懸垂結構, 英文名稱為 dangling structure, 或 hanging structure, 或 unattached structure, 指的都是一個詞或者一個短語, 它本應在句中作修飾語, 但卻與其所修飾的成分之間邏輯關系不清楚. 主語邏輯不清是常見的問題. 例如:
1. Walking down the road, the big trees on both sides provided shade for us.
原句意思為: 我們在路上行走時, 兩旁大樹為我們遮住了陽光.
但是, 分詞短語應與主句分享同一主語, 所以分詞短語的主語就自動變成了 the big trees. 當然, 樹是無法行走的. 所以, 此句可改作:
Walking down the road, we were shaded by the big trees on both sides.
或
When we were walking down the road, the big trees provided shade for us.
再看一句例句:
2. Swimming at the lake, a rock cut John's foot.
同樣地, 分詞短語的主語邏輯上應是 a rock, 但石頭是不會游水的, 所以應改一改句子:
Swimming at the lake, John's foot was cut by a rock.
這句看上去似乎改善了, 但細心看其實一樣搞笑. 因為游水的並不是 John, 而是他的腳. 所以, 又要再改:
Swimming at the lake, John was cut by a rock on his foot.
這樣的說法頗為累贅, 不如寫成兩個 clauses 吧:
While John was swimming at the lake, a rock cut his foot.
再看多一句例句吧:
3. Lost in the mail (郵寄), she never received the letter.
被丟去了的, 應是信件, 而不是她. 所以句子可以寫成:
Lost in the mail, the letter was never received by her.
這樣說法同樣是 style 頗怪. 不如寫成:
Because the letter was lost in the mail, she never received it.
或
The letter was lost in the mail, so she never received it.
在這裡, 我想作一點後話及總結. 懸垂結構一向都被認為是病句, 但由於現在很多人 (包括很多外國人) 都以此結構寫句子, 所以慢慢為人接受. 不過, 以標準英語來看的話, 這樣的句子是不合格的, 亦被大部分教師當作病句. 因此同學們請不要以懸垂結構作句.
再者, 在我閱讀高中英語文章及大學文章時, 發現中高階英語學習者非常濫用分詞短語. 其實, 要寫得好文章, 靠的是通暢及有內容的文字, 用什麼形式的句子或固定語句應該很其次的考量. 所以, 用兩個子句寫得通順的句子, 不妨用兩個子句來寫, 不要捨易取難, 把句子都寫成:
Learning to do many things, children are usually not taught by their parents. By learning to walk, run, climb, they understand the world. Comparing their performance with adults, they make changes.
否則, 評卷員看完這類句子, 一定O嘴.
