HAD BETTER的用法及意义研讨

本文首发于北京第二外语学院学报《学报》1989年第1期

HAD BETTER是个形态古怪,却又频于使用的日常词语。对其用法及意义,国内众多辞书虽作了大量的阐述,但似乎缺乏深入细致的考究及探讨,以致不少英语学习者在语言交际上不免时见疏虞,或失之偏颇。本文试就这两方面作一番探索,以祈拾零补阙,抛砖引玉。现分述如下:

一、语法方面

1.   在语法上,had better属半助动词(semi-auxiliary)。所谓半助动词,即指一类在功能上介于主动词(main verb)与助动词(auxiliary verb)之间的结构。因此,它总是用来与动词不定式结合成复合谓语。其中,作为中心词(head word)的动词不定式,据考证,早期英语是用带to不定式的(参见H. Poutsma, 1922 – 29, p.422;钱歌川,1981,pp.282  –  83),但现代英语转而要求用无to不定式。例如:

1)You had better be quick.

      你们最好快点。

2)We had better go back.—— the risk is great.

      咱们回去好——这太冒险了。

3)The boys had better cease shouting.

     男孩们还是别再叫嚷好了。

2.   had better属固定习语。它并非指过去时间,而是指现在或将来时间。它无须与主语在人称与数别上保持一致,自身也没有时态和语态的变化。比如,不可以说:

4a)*He has better (or will better) see a doctor.

而应该说:

4b)He had better see a doctor.

        他最好找大夫看看去。

同理,我们既可以说:

5a)I think you had better put on my overcoat.

也可以说:

5b)I thought you had better put on my overcoat.

       我想,你还是穿上我的外套好。

3.   had better 后接的非限定性中心词——动词不定式,可以体现不同的“体”(aspect)和“态”(voice)形式。例如:

6)You had better take care.

      你还是小心为好。

7)You’d better be working harder if you want to get this done today.

     倘若你们想今天完工。那可得加把劲才行。

8)I suppose I had better be going.

     我想我最好得走了。

9)You’d better have made up your mind when I call tomorrow.

     我明天找你时,你该拿定主意才行。

10)The matter had better be left as it is.

       这件事最好还是听其自然。

11)Breakfast had better be eaten before 9 o’clock.

       早饭最好是9点以前吃。

值得一提的是,“had better + have + -ed分词”常用来表示“过去当为而不为”的动作或行为。带责备口吻。例如:

12)You had better have gone already.

       你要是已经去了就对了。(言下之意:可惜你没去。)

13)You had better have done it yesterday.

       你昨天理应把这桩事办好才是。(言下之意:你并没办好。)

事实上,上述句12)与句13),不论从语法上或从语义上分析,都完全等同于下列句14)与句15):

14)You should have gone already.

15)You should have done it yesterday.

然而,习惯上,人们似乎更倾向于采取should式表达。

4.   had better的否定式通常用had better not。例如:

16)You had better not try.

        你还是别试了。

17)You had better not be doing so.

       你不宜这么做。

18)You ‘d better not wake me up when you come in.

       你进来时,顶好别吵醒我。

19)We’d better not go until your sister arrives.

       我们还是等你姐姐到了才走的好。

但在现代英语的非正式文体中,使用had not better的场合亦不罕见,尤其是否定疑问式及缩写式(参见T. Crowell, 1964,§H.1;费致德,1982,p.414)。例如:

20)Had we not better go to the station to meet them?

       我们不该到车站去接他们吗?

21)Had I not better take him upstairs and let him lie down a little?

       我把他带到楼上去,让他稍稍躺会儿岂不更好?

22)You hadn’t better stay up late.

       你最好不要熬夜。

23)Hadn’t you better make haste?

       你还不赶快?

24)You had better take what you said, hadn’t you?

       你得说到做到,可不?

5.   had better的疑问形式为“had +主语+ better”。例如:

25)Had I better tell him the secret?

       我该把这秘密告诉他吗?

26)What had I better do?

       我怎么办好呢?

27)Hadn’t you better stop ringing that bell?

       你别再揿那电铃了,不行吗?

6.   had better常缩写成’d better;在非正式文体中,甚至进而略去’d,直接以better取代had better。这种用法多见于美国英语。例如:

28)You had better take an umbrella with you.

~ 28a)You’d better take an umbrella with you.

~ 28b)You better take an umbrella with you.

~ 28c)Better take an umbrella with you.

            你最好随身带把雨伞去。

7.   在美国英语中,had better可以有如下几种变体形式:

(1)had best(用于增强语势)。例如:

29)You had best talk little!

       你还是少说为妙!

30)I thought I had best have your opinions first.

       我想,我顶好是先征求您的看法。

(2)would better。例如:

31)You would better behave yourself!

       你好自为之!(你应放规矩些!)

32)I suggest he would better turn off the radio.

       我建议他还是关掉收音机好。

但would better不宜用于第一人称场合(参见费致德,1982,p.413;钱歌川,1981,pp.280 – 81)。比如,不可以说:

33a)*I would better hurry up or I’ll be late.

而应该说:

33b)I had better/best hurry up or I’ll be late.

         我可得赶快,否则要迟到的。

(3)would best。例如:

34)I think he would best rent a house.

       我想,他顶好是租个房子。

35)You would best leave the girl in my charge.

       你最好是把这个女孩子托付给我。

但这种用法似乎尚未取得普遍认可的语法地位(参见P. Procter, 1978, p.88;费致德,1982,p.413)。

8.   had better习语内部结构严谨,除了疑问句式和否定句式外,一般不允许插入其它词语。但偶尔也可见这类句子:

36)She had much better be mending her husband’s clothes. (H. Poustma, 1926 – 29, p.363)

       此时,她给丈夫缝补衣服是最好不过的了。

37)We had far better have bought the other one. (张道真,1982,p.1973)

        我们要是买下另外的那个就再好不过了。

二、语义方面

1.   had better用于规劝、告诫场合。

国内出版的辞书多将这一含义简单地解释为“最好……”或“还是……(为)好”。如此释义固然无可厚非,但似乎言不尽意。因为,这容易给人造成错觉,即它表达一种客气、礼貌的建议,属委婉说法。其实,had better并不包含任何委婉的成分;正相反,它带有训导之类的语气,态度严肃、生硬,颇有“居高临下,指手画脚”之势。且看The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English(《简明牛津辞典》)对had better所下的释义是would find it suitable, more to your advantage。这就是说,该习语的基本含义是劝导对方怎么做才算明智,如何办较适宜、较有利等等。由此,“以长者自居”的口吻昭然若揭。倘用于第一人称,自然不易引起误会;若用于其它人称,尤其是第二人称场合,除非说话人确乎符合“长者”身份,否则慎用,以免引起对方的不快甚至反感。当然,如果双方过从甚密,谈吐不拘,则另当别论。总之,大凡需要表现客气、礼貌的场合,使用had better均属欠妥,应改用其它委婉表达法。

2.   had better用于间接命令或责备场合。

W. McMordie的English Idioms and How to Use Them(《英语成语及应用》)一书将you had better的含义注释为it is better that you should;而B. Evans & C. Evans 的A Dictionary of Contemporary American Usage(《当代美国英语惯用法词典》)及P. Procter的Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English(《朗门当代英语词典》)则直截了当地将其注解为should,must或ought to,其间接命令或责备的语气显露无疑。例如:

38)You had better tell the police what you have heard.

        你应该把所听到的一切向警方汇报。

39)You had better mind your own business.

       你还是少管闲事为妙。

40)You had better have been here ten minutes ago.

       你本该提早十分钟到才对。

3.   had better 用于警告、威胁场合。

F. T. Wood 在他的English Colloquial Idioms(《英语通俗成语词典》)一书对该词语的注释中有一条,即in the nature of a threat(具有威胁性质)。可想而知,这个词义乃分别从前述两种(规劝、告诫和间接命令、责备)引申而来——强烈的规劝即为“警告”,强硬的间接命令便成“威胁”。这时,用上had better,目的在于充分暗示“一切后果(由你等)自负”,“勿谓言之不予也”诸如此类的言外之意。例如:

41)You’d better quit it out, or else I’ll punish you.

        快给我住手,否则我会处罚你。

42)—— I’ll pay you the money by the end of the month.

                  我月底前就付钱给你。

43)—— You’d better.

                  一言为定。(当心言而无信。)

本文主要参考文献

1.   Quick, R. et al. A Grammar of Contemporary English, London, 1972

2.   Poutsma, H. A Grammar of Late Modern English, Groningen, 1926 – 29

3.   Crowell, T.L. Index to Modern English, McGraw-Hill, 1964

4.   Swan, M. Practical English Usage, Oxford, 1982

5.   Krapp, G. P. A Comprehensive Guide to Good English, New York, 1962

6.  McMrdie, W. English Idioms and How to Use Them, Oxford, 1964

7.  Evans, B. and Evans, C. A Dictionary of Contemporary American Usage, New York, 1957

8.  Wood, F. T. English Colloquial Idioms, London and Basingstone, 1969

9.  Fowler, H. W. and Fowler, F. G. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English, Oxford, 1964

10.  Horbby, A. S. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English, Oxford, 1980

11.  Procter, P. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman, 1978

12.  张道真《现代英语用法词典》,上海译文出版社,1982

13.  葛传槼《英语惯用法词典》,时代出版社,1963

14.  费致德《现代英语惯用法词典》,商务印书馆,1982

15.  张道真《英语常用动词用法词典》,上海译文出版社,1981

16.  钱歌川《英文疑难详解》,中国对外翻译出版社,1981

17.  章振邦等《新编英语语法》,上海译文出版社,1981 

18.  葛传槼等《新英汉词典》,上海译文出版社,1979

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