(1)不带或带有-ly的两种副词形式,用法完全不同的情况:
Only by aiming high,can you be highly successful."只有怀抱远大目标,你才能取得高度成就。"直译似乎不大通顺--"只有把目标定得很高,你才能是高度成功的。"该英语句中,high(高)是方式副词,修饰表示运动的动名词aiming。highly(高度)是度量副词,修饰表示属性的形容successful。
They work us too hard in this office.It's hardly the place for you to consider."这家办事处用我们用得太苦了。这里不应是你们考虑的地方。"句中hard是方式副词;hardly是否定语气副词。
easy兼任形容词与副词。作为副词的easy与副词easily通常不能互换使用,被一般词典看作不同的两个词条:
We found the house quite easily.(不说* We found the house easy/quite easy.)我们很容易就找到了那所房子。
More easily said than done./Easier said than done.(这种通用的情况极少)说来容易做来难。
Easy come,easy go.(谚)(财物)来得快,去得急。[为了构成"头韵",把不带-ly的easy置于动词前面。]
(2)不带或带有-ly的二副词形式,在某些条件下通用:
Fast bind,fast find.也可以说Sure(ly)/ Safe(ly)bind,sure(ly)/safe(ly)find."放时系牢靠,取时跑不了。"该英语句中,形容词兼副词的fast不表示"快",而是表该词较早的意义"稳固"即fixed(ly),如在fast asleep"沉睡"一语中。也正因为有此原义,fast表示"快"时只用于持续运动(用于非持续运动、很快完成某事,用形容词副词同形的quick或副词 quickly):
Walk faster/quicker.快点儿走。[不说* Come back fast.要说Come back quick/quickly.The women went quickly back.正式说法用quickly,位置较灵活;通俗说法用不带-ly的quick,一般置动词短语之后。]
(3)即使带-ly也用作形容词的情况:
这样看来,副词并不一定带有后缀-ly。反过来说,即使是形容词加-ly,也不一定就成为副词,如likely主要用作形容词:
He is likely to call again this evening.(通常不说*He will be likely to call ...)他很可能今晚再度来访。(相当于It's likely/probable that he'll call again this evening.)
likely通常仅在加上quite/very/most/ more/extremely之类修饰语时,才用作副词,相当probably:
He will most likely call again this evening.或Most likely he'll call again ...极大可能,他今晚将再度来访。
More than likely it will rain.非常可能,天要下雨。
(4)非-ly形式、兼任形容词和副词等词类的情况:
well兼任形容词(与good异义)、方式副词和语气副词。语气副词表示的是语气特征,即传达说话人对所述客观情况的主观态度:
Now they all felt well after their illness.这时他们全都病愈,自觉身体很好了。[felt是系动词,well是形容词作表语,"健康的";比较felt good after the party,参加了这一聚会,觉得很开心]
All is well that ends well.(谚语;前一well是形容词作表语;后一well是副词作状语)结局(结得)好,就算全都好。
Well,perhaps you're right.得了,也许你对吧!(well是语气副词,修饰全句,比yes,all right,OK多一层不肯定语气;比较前述 hardly是否定语气副词,修饰谓语或全句。)
Well,you do surprise me!(该well转作了感叹词)啊呀,你真吓了我一大跳!
河北理工大学/徐树娟刘国善