英语早间课堂:跟老外聊春节 贴春联（三）

短文回顾：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.

接下来，我们来学习段落中的短语。

1. a pair of

这是个名词性短语，意思是一副，一对，表示双数。例如：How I wish for a pair of wings! 我多么希望有一双翅膀!

2. On both sides of

这是个介词短语，意思是在......的两边。例如：Please write in pen on both sides of the paper.请用自来水笔在纸的正反两面书写。Trees do not stand on both ides of the street . 大街的两旁没有种植树木。

3. be composed of

这是个形容词性短语。Composed of means "to made up or formed from sth " . 中文意思是(由某事物)组成或构成。我们来看一个例子：The board shall be composed of eight directors. Each director shall be appointed or recalled by his own side. 董事会由八名董事组成，各方的董事将由各方自行任命或罢免。

4. paste up

这是一个动词短语。It means "to stick sth to an upright surface with paste". 中文意思是用浆糊张贴某物。Don't paste up any advertisement, notice nor poster here, or you will be fined . 不要在此张贴广告﹑告示﹑海报，否则罚款。

5. It is common for sb to do sth

这个可以视为一个口语句型，意思是某人通常、普遍做某事。从语法的角度说to do sth是动词不定式做真是主语，it是形式主语。这个句型可以改为补语从句，即：It is common that sb do sth. 我们来看下面的2个例句：It is common for women and girls to make up. 妇女和姑娘化妆是很普遍的事。(改为补语从句为：It is common that women and girls to make up.)It is common for some American to visit their friends or relatives on vacation. 美国人在假期里通常喜欢去走访亲朋好友。(该为补语从句为：It is common that some American visit their friends or relatives on vacation. )(备注：relatives and friends 亲朋好友 be on vacation 度假)

6. 下面的是我们跟老外聊春联时需要用的表达：

horizontal scroll (对联的)横批 the first line(对联的)上联

the second line(对联的)下联 give a atmosphere 传递......的气氛

express good wishes 表达良好的祝愿

下面我们来学习段落中的句法。

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”是过去分词短语做后置定语，修饰前面的名词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这个短语中的把表示方位的介词短语on doors提到谓语paste up的后面，因为paste up这个谓语的后要接的宾语a spring couplet written on red paper大大地长于状语，为了平衡句子结构，就把状语提到前面。在a spring couplet written on red paper这个短语中written on red paper是过去分词短语做后置定语。

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这个短语是过去分词短语做后置定语修饰前面的名词sentence。由and连接的第二个分句“the one on the left the second line.”是公用了前面句子中的谓语is called，修饰不定代词one定语pasted和修饰line的定语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是现在分词短语做后置定语，修饰前面的scroll，bear是“具有”的意思。