搞定省略难题的经典方法

四、语法分析法

英语中有些省略是由特定的语法现象造成的，同学们在做题时首先要确定句子的省略涉及什么语法结构或语法现象等，然后再根据相应的语法知识来分析作答。如：

1. “Who has eaten all the cake, Jim?” “Oh, _________ must your two pet dogs.”

  A. it                 B. they             C. that             D. which

分析：许多同学可能认为此题应选B，因为其后的your two pet dogs为复数。但实际上，此题的最佳答案就是A，不仅涉及强调句型这一考点，而且是其省略形式，此句若补充完整，即为：It must be your pet dogs that have eaten all the cake.

2. If you are planning to spend your money having fun this week, better _________ it—you’ve got some big bills coming.

A. forget                  B. forgot        C. forgetting     D. to forget

分析：此题最佳答案为A。考查had better后接动词原形的用法。但是考题中将you had better这一结构省略成better，致使许多同学一时看不出来。又如：

Better go with him. 最好同他一起去。

Better have the operation right now. 你最好还是现在就动手术。

3. “Would you like to come for a walk with me?” “I’d prefer _________, thank you.”

A. not to               B. to not             C. not                D. can’t

分析：答案选A，I’d prefer not to 为 I’d prefer not to come for a walk 之省略。注意，在该省略结构中，用以代表不定式的 to 不宜省去。请看类例：

(1) “Shall I give the dog a chocolate?” “It’s better _________.”

A. not to               B. to not             C. don’t             D. can’t

答案选A，为It’s better not to give the dog a chocolate 之省略。注意，不定式的否定式要将not 置于不定式符号to 之前，而不是之后。

(2) I would mend your radio, but I don’t know _________.

A. how                 B. to                   C. how to           D. to how

答案选C，为 but I don’t know how to mend it 之省略。