问英语｜英语常见问题解答

fear¹

for fear that $^{1}$

问

《薄冰英语语法》(开明出版社，p.536)在讲原因状语从句时举了下面的例句：“Shut the window for fear (that) it may rain. 关上窗户，恐怕要下雨。(短语 for fear 引导原因状语从句)”然后，在讲目的状语从句(p.538)中又举了类似的例句：

"He took an umbrella with him for fear it might rain.

他带了一把伞,以防下雨。(for fear 之后省去 that)”

这似乎有自相矛盾之嫌。for fear(that)引导的从句究竟是原因状语从句,还是目的状语从句?

答

薄冰教授对 for fear(that)作了两种不同的解释,这并不是由于他的疏忽,而是由于 for fear(that)结构本身容许作两种解释的缘故。

有一派英语语法专家如 R. Quirk, A. J. Thomson 等认为, for fear (that) 引导的是否定的目的状语从句, 表示“以便不”“以防”等含义。例如, 对于下面的句子:

They left early for fear(that) they would meet him.

可以解释为：

They left early in order that they would not meet him. 他们早早离开，以免遇见他。

另一派英语语法学家,如 CIDE, LDCE 的编著者们认为, for fear(that) 引导的是原因状语从句: for fear(that) = because:

They wouldn't let their cat run around outside for fear that (= because they were worried that) it would get run over by a car. (CIDE) 他们不肯让他们的猫在外面乱跑,是因为怕猫被汽车压了(生怕猫被汽车压了)。
He went out in disguise, for fear that someone might recognize him. 他化装外出，因为他怕有人认出他(以免有人认出他)。

fear²

for fear that $^{2}$

问

The government, however, did not accept the suggested plan for fear that shutting off power supply for even one minute would lead the whole nation into great confusion. (全国成人高考,92-阅读 C)

由于我没有掌握 for fear that 的含义,我无法翻译上面的句子。

答

可以把 for fear that 看作是复合从属连词,引导原因状语从句或否定的目的状语从句。 [试译]然而,政府没有接受这个建议,因为即使是停电一分钟都会给全国造成极大的混乱。

fear³

for fear that he should/would/might

问

He's working hard for fear that he ____.

A. should fall behind B. fell behind C. may fall behind D. would fall behind以上是《英语结构难题解析》(复旦大学出版社,1995年版,p.44)的一道测试题,规定的正确答案为A(should fall behind)。但我认为C(may fall behind)和D(would fall behind)也同样是正确的,不知您的看法如何?

答

该书编者出这道题的依据是有的,比如 ALD 中便有类似的句子:

I daren't tell you what he did, for fear that he should be angry with me. （我不敢告诉你他干了什么事，以免他生我的气。）

《新英汉词典》也有类似的句子: He handled the instrument with care for fear (that) it should be damaged. (他小心翼翼地使用那台仪器, 生怕把它弄坏。) 但这是不是意味着在这种从句里只能使用 should, 而不能使用 may, might, would 呢? 事实并非如此。请看下面的例句:

She worried for fear that the child would be hurt. (DAI) 她因怕孩子受伤而担忧。
She's working hard for fear that she would be fired. 她因怕被解雇而努力工作。
Shut the window for fear (that) it may rain. (LDCE) 把窗户关上,以防下雨。
Margot did not dare to touch me for fear they might hear us. (Mis) 马戈特没有敢跟我说话, 因为他怕别人听见。
We all seemed afraid to say what was in our minds, for fear it might start trouble. (Mis) 我们大家都不敢说出我们心里的想法，生怕惹起麻烦。
They didn't say much for fear the others might hear them. (Mis) 他们没有说很多话, 因为怕其他人听见。