標題就是文章的名字。不管是人名、地名、書名、電影名、動物名、植物名還是其他事物的名稱都是名詞,所以文章的標題也應該以名詞或名詞性的詞組或結構為主——這是對標題的基本認識,也是對標題的基本語法要求。重慶翻譯公司明確這一點很重要,否則就無法理解下面的標題語法規(guī)則。
1. 名詞做標題
⑴ 名詞做標題時,要注意是可數(shù)名詞還是不可數(shù)名詞。
不可數(shù)名詞做標題時,前面可加定冠詞,但一般可省略。如:The water 或Water
可數(shù)名詞單數(shù)做標題時,前面一般須加定冠詞the 或不定冠詞a,如不加冠詞,則須用復數(shù)形式。這是較審慎的用法,要求我們的報紙采用。如:
The panda,Pandas(用于介紹熊貓這一類動物的文章)
A panda(用于關于一只熊貓的故事的文章)
A NEW ENGLISH-CHINESE DICTIONARY(《新英漢詞典》)
THE ENGLISH-CHINESE DICTIONARY(《英漢大詞典》)
A PRACTICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR(《實用英語語法》)
有時(特別是國外的出版物)冠詞也有省略的情況。如:
OXFORD ADVANCED LEARNER’S ENGLISH-CHINESEDICTIONARY (《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典》)LONGMAN DICTIONARY OFCONTEMPORARY ENGLISH
⑵ 具體名詞的抽象化
當用做標題的具體名詞不是指某一具體事物而是指一個抽象概念時,這個具體名詞就被抽象化了。抽象化的具體名詞做標題時前面不加冠詞。如:
Computer(用于內容為關于計算機這一現(xiàn)代辦公機器而不是指具體的某一臺電腦的文章)
Television (用于內容為關于電視這一現(xiàn)代傳媒而不是指具體的某一臺電視機的文章)
Bicycle(用于內容為關于自行車這一交通工具而不是指具體的某一輛自行車的文章)
當然,把這些詞仍然看作具體名詞,用The computer / Thetelevision / The bicycle或Computers / Televisions /Bicycles也是正確的。
2.動詞做標題
動詞做標題時有兩種情況:
⑴ 以動詞開頭的祈使句做標題時,動詞用原形,后面的感嘆號可有可無。如:
Go for it(!) Don’tbe late(!) Be modest(!)
⑵ 動詞或以動詞開頭的詞組做標題時,動詞不能用原形,要用動詞不定式或動名詞形式。至于到底用動詞不定式還是動名詞,要根據(jù)文章的內容及動詞詞組在文章中的作用確定。如:
Learning English,Englishlearning(動名詞詞組,文章內容是有關英語學習的)
To learn English(動詞不定式,在文章中表示目的)
3.陳述句做標題
⑴ 陳述句做標題時多用一般現(xiàn)在時,一般不用其他時態(tài)的完整形式。如:
Yao Ming visits Taiwan Rainy days makeme sad
其他時態(tài)的陳述句做標題時須做以下處理:
① 進行時常省去助動詞be (am / is / are / was / were)。如:
The earth is becoming warmer → (The)Earthbecoming warmer
② 完成時常變?yōu)橐话悻F(xiàn)在時。如:
The UK queen has arrived in Australia →(The)UK queen arrives in Australia
⑵ 被動語態(tài)的陳述句做標題時,常省略助動詞be。如:
More than 100 people were killed in theearthquake → More than 100 (people) killed in (the) earthquake
The US policies are increasingly criticized→ (The)US policies increasingly criticized
⑶ 表示將要發(fā)生的事一般采用動詞不定式。如:
President Hu will visit Russia → PresidentHu to visit Russia
Premier Wen is going to visit Australia →Premier Wen to visit Australia
4.疑問句做標題
⑴ 一般疑問句做標題。如:Are you happy? Can you come tomy party?
⑵ 特殊疑問句做標題,既可以用原句,也可以加以改寫:
① 改寫為“How / Wh-words + 動詞不定式”結構。如:
How do you study for a test? → How to studyfor a test(?)
Why do you learn English? → Why to learnEnglish(?)
Where can I get a dictionary? → Where toget a dictionary(?)
② 改寫為名詞性從句結構。如:
How does a computer work? → How a computer works
Why does the sun rise in the east? → Whythe sun rises in the east
③ 改寫為一個名詞性詞組。如:
What’s the best radio station? → The bestradio station
Which is the way to the airport? → The wayto the airport
注意:并不是任何一個特殊疑問句都可以改寫為上述三種形式的任何一種,要根據(jù)原句的結構具體選擇。
5.感嘆句做標題
感嘆句做標題也可以用其省略形式。如:
How beautiful the flowers are! → Howbeautiful!
What a nice girl she is! → What a nicegirl!
6.詞組做標題
各種詞組、短語也可以做標題:
⑴ 物主代詞+名詞
My family, My hometown, My dream,My mother
⑵ 形容詞+名詞
A frightening experience, Bigcities and small towns
⑶ 名詞+介詞短語
Sports in China, Lenin in 1918, Aday at school
⑷ 名詞+名詞 E
nglish study, Work days, Schoollife, Summer vocation
⑸ 名詞+非謂語動詞
The days to come, Englishteaching,
⑹ 非謂語動詞+名詞
Sleeping beauty, Destroyedforests, Sleeping bags
⑺ 介詞+名詞
In China, For your good, By air, Onpractice, Between you and me
⑻ 不定代詞+形容詞
Something important, Nobodylost, Anything new?
7.其他結構做標題
⑴ 獨詞句做標題 Why? Who? Yes! No!
⑵ 從句做標題 If I have one million dollars! Whenyou go abroad
⑶ 復合句做標題 Speak out when you have an idea! Iused to be shy when I was a child
⑷ 中心詞帶從句的標題 A book that helpedme a lot; The school I studied in