一個(gè)名詞或名詞短語(yǔ)往往可以表示一個(gè)句子的意思。在英語(yǔ)中，句子包括從句一定

要有主、謂、賓，其中主要成分一般不能省略。而用了名詞結(jié)構(gòu)，它的一些成分

就可以省掉，使行文更緊湊。R.Quirk 在《英語(yǔ)句法大全》中舉了一個(gè)例子：

a）Lanzarotti was disappointed by the fact the reviewers criticized his play in a hostile

manner.

b）Lanzarotti was disappointed by the reviewers’ hostile criticism of his play.

c）Lanzarotti was disappointed by the reviewers’ hostile criticism.

這個(gè)例子說(shuō)明名詞詞組是一種簡(jiǎn)練的語(yǔ)言形式，運(yùn)用名詞結(jié)構(gòu)，可以省掉前文說(shuō)

到的“his play”, 而句子結(jié)構(gòu)不能省，結(jié)果名詞短語(yǔ)起到了句子的作用。

2. 他每天花三小時(shí)看體育節(jié)目。他把心思都放在體育上，這對(duì)他的學(xué)習(xí)是有妨礙的。

a）He spent nearly 3 hours on watching sports events. The fact that he was

completely absorbed in sport interfered with his studies.

b）He spent nearly 3 hours on watching sports events. His complete absorption

interfered with his studies.

在上句已說(shuō)到 sport 的情況下，要在這句中避免重復(fù) sport, a）句的句法是不允許的。

而 b）句可以，這樣為句子壓縮為詞組創(chuàng)造了條件。

3. 我的觀點(diǎn)是，一代人經(jīng)常去抱怨他們下一代人，這是不可避免的。

a）My point is that one generation frequently complains about the one that

immediately follows it, which is inevitable.

b）My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one

immediately following it is inevitable.

4. 孩子們看到這個(gè)菜就眉開眼笑，可知他們是難得吃這種菜的。

a）The children are delighted when they saw the dish. It showed that it was a rarity.

b）The delight of the children at the sight of the dish showed that it was a rarity.

5. 違反這些規(guī)則，將會(huì)被吊銷執(zhí)照。

Disregard for these rules will result in revoking of the licenses.

6. 我從未忘記第一次在我的花園里看到一只蜂鳥時(shí)的那種心跳的感覺——一只披

著炫目的羽、小得令人難以置信的生靈正勇敢地在花叢中飛來(lái)飛去。

The thrill of seeing my first hummingbird in my garden has never left me—the sight

of seeing this unbelievably tiny creature with dazzling plumage flitting boldly from

flower to flower.