第一部分:句子解析
原句: The law lets users gain access to, and to correct, information that firms hold on them.
1. 意思 (Meaning)
这条法律规定,用户有权获取公司所持有的关于他们的个人信息,并且有权更正这些信息。
这通常指的是数据隐私法(如欧盟的GDPR、美国的CCPA、中国的《个人信息保护法》)中赋予个人的核心权利
2. 为什么这么用 (Why This Structure?)
这种写法主要用于正式、法律或学术文本中,其核心目的是:
- 极致简洁 (Conciseness): 避免重复相同的句子成分(如宾语、定语从句),使行文非常紧凑,毫不啰嗦。
- 结构平衡 (Structural Balance): 将两个相似的动词短语(
gain access to和correct) 平行并列,使句子节奏清晰,具有形式上的美感。 - 严谨精确 (Precision): 在法律文中,每一个词都至关重要。这种结构确保了两个动词(
gain access to和correct) 共享同一个宾语(information that firms hold on them),避免了任何可能的歧义。
3. 语法 (Grammar Deep Dive)
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主语 (Subject): The law
-
谓语动词 (Predicate Verb): lets (使...能够)
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宾语 (Object): users
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宾语补足语 (Object Complement):
gain access to, and to correct, information...let sb do sth结构中,作补足语的不定式要省略to,所以第一个动词是gain。- 为了清晰地引出第二个并列的动词,重新加上了
to(to correct),这是一种为了不定式作目的状语。
-
共享宾语 (Shared Object):
information that firms hold on them- 这个宾语同时被两个动词短语所支配:
gain access to information和correct information。
- 这个宾语同时被两个动词短语所支配:
-
定语从句 (Attributive Clause):
that firms hold on them修饰information。
还原后的完整形式是: The law lets users gain access to information that firms hold on them and correct information that firms hold on them. 通过使用 , and to correct, 这种结构,句子省略了重复的 lets users 和 information that firms hold on them,变得异常简洁。
第二部分:文章总结 - 并列结构的共享成分省略
你提供的句子是一个非常经典的例子,展示了一种高级而实用的英语语法现象:在并列连接词(and, or, but)前后,省略共有的句子成分以避免重复。这种手法在写作中,尤其是正式写作中,备受推崇。
这种语法现象的核心是:共用同一个成分的两个或多个并列项,可以省略后面各项中重复的部分。
让我们来“举一反三”:
类型一:共享宾语的省略 (最常见)
这就是你例句所代表的情况。
-
例句 1 (你的例子):
- 精简版: The law lets users gain access to, and to correct, information.
- 完整版: The law lets users gain access to information to correct information.
-
例句 2:
- 精简版: He invited the president of the company and (the) chair of the board.
- 完整版: He invited the president of the company and the chair of the board. (共享动词
invited和of...,省略第二个the)
-
例句 3:
- 精简版: She enjoys playing basketball and (playing) video games.
- 完整版: She enjoys playing basketball and playing video games. (共享谓语
enjoys,省略第二个playing)
举一反三
这种为了清晰而重复功能词(如 to, the, 助动词)的现象在英语中很普遍:
-
共享宾语时重复
to:- 清晰版: His plan is to pursue a higher degree and, if possible, to work abroad. (他的计划是攻读更高学位,如果可能的话,还要去国外工作。)
- 对比: His plan is to pursue a higher degree and, if possible, work abroad. (虽然没错,但清晰度稍逊)
-
共享宾语时重复
the:- 清晰版: We need to contact the editor of the magazine and the owner of the website.
- 对比: We need to contact the editor of the magazine and owner of the website. (这可能让人误以为“杂志编辑”和“网站所有者”是同一个人)
-
在比较结构中:
- 清晰版: I'm paid less than he is. (我薪水比他低。)
- 这里重复
is是为了避免说than him的不正式感,同时保证绝对清晰。
类型二:共享主语的省略
在并列句中,如果主语相同,后面分句的主语可以省略。
-
例句 4:
- 精简版: He stood up, (he) put on his coat, and (he) walked out.
- 完整版: He stood up, he put on his coat, and he walked out.
类型三:共享谓语动词/助动词的省略
-
例句 5:
- 精简版: Some went to the beach, and others to the mountains.
- 完整版: Some went to the beach, and others went to the mountains. (第二个分句省略了谓语
went)
-
例句 6:
- 精简版: I have never been to Paris, nor has my sister.
- 完整版: I have never been to Paris, nor has my sister been to Paris. (省略了重复的
been to Paris)