一、概说
英语主要有三种构词法:
1)转化(Conversion):由一个词类转化为另一词类:water(名)水-- water(动)浇水
2)派生(Derivation):通过加前缀或后缀构成另一个词:happy--unhappy(加前缀)
3)合成(Compounding):由两个或更多的词合成一个词:wood(木)+cut(刻)--woodcut(木刻)
除此之外还有一些次要的构词法。
二、转化
有大量动词可以转化为名词,有时意思没有太大变化:
Let me have a try. 我来试一试。
We stopped there for a swim. 我们在那儿停下来游了一会儿泳。
This is for winter wear. Don’t make it to tight. 这是冬天穿的,别做的太紧。
I like a quiet read after supper. 晚饭后我喜欢静静地看一会儿书。
这类名词常可和一动词构成短语,表示一个动作,如:
have a look (chat, talk, wash, swim, rest, try, quarrel, smoke, lie, read, dream, run, fight, walk, ride, drink, laugh, dance, bathe, wish, win, fear, love, shave, debate, dipute, interview, taste, etc.)
make a study (guess, visit, call, survey, jump, slip, change, search, stay, start, answer, reply, remark, fight, arrest, appeal, purchase, sacrifice, demand, show, deal, an attempt, an attack, an advance, etc.)
有时意思有一定的变化:
He was about the same build as his brother. 他的体形和他哥哥差不多。
Last year’s catch was four times that of 1986. 去年的捕鱼量为1986年的四倍。
This was a decisive move. 这是一个决定性的步骤。
They can be used as stock feed. 它们可以用作牲口饲料。
Women have an equal say in everything. 妇女在各方面都有同等的发言权。
He won two games; the other two were draws. 他赢了两局,另外两局打平了。
构词法-转化(2)
也有相当多名词可以用作动词。许多表示物件的名词可以用作动词来表示动作:
Have you booked your ticket? 你的票订好了吗?
Who chaired the meeting? 谁主持会议?
He pinned great hopes on us. 他对我们寄托了很大希望。
It can seat a thousand people. 它能坐一千人。
We have mapped out plans for their utilization. 我们制定了使用它们的计划。
It pictures the life of overseas Chinese students. 它描绘海外中国留学生的生活。
He hurriedly pencilled the time on it. 他匆忙(用铅笔)在上面写下了时间。
By noon he had bagged three hares. 到中午时他已捕获了三只野兔。
The machine bottles 15000 jars of cold cream a day. 这台机器一天能装一万五千瓶冷霜。
The money was all pocked by corrupt officials. 这钱都进了腐败官吏的腰包。
He hammered a nail into the wall. 他在墙上钉了一只钉子。