垂懸現在分詞的概念與改正方法

一、基本規則

按照英語語法的相關規則，現在分詞或現在分詞短語在句子中用作狀語時，其邏輯主語必須與句子主語保持一致。如：

Knowing all this, they made me pay for the damage. 他們盡管了解這一切，還是要我賠償損失。

Climbing to the top of the tower, we saw a magnificent view. 我們爬到塔頂后，看到了一片壯麗的景象。

Not knowing their language, he found it hard to get work. 由于不懂他們的語言，他發現找工作很困難。

Having failed my French exams, I decided to concentrate on science subjects. 我因法語考試不及格而決心專攻理科。

二、垂懸現在分詞的錯誤實例

假若一個現在分詞或現在分詞短語在句子中用作狀語時，它的邏輯主語與句子主語不一致，那么這個現在分詞就叫垂懸的現在分詞（或叫無依著的現在分詞）。垂懸的現在分詞通常被認為是不合語法的，是錯誤的。如：

誤：Tying one end of the rope to his bed, the other end was thrown out of the window.

正：Tying one end of the rope to his bed, he threw the other end out of the window. 他把繩子的一頭系在床上，另一頭扔出窗外。

三、糾正垂懸分詞錯誤的兩種常用方法

要解決垂懸分詞的錯誤，即解決分詞的邏輯主語與句子主語不一致的問題，通常有兩種方法：一是改變句子結構，使句子主語與分詞一致；二是在分詞前面添加分詞自己的主語，構成分詞的獨立主格結構。如：

誤：Guiding her, they stumbled through the street.

正：He guiding her, they stumbled through the street. 他引著她，兩個人蹣跚地穿過那條街。

誤：Being equal, I would buy the black dress not the white one.

正：Other things being equal, I would buy the black dress not the white one. 其他方面若都相同，我將買那件黑的衣服，不買那件白的。

誤：She sat behind the table, resting in her hands.

正：She sat behind the table, her chin resting in her hands. 她坐在桌子后面，雙手托著下巴。

誤：A complex engine has many separate components, each performing a different function.

正：A complex engine has many separate components, each performing a different function. 一個復雜發動機有很多獨立零部件，每個零部件具有不同作用。