most of the __British and American people understand each ot

most of the __British and American people understand each other.
time chance situation condition
这段是完形填空最后一句,这篇内容是将美国与英国的英语不同,导致一些交流之间的麻烦,
答案是time,在大多数情况下,英国人和美国人是可以相互理解的.
为什么不能most of the situation 大多是情况下?

1. most of the time 其实是副词短语,此处作状语.相当于in most of the time
2. 其它结构都是名词短语,不可以作状语.
3. 类似结构在：I have waited him a while.此处省略了for,还可以是in等
请参考：
英语介词在句子中的省略
介词是英语八大词类之一,它在英语中是异常活跃的.介词的数量并不多,如果光统计象at,in,on,about,for,from,of等这样单个的简单介词,而不包括各类介词组合,那么英语中介词的总数也只不过是五十多个.假使我们将它们逐个开列出来也绝非难事.然而介词用途之广,组合能力之强,却难以评述.介词结构可用来表示时间、地点、目的、原因、方式、结果、比较、状态等多种关系.而且有些活跃的介词往往同一个介词表示多种不同的意义,确实使介词的用法变得十分复杂.例如“in”,在不同的场合和不同的结构中,就能表达出各种不同的意思.但从另一方面看,正是由于介词的用途很广,在很大程度上使得英语成为灵活多变,跌宕多姿的语言.语言是不断的发展和变化的,这种变化也反映在介词的用法上,不少原来需用介词的地方,现在也可以不用了.本文当然不拟(也不可能)对介词的省略问题作全面性的探讨,只是想从几个侧面对介词的省略作豹斑之窥.
现分以下四个部分加以阐述：
一、介词的省略有助于句子的简化,使原来的句子更为简洁,从而进一步提高了英语语言的功效.大体说来,作时间状语的介词短语一般都可以省去介词.省略后的句子仍然保持句子的原意,只是使句子更加精炼罢了.
1、介词for的省略
在英语中,用以表示行为或状态持续一段时间的介词for,往往可以省略.这是近年来现代英语发展的趋势.当然也有不省的.但当它直接位于动词的后面时,一般都省去介词for.
例如：
The rainy weather lasted(for) the whole time we were there.
Dr. Bethune worked (for) several hours without rest.
After we had been married(for) a year, a child was born but lived only (for) ten months.
He sopke (for) thirty minutes.
有时动词后面有一个副词,介词for仍可省去.
例如：
We have been here(for) two hours already.
You must have stayed here (for) a long time.
但是,当for ages, for days, for years等短语位于句首时,for不能省略.例如：
For two hours he had been waiting.(不能说：Two hours he had been waiting.)
For 600 years, Alexander Christman had applied his considerable skills economic resources to a single personal project.(不能说：600 years,……)
2、作时间状语的其它介词的省略
如果具有时间意义的名词如：morning,day,afternoon, night,week,month,year,century等之前有 any,every,next,first,last,this,that,following等词加以修饰时,在句中用作时间状语时,可以省去相应的介词.例如：
I shall start(in) this week and return(in) next week.(英语省略句P.57)
I am expecting him up here Sunday morning.(=on Sunday morning)(钱歌川,疑难详解,P.292)
It was quite light and (at) any moment now the sun would rise. (Heming way)
But(at the) same time, Ted, you know how advertisers exaggerate.(-S.Lewis)
I'll go any place (at) any time you wish.(Heming way)
I met him again (on)the floolwing day.
There were plenty of empty seats (on) that night I went.(现代英语研究)
I did not go to school(at) that day.
His novel will appeared(in) the follwing year.
He has been away from school(during) the last five weeks.
但要注意的是,当介词in用以表示一段时间内的意思(=within)时,介词in不能省去.
例如：
Rome was not built in a day.
I can't finish this work in a month.
还有一种所谓副词的属格(Adverbial Genitive),也是由于省略介词而来的.例如用nights取代at night.这种用法在现代英语中已普遍被采用.例如：
He wanted to work nights.(钱歌川：疑难详解)
I'd study nights and I'd work as a waitress in the daytime.(同上)
Daytimes we paddled all over the island in the canoe.(Mark Twain)
He gets mad, if you're ten minutes late, mornings.(-E. Rice)
二、在现代英语中,介词的省略是多样化的,它除了在时间状语中的介词可以省略之外,在其它一些介词短语中也有省去介词的情况.
1、in的省略
介词in在“this way, that, one's own way”等前一般都把介词省去,这种省略是在表示“某种方法”时才省去.例如：
It's more interesting(in)that way.
(In) This way you are assured of impartiality. (英语省略句)
You will never manage it(in)that way.(同上)
Do it(in) your own way if you don't like my way.
The work must be finished(in) one way or another.
You do it(in) all your own way.(-Steinbeck)
It was going just(in) the way he thought it would.(-Hemingway)
They cooked(in)the American style.
He dances(in)the same way as she does.
另外还有一种说法,凡是句中带有way,不管是方法或道路,它前面的介词都可以省去.
例如：
Please drop in at my place whenever you come(in) this way.(英语省略句)
Such matters never come(in) my way.(同上)
It always pays to learn self-reliance(in) the hard way.(同上)
2、介词of与“age, colour,help,length,no use, shape, size,thickness,width”等名词连用,在句中作表语时,在大多数的情况下都省去介词of.例如：
When I was (of) your age, I was in the country.(英语省略句)
The autumn leaves are(of) a glorious red.
The door was(of) a dark brown.
I am afraid the book will not be(of) much help to you.
Who ever heard of canals(of) the same length?
The two buildings are(of) the same height.
This medicine is (of) no use to me.
It is(of)no use talking.
It's (of)no use crying over spilt milk.
My book is (of) the same shape as yours.
His shoes are just(of) the size of mine.
He has an album (of) the same thickness as mine.(英语省略句)
The plant is not (of) the right width.(同上)
These new socks are (of) good quality and a very smart design.
看来,似乎跟在be动词后或不及物动词后面的of作表语时,of都可以省去.例如：
Solutions are not easy, but OPEC must beware (of) proving as greedy economic masters as the multinational oil companies were, before it assumed much of its role.
3、用以表示“距离、度量、价值”的介词,一般也是省去的多.例如：
I make nothing of walking (for) twenty miles a day.(英语省略句)
On a clear day we can see (for) miles and miles from this hill-top.(英语省略句)
You are (by) a head taller than he.
The water rose (for) three feet.
Your field is (by) three acres larger than ours.
His brother weighs (at) 120 pounds.
This book is worth (for) three yuan.
4、介词of在on board和on this side之后经常省去.例如：
We went on board(of) the Dongfeng.
He passed the Fourth of July on board(of) the Quaker City, in mid-ocean.(Mark Twain)
Is there no force on this side(of) the creek? (钱歌川,疑难详解)
Is the school on this side (of) the river?
此外,现在在美国流行一种更加时髦的说法.如：a pair(of)trousers, one pack(age)(of)cigarettes, two cartons(of)cigarettes, one bottle(of) beer, a couple(of)years.这种说法是比较简洁,但又大部分地用于口语体中.
5、介词在习语中的省略
不少习语里省用某些介词是一种非常有趣的现象,这些介词的省去,不仅使得英语习语的形体得以紧缩,而且一部分习语的词性也随之发生变化,即由原来的介词习语变为名词性习语；而另外一部分习语里的动词由不及物转化为及物.
a、在习语中原来可用可不用介词,但现在不用的例子有：
go(to) smash (ALD二版,P.947)→go smash(OALD三版,P.828),take(to)flight(WNWD大学版,P.554)→take flight(WNWD大学二版,P.534)
b、在下列的习语介词也均可省去：
(at) full pelt (COD六版,P.815)
(at) full tilt (OALD三版,P.922)
(in) the least (COD六版,P.616)
(at) full length (OALD三版,P.490)
c、在full speed, full blast, full time等词组介词at省去.例如：
He was driving(at) full speed.
She has been changing (at)full blast most of her life.
To guard against counterfeiting, the government would prefer to print the coupons itself, but the presses at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are already running(at) full time…….
She is prettier in profile than(at)full face.
在full前面的部分介词一般能省的话,我们就尽可能省去,因为,句子累赘总是不好的.
三、过去,人们认为在固定的词组搭配中介词是不能省去的.其实并不然,在现代英语语法中,此种说法已不适应新的语言发展.过去被视为不可省略的介词现在可以要也可不要了.可见,语言是千变万化的,不是一成不变的.一切事物都处在运动之中,语言也是如此,它也可以灵活运用.因此,我们要不断地研究新事物,新情况,务必使我们能适应新的语言发展.
1、介词的用法也并不是一成不变的,过去认为不可省略的介词在当代语法中已省去,这种省略往往有改变词性的趋向.例如在下列短语中介词就可以省去.表示“有……做某事时,即have+ 抽象名词(作宾语)+in+doing sth.”,中间的介词in就可以省去,此种情况不属于我们已知的“have+宾语+现在分词”的这种例子,而这种例子中的宾语绝大多数是有生命的名词或指可以运动的名词,如have a car waiting,当然在waiting前面是绝对不会有介词.但如果我们说I have a great difficulty in tackling this problem.这样的句子是通顺的,如省去in后也是行得通的,下面再举数例类似这样的句子：
He had difficulty (in) focussing on various objects in the saloon.(Tack Lynn. The Turn coat.)
Robin had been nervous working with the orchestra, had trouble (in) deciding on his key. (Thomous Tryon, Cr wned Heads)
She had great difficulty (in) understanding him.
(Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, P.304)
Do you have any difficulty (in) understanding spoken English?(现代高级英汉双解辞典,P.299)
In Congress, Carter will have headaches (in) getting actions he wants.
I seem to have very little problem (in) finishing upthings now, as if the pattern were arased.
I'll have more fun (in) teaching a teenaged daughter how to dance.
Mr. wang had a hell of a bother (in) tracking you down this morning,…….
除了以上所举“have+宾语(抽象名词)+分词”中省去介词之外,下面还有一些表示“在…方面”的介词in也同样可以省去.
He couldn't waste any time (in) running from American security agencies because of her carelessness. (Walter Wager, Telefon)
Ted lost no time (in) redeeming the Long Beach fields, both his and his father's.
Kids couldn't careless, they end up (in) throwing the cake at each other and fighting over the toys…….
He and I nearly died (of) laughing.
If we take turns (at) driving, we won't get tired.
以上各句省去介词之后,原来作介词宾语的动名词变为现在分词,在句中作状语.而上面的句子都是主动语态,但在被动语态中介词也可以省去.例如：
Most of our time is spent (in) searching for rattles…….
In 1976, some of ?635 million were earned (by) mining, processing and selling this strategic metal.
2、在有些“及物动词+宾语+介词+动名词”的结构中,如果介词短语作状语,那么句中的介词可以省去,而且这种省略介词的用法越来越普遍,口语中尤为多见.例如：
I lost no time(in) carrying out the plan.
The Saudis are also painfully aware that they lack experience (in)investing gigantic sums of money.
The train trip was long and tiring, but we killed time (by) playing cards.
He is late (in) coming.
She busied herself (in) tidying up her desk.
He started earning his pennies (by) selling newspapers.
He wasn't long(in) making up his mind.
There is no hurry (in) giving him an answer. (英语省略句)
3、有些形容词作表语时,即句型为“作表语的形容词+介词+动名词”的结构中,句中的介词省去的情况也在不断增多.例如：
His arms got tired (from) holding the rod in position all the time.
You ought to be ashamed (of) asking for more porridge, OLiver Twist.
Are you through (with) typing the letter?
What's the use(of) talking? (英语省略句)
I am through (with) asking questions. (英语省略句)
4、表示地点名词前的介词省略
在表示地点名词前的介词to或at也均可以省去.例如：
I'll go(to) any place you order me.
My brother and I used to go(to a lot of place together.(English 900)
Can't we go (to) come place where they would never find us?
5、以with表示伴随性行为作状语时,介词with也经常省略.这种省略经常出现在“noun+in+noun”,“noun+participle或noun+and all”的结构中,而且在句中表示行为时,介词with通常省略.例如：
He stood there, (with his) hat in (his) hand and (a) pipe in (his) mouth. (英语省略句)
Now they are coming (with his) hand in (her) hand. (同上)
(With my) head bowed, like a willing ox, I serve the children. (同上)
Away go the two vehicles, (with) horses galloping, (with) boys heering, (with) horns playing loud.
He jumped into the water, (with his) clothes and all.
6、在表“行为”或“递送”的介词短语中,介词也常常省略.例如：
The letter was sent(by) air mail.
Mr Green will send you the specimen page (by) special delivery. (英语省略句)
The store will send you order(by) parcel post.
The plane is flying(at) 900 miles an hour.
7、在一些句子中,同一个句子出现两个或两个以上相同的介词并列使用时,为避免重复,只保留第一介词,其后相同的介词均可省去.例如：
She complained to her mother and (to) her brother.
Nitrogen was discovered by Rutherford and (by) Prieslley, working independently, in 1772.
They are going to Beijing,(to) Shanghai, or (to) kwangchow.
8、当inside of 涉及到“在…之内”时,介词of必须省去.例如：
I shall be back inside an hour.
此时inside已起到一个介词的作用.还有几个词如like,opposite后省去了to之后,有人把它们看做Quasi- preposition(疑似介词),见钱歌川,疑难详解上册,P.302.对于这种说法是有一定道理的,省去介词之后这几个词也就变成近似介词的词性了,但不完全是准介词.例如：
I wish I could be more like(to) you. (-Mitchell)
Opposite (to)me sat a young woman. (-Bierce)
四、现代英语的发展表明：人们越来越多地省略原来带引从句的介词,从而使从句直接变成了动词(或动词词组)的宾语,或形容词的宾语.
1、介词“about, for, of, up(on), to”等在名词从句中的省略,而省去的介词绝大多数都是在that引起的从句中.例如：
Say no more (about) that the thing has been passed.
He boasted (of) that he did it.
I insist (on) that you shall be present.
He insisted (upon) that he was innocent.
See (to) that the boys learn the lesson well.
Please see (to) that these letters are sent to the post.
2、在idea之后的从句中介词of也经常省去.例如：
He must have some idea (of) what happened last week. (英语惯用法词典,P.307)
I have no idea (of) whose house this is.(同上)
We have not the remotest idea (of) how they have done it. (同上)
Have you any idea (of) when he will come? (同上)
You can have no idea (of) what he said. (新英汉字典P.620)同样,假使把“idea”改作“notion”,也是这样.
You must have some notion (of) what has happened to us.
3、介词of后面如果由一个连接代词或连接副词引起的从句或不定式短语时,它前面所带的介词一般都省去.例如：
I am not aware (of) how long the meeting will be lasted.
We have not solved the problem (of) who was at fault. (英语省略句)
She is always careful (of) where to use a comma and where to use a semicolon.
I was at a lost (of) how to answer the question. (英语省略句)
除了介词of外,其它一些介词在名词从句前,也可以省略,但大部分的从句都是由“what”“how”,“why”,“when”,“where”,“whether”引起的从句,偶尔也有一些不是,但这种情况是极少数的.
He insisted (on)that I should go with him.
He gave himself little concern (about) what he had done.
It is outside my business to care (for) what people say.
We were glad (to) that we heard the news.
It depends (on) whether they come.
It all depends (on) how you tackle the problem.
注意depend的用法,如果它的主语是it的话,介词on均可省去,但除了it以外用其它名词作主语时,介词on不能省去.例如：
Are you going to buy a new dictionary?
——It depends whether I can afford it.
——That depends on whether I can afford it.
如果on后不是从句,而是名词作宾语,on不能省去.例如：
He depends on his pen for a living.
4、在非限制性同位语中,介词也通常被省去.例如：
The issue, (of) student grants, was slow because there were so many applicants.
事实上,用of短语作非限制性同位语,往往给人一种事后偶然想起的印象,而不是结构严谨的表达法.因此,把介词省去也就很自然的了.下面再举数例：
One man, (of) around thirty years, was convicted of biaarny.
The end, (of) the world, is at hand.
A party, (of) children, entered the theatre.
总的说来,介词的省略是多方面的,但不是所有的介词在句中都可以省去,而是在一部分的句子中可以省去.但到底在什么情况下可以省,什么情况下不可以省.这个问题还待我们进一步探讨.原因是,介词省略的情况是近些年来才出现的,这是一个新的课题.人们正在对这方面进行探讨,完善,以求得出一个规律来.但语言不是一成不变的东西,它可以灵活运用.因此,我们在学习中要不断地总结经验,认真研究新的语言现象,以便我们更能准确地掌握语言的变化.
作者单位:广西南宁地区教育学院 (南宁 530001)