英語早間課堂:跟老外聊春節(jié) 貼春聯(lián)（三）

短文回顧：The Spring Couplet, also called “couplet” or“a pair of antithetical phrases” is a special form of literature in China. The Spring Couplet is composed of two antithetical sentences on both sides of the door and a horizontal scroll bearing an inscription, usually an auspicious phrase above the gate. The sentence pasted on the right side of the door is called the first line of the couplet and the one on the left the second line. On the eve of the Spring Festival, every household will paste up on doors a spring couplet written on red paper to give a happy and prosperous atmosphere of the Festival. In the past, the Chinese usually wrote their own spring couplet with a brush or asked others to do for them, while nowadays, it is common for people to buy the printed spring couplet in the market. What's more , spring couplets which express good wishes is one of the house decorations. They are usually posted in pairs because even numbers are connected with good luck and auspiciousness in Chinese culture.

接下來，我們來學(xué)習(xí)段落中的短語。

1. a pair of

這是個名詞性短語，意思是一副，一對，表示雙數(shù)。例如：How I wish for a pair of wings! 我多么希望有一雙翅膀!

2. On both sides of

這是個介詞短語，意思是在......的兩邊。例如：Please write in pen on both sides of the paper.請用自來水筆在紙的正反兩面書寫。Trees do not stand on both ides of the street . 大街的兩旁沒有種植樹木。

3. be composed of

這是個形容詞性短語。Composed of means "to made up or formed from sth " . 中文意思是(由某事物)組成或構(gòu)成。我們來看一個例子：The board shall be composed of eight directors. Each director shall be appointed or recalled by his own side. 董事會由八名董事組成，各方的董事將由各方自行任命或罷免。

4. paste up

這是一個動詞短語。It means "to stick sth to an upright surface with paste". 中文意思是用漿糊張貼某物。Don't paste up any advertisement, notice nor poster here, or you will be fined . 不要在此張貼廣告﹑告示﹑海報，否則罰款。

5. It is common for sb to do sth

這個可以視為一個口語句型，意思是某人通常、普遍做某事。從語法的角度說to do sth是動詞不定式做真是主語，it是形式主語。這個句型可以改為補語從句，即：It is common that sb do sth. 我們來看下面的2個例句：It is common for women and girls to make up. 婦女和姑娘化妝是很普遍的事。(改為補語從句為：It is common that women and girls to make up.)It is common for some American to visit their friends or relatives on vacation. 美國人在假期里通常喜歡去走訪親朋好友。(該為補語從句為：It is common that some American visit their friends or relatives on vacation. )(備注：relatives and friends 親朋好友 be on vacation 度假)

6. 下面的是我們跟老外聊春聯(lián)時需要用的表達：

horizontal scroll (對聯(lián)的)橫批 the first line(對聯(lián)的)上聯(lián)

the second line(對聯(lián)的)下聯(lián) give a atmosphere 傳遞......的氣氛

express good wishes 表達良好的祝愿

下面我們來學(xué)習(xí)段落中的句法。

1. The Spring Couplet also called “couplet” or“a pair of antithetical phrases” is a special form of literature in China.

句中 also called “couplet” or“a pair of antithetical phrases”是過去分詞短語做后置定語，修飾前面的名詞couplet。

2. On the eve of the Spring Festival, every household will paste up on doors a spring couplet written on red paper to give a happy and prosperous atmosphere of the Festival.

句中的paste up on doors a spring couplet written on red paper這個短語中的把表示方位的介詞短語on doors提到謂語paste up的后面，因為paste up這個謂語的后要接的賓語a spring couplet written on red paper大大地長于狀語，為了平衡句子結(jié)構(gòu)，就把狀語提到前面。在a spring couplet written on red paper這個短語中written on red paper是過去分詞短語做后置定語。

3. The sentence pasted on the right side of the door is called the first line of the couplet and the one on the left the second line.

句中的pasted on the right side of the door這個短語是過去分詞短語做后置定語修飾前面的名詞sentence。由and連接的第二個分句“the one on the left the second line.”是公用了前面句子中的謂語is called，修飾不定代詞one定語pasted和修飾line的定語of the couplet。

4. The Spring Couplet is composed of two antithetical sentences on both sides of the door and a horizontal scroll bearing an inscription, usually an auspicious phrase above the gate.

句中a horizontal scroll bearing an inscription中的bearing an inscription是現(xiàn)在分詞短語做后置定語，修飾前面的scroll，bear是“具有”的意思。