英語中有一種問句叫修辭性問句(Rhetorical questions),傳統語法書極少介紹,非英語專業的英語教程也極少涉及,以致英語學習者在閱讀理解中遇見此類問句時常會感到疑惑,甚至誤解原文的意思。為了便捷網友學英語,我將夸克《英語語法大全》中有關修辭性問句部分整理如下,供網友參考。
修辭性問句在結構上是問句的形式,但實為一種強烈的陳述。這種問句一般并不期待回答。修辭性問句可以是一般疑問句的形式,也可以是特殊疑問句的形式。可以是一定的問句形式,也可以是相反的問句形式。
一定形式的修辭性一般疑問句表示一種強烈的否定意義;而否定形式的問句表示強烈的一定意義。比如:
1 一定形式的修辭性一般問句:
Is that a reason for despair? [Surely that is not a reason. . .]
難道那就是絕望的原因嗎?(那一定不是絕望的原因。)
Can anyone doubt the wisdom of this action? [Surely no one can doubt. . .]
其他人能懷疑這個行動的明智之處嗎?(一定無人可以懷疑這個行動的明智之處。)
2 否定形式的修辭性一般問句:
Isnt the answer obvious? [Surely the answer is obvious.]
答案難道不是顯而易見的嗎?(答案當然是顯而易見的。)
Havent you got anything better to do? [Surely you have something better to do.]
難道你沒其它更好的事情可做嗎?(你一定有更好的事情可做。)
3 一定形式的修辭性特殊問句等于用否定詞項替換疑問詞后的陳述句。比如:
Who knows/cares? [Nobody knows/cares or I dont know/care.]
哪個了解/在乎呢?(沒人了解/在乎。我不了解/我才不在乎呢。)
What difference does it make? [It makes no difference.]
這能有哪些差別呢?(這根本沒任何差別。)
How should I know? [There is no reason why I should know.]
我如何能了解?(我不可能了解。)
What should Isay? [There is nothing that I should say.]
我能怎么說呢?(我無話可說。)
What makes you think you can do better? [Nothing should make
you think you can do better.]
你憑什么覺得你能做得更好?(你根本沒理由覺得你能做得更好。)
How can I help it? [There is no reason why I can help it.]
我能有哪些方法?(我沒任何方法。)
非一定詞可用于這種問句:
What has he ever done for you? 他什么都沒為你做過。
Who has any money to spare these days?這類日子哪個還會有閑錢?(沒人有)
4 否定形式的修辭性特殊疑問句相對少見一些。這個時候等于用一定詞項替換疑問詞后的陳述句。
Who doesn’t know? [Everybody knows.]
哪個會不了解呢?(每人都了解。)
How couldn’t you remember? [You certainly should have remembered.]
你如何能不記得呢?(你一定應該還記得。)
為了加深印象,請網友將下列修辭性問句翻譯成漢語的陳述句(當然用漢語的反問句翻譯也是可以的)。
1 Do you believe him?
2 Isnt it obvious?
3 Dont you remenber me?
4 Who doesnt want to earn more money?
5 When have you heard me say that?
6 Why did you lend him momey?
7 How could you belive him?
8 What could I do in that situation?
9 Who knows where he is?
10 Who hasnt made mistakes?
This is a very good TOPic. Very often we pay enough attention to grammar and pronunciation, while far less to rhetoric and vocabulary.