有时一个长句或难句是由一个或多个搭配构成,而且这些搭配中常常出现分隔现象。读者若受分隔现象的干扰而看不清句子的本来面目,则对句意的理解就会发生偏差。如:
Some companies have made the manufacturing of clean and safe products, to some degree, their main selling points and emphasize it in their advertising.
【句意】一些公司把生产的卫生的、安全的产品,从某种程度上说,当作他们的卖点,并在广告中强调这一点。
【分析】其实本句是一个“主语+谓语+宾语+宾语补足语”句型“make+ 宾语 + 宾补”,即“使……成为……”,只不过宾语和宾补被“to some degree”隔开而已。
总之,在碰到长句和难句时,要根据实际情况灵活运用上述方法,在平时阅读过程中要加强对长句和难句的句法分析训练。有时要几种方法综合使用才能正确理解句意。如:
The fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as do members of another does not mean that they do not experience emotions.
【句意】一种文化背景下的人不像另一种文化背景下的人一样直率地表达他们的情感,这一事实并不意味着他们没有这些情感。
【分析】本句的主干为The fact does not mean that ...,其中,that they do not experience emotions 是从句作mean 的宾语。that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as do members of another 为fact 的同位语从句,其中as do members of another 是状语从句,助动词do 位于主语members of another 前形成倒装,主语后省略了express their emotions。