式的省略.

　　动词不定式作宾语或宾语补足语时,可采用省略结构,但符号to要保留,表示省略了动词不定式及其以后的成分.

　　[考例]

　　6) The boy wanted to ride his bicycle in the street, but his mother told him ______ .

　　A. not to B. not to do C. not do it D. do not to (NMET1995)

　　析:正确答案是A.to后省略了ride his bicycle in the street.

　　7) -I'll be away on a business trip. Would you mind looking after my cat?

　　-Not at all. ______ .

　　A. I've no time

　　B. I'd rather not

　　C. I'd like it

　　D. I'll be happy to (NMET1995)

　　析:正确答案是D.to后省略了look after your cat。

　　但当不定式是由be或have构成时,to后必须保留be或have。例如:

　　①-Are you fond of classic music?

　　-No, but I used to be.

　　②-Have you told Ann about her failure in the test?

　　-Yes, but I oughtn't to have.

　　2.状语从句的省略.

　　[考例]

　　8) The research is so designed that once ______ nothing can be done to change it.

　　A.begins B. having begun C.beginning D.begun (NMET2002)

　　析:正确答案是D.连词once后省略了it (the research) is.

　　9) Though ______ money, his parents managed to send him to university.

　　A. lacked B. lacking of C. lacking D. lacked in (2003春上海卷)

　　析:正确答案是C.连词though引导的状语从句完整结构应该是though they (his parents) lacked money。

　　注意:1)在时间、地点、条件、方式、让步或比较状语从句中,如果谓语动词中含有be,主语又与主句的主语一致或主语是it时,则从句的主语和谓语的部分可省略。如:

　　Please speak English if (it is) possible and use Chinese when (it is ) necessary.

　　Unless (you are) invited, you should remain silent at the meeting.

　　2)状语从句中省略主语时,后面用现在分词表示该动作与被省略的主语为主动关系,用过去分词则表示该动作与被省略的主语为被动关系.例如:

　　While (they were) building the tunnel, the workers discovered an underground lake.

　　According to the directions, when (it is) taken, the drug has no side effect.

　　3.疑问句及其省略回答.

　　1)特殊疑问句的省略回答

　　[考例]

　　10)-Susan, go and join your sister cleaning the yard.

　　-Why ______ ? John is sitting there doing nothing. (NMET2003)

　　A. him B. he C. I D. me

　　析:在日常用语中,当人称代词用在不带谓语的句子中作主语时,习惯上用宾格,答案是D.完整回答应该是Why do I have to go and join her cleaning the yard?

　　11)-What do you think made Mary so upset?

　　- ______ her new bicycle.

　　A .As she lost B. Lost C. Losing D. Because of losing (1997上海卷)

　　析:答案是C.完整回答应该是Losing her new bicycle made her so upset.

　　要解决这类特殊疑问句的省略回答问题,关键在于弄清"特殊疑问词"表达的意义,然后据此作出合理的分析和推断.

　　2)考查含情态动词的一般疑问句的回答

　　[考例]

　　12)-Could I call you by your first name? -Yes, you _______.

　　A. will B. could C. may D. might (1998上海卷)

　　析:答案是C.

　　此类题目考查了答语的省略,即保留相应的情态动词,省略了其后与前面出现的相同的部分.

　　(文/张彦军；英语通高二版2004年第3期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)