威威老師的閱讀教室:句子解碼 (Sentence Decoding)


Section 1:為什麼要學句子分析?

閱讀理解的第一步:看懂每個句子

很多同學拿到一篇英文文章,每個單字都查了,卻還是看不懂整句話在說什麼。為什麼?因為閱讀不是「認單字比賽」,而是理解句子結構的過程。

想像你在組裝 IKEA 家具:

  • 單字 = 零件
  • 句子結構 = 組裝說明書

如果你不看說明書,零件再多也組不出家具。同理,單字背再多,不會分析句子結構,閱讀理解就永遠卡關。

英文句子有固定結構,學會拆解就不怕長句

英文句子的核心公式:

Subject(主詞)+ Verb(動詞)+ Object / Complement(受詞/補語)

所有長句都是在這個骨架上「加裝飾品」(修飾語)。只要你能:

  1. 找到骨架(S + V + O/C)
  2. 拆掉裝飾品(修飾語)

再長的句子都能看懂!

威威老師的心法

讀長句的時候,先「瘦身」——把所有修飾語拿掉,只看 S+V+O,掌握核心意思,再把修飾語加回來理解細節。


Section 2:找主詞和動詞 (Find S + V)

三步拆句法

Step 1:找動詞 (Find the Verb)

為什麼先找動詞?因為英文一個子句 (clause) 只有一個主要動詞。找到動詞,等於找到句子的心臟。

怎麼找動詞?

  • 找表示動作或狀態的字:run, eat, is, seem, have…
  • 注意:be 動詞 (am/is/are/was/were) 也是動詞!
  • -ed / -ing / -s 結尾的字可能是動詞

小心陷阱:

  • V-ing 當名詞用:Swimming is fun.( Swimming 是主詞,is 是動詞)
  • to V 不定詞:I want to go.(want 是主要動詞,to go 是受詞)
  • 助動詞 + 原形 V:can / will / should / must + V 算一組

Step 2:找主詞 (Find the Subject)

找到動詞後,往前找:

  • 動詞前面的名詞或代名詞通常是主詞
  • 注意:主詞可能在動詞很前面(中間夾了修飾語)

Step 3:看動詞後面有什麼 (What Comes After the Verb?)

  • 及物動詞 (Transitive Verb) → 後面有受詞 (Object)
    • I love pizza.
  • 不及物動詞 (Intransitive Verb) → 後面沒有受詞
    • He sleeps.
  • 連綴動詞 (Linking Verb) → 後面有補語 (Complement)
    • She is beautiful.

10 個句子逐步拆解示範

範例 1

The cat sleeps on the sofa.

步驟分析
找動詞sleeps
找主詞The cat
動詞後面on the sofa(介系詞片語,不是受詞)
結構S + V
翻譯貓睡在沙發上。

範例 2

My sister bought a new bicycle yesterday.

步驟分析
找動詞bought
找主詞My sister
動詞後面a new bicycle(受詞)
結構S + V + O
翻譯我姊姊昨天買了一台新腳踏車。

範例 3

The students in the library are studying for the exam.

步驟分析
找動詞are studying
找主詞The students(in the library 是修飾語)
動詞後面for the exam(介系詞片語)
結構S + V
翻譯圖書館裡的學生正在為考試讀書。

範例 4

The tall boy wearing a red hat gave me a present.

步驟分析
找動詞gave
找主詞The tall boy(wearing a red hat 是修飾語)
動詞後面me(間接受詞)+ a present(直接受詞)
結構S + V + IO + DO
翻譯戴著紅帽子的高個子男孩給了我一份禮物。

範例 5

The soup smells delicious.

步驟分析
找動詞smells(連綴動詞)
找主詞The soup
動詞後面delicious(主詞補語)
結構S + V + C
翻譯這湯聞起來很好喝。

範例 6

We elected him class president.

步驟分析
找動詞elected
找主詞We
動詞後面him(受詞)+ class president(受詞補語)
結構S + V + O + OC
翻譯我們選他當班長。

範例 7

Running every morning keeps you healthy.

步驟分析
找動詞keeps
找主詞Running every morning(動名詞片語當主詞)
動詞後面you(受詞)+ healthy(受詞補語)
結構S + V + O + OC
翻譯每天早上跑步讓你保持健康。

範例 8

The book that I borrowed from the library is due tomorrow.

步驟分析
找動詞is(主要動詞)
找主詞The book(that I borrowed from the library 是形容詞子句修飾 book)
動詞後面due tomorrow(補語)
結構S + V + C
翻譯我從圖書館借的那本書明天到期。

範例 9

She has been working at the hospital since 2020.

步驟分析
找動詞has been working(現在完成進行式)
找主詞She
動詞後面at the hospital(介系詞片語)
結構S + V
翻譯她從 2020 年起就在那家醫院工作。

範例 10

To learn a new language requires patience and practice.

步驟分析
找動詞requires
找主詞To learn a new language(不定詞片語當主詞)
動詞後面patience and practice(受詞)
結構S + V + O
翻譯學習一個新語言需要耐心和練習。

Section 3:修飾語辨識 (Identifying Modifiers)

修飾語就是句子的「裝飾品」——它們提供額外資訊,但不是句子的核心骨架。學會辨識修飾語,就能把長句「瘦身」成短句,快速掌握句意。

3.1 形容詞修飾名詞

形容詞 (Adjective) 用來描述名詞的特徵。

位置:

  • 名詞前面:a beautiful flower
  • be 動詞後面:The flower is beautiful.

常見形容詞: big, small, happy, sad, red, hot, cold, important, interesting…

3.2 副詞修飾動詞/形容詞/副詞

副詞 (Adverb) 可以修飾非常多東西:

副詞種類功能例子
修飾動詞怎麼做He runs quickly.
修飾形容詞多麼She is very smart.
修飾副詞多麼He runs really fast.
修飾全句幸運地Luckily, no one was hurt.

-ly 結尾通常是副詞: quickly, slowly, carefully, happily, suddenly…

3.3 介系詞片語 (Prepositional Phrases)

介系詞 + 名詞 = 介系詞片語,用來表示時間、地點、方向等。

常見介系詞: in, on, at, of, for, with, to, from, by, about, between, under, over…

in the morning    at school     on the table
of the students   for three hours  with my friends

介系詞片語的功能:

  • 當形容詞用:The book on the desk is mine.(修飾 book)
  • 當副詞用:We study in the library.(修飾 study)

3.4 子句 (Clauses)

子句是有 S+V 的結構,用來修飾主要子句。

形容詞子句 (Adjective Clause): 用 who/which/that/whom/whose 引導

The man who lives next door is a doctor. (who lives next door 修飾 The man)

副詞子句 (Adverb Clause): 用 because/although/when/if/while/after/before 引導

I stayed home because it was raining. (because it was raining 修飾 stayed home 的原因)

分詞片語 (Participle Phrase): V-ing 或 V-ed 開頭

Walking to school, I saw a rainbow. (= When I was walking to school)


練習:在 10 個句子中圈出修飾語

請在以下句子中,用底線畫出所有修飾語,並標明它是什麼種類。

第 1 題: The little girl in the pink dress is singing happily.

威威解析
  • little(形容詞,修飾 girl)
  • in the pink dress(介系詞片語,修飾 girl)
  • happily(副詞,修飾 singing)

核心句:The girl is singing. 小女孩在唱歌。

第 2 題: My father carefully opened the old wooden box from the attic.

威威解析
  • carefully(副詞,修飾 opened)
  • old(形容詞,修飾 box)
  • wooden(形容詞,修飾 box)
  • from the attic(介系詞片語,修飾 box)

核心句:My father opened the box. 我爸爸打開了那個箱子。

第 3 題: The students who finished the test early were allowed to leave.

威威解析
  • who finished the test early(形容詞子句,修飾 students)
  • early(副詞,修飾 finished)

核心句:The students were allowed to leave. 學生們被允許離開。

第 4 題: Although she was very tired, she continued working on the project.

威威解析
  • Although she was very tired(副詞子句,修飾主要子句)
  • very(副詞,修飾 tired)
  • on the project(介系詞片語,修飾 working)

核心句:She continued working. 她繼續工作。

第 5 題: The young man wearing glasses standing near the door is our new teacher.

威威解析
  • young(形容詞,修飾 man)
  • wearing glasses(分詞片語,修飾 man)
  • standing near the door(分詞片語,修飾 man)
  • new(形容詞,修飾 teacher)

核心句:The man is our teacher. 那個男人是我們的老師。

第 6 題: Surprisingly, the small restaurant on the corner serves really delicious food.

威威解析
  • Surprisingly(副詞,修飾全句)
  • small(形容詞,修飾 restaurant)
  • on the corner(介系詞片語,修飾 restaurant)
  • really(副詞,修飾 delicious)
  • delicious(形容詞,修飾 food)

核心句:The restaurant serves food. 那家餐廳供應食物。

第 7 題: I bought a book about ancient history written by a famous professor.

威威解析
  • about ancient history(介系詞片語,修飾 book)
  • ancient(形容詞,修飾 history)
  • written by a famous professor(分詞片語,修飾 book)
  • famous(形容詞,修飾 professor)

核心句:I bought a book. 我買了一本書。

第 8 題: Because of the heavy rain, we decided to cancel the outdoor concert scheduled for tonight.

威威解析
  • Because of the heavy rain(介系詞片語,當副詞用)
  • heavy(形容詞,修飾 rain)
  • outdoor(形容詞,修飾 concert)
  • scheduled for tonight(分詞片語,修飾 concert)

核心句:We decided to cancel the concert. 我們決定取消音樂會。

第 9 題: The woman whom I met at the party last night called me this morning.

威威解析
  • whom I met at the party last night(形容詞子句,修飾 woman)
  • at the party(介系詞片語,修飾 met)
  • last night(副詞片語,修飾 met)
  • this morning(副詞片語,修飾 called)

核心句:The woman called me. 那個女人打電話給我。

第 10 題: Walking through the quiet park after dinner, the old couple enjoyed the cool evening breeze.

威威解析
  • Walking through the quiet park after dinner(分詞片語,修飾 couple)
  • through the quiet park(介系詞片語,修飾 Walking)
  • quiet(形容詞,修飾 park)
  • after dinner(介系詞片語,修飾 Walking)
  • old(形容詞,修飾 couple)
  • cool(形容詞,修飾 breeze)
  • evening(形容詞,修飾 breeze)

核心句:The couple enjoyed the breeze. 那對夫婦享受著微風。


Section 4:連接詞和子句層次 (Conjunctions and Clause Levels)

4.1 對等連接詞:連接平行結構

and / but / or / so / for / yet / nor

這些連接詞連接兩個地位相等的元素(字、片語、或子句)。

I like apples and oranges.(連接兩個名詞) She is smart but lazy.(連接兩個形容詞) He studied hard, so he passed the test.(連接兩個子句)

4.2 從屬連接詞:引導副詞子句

連接詞意思例子
because因為I stayed home because I was sick.
although / though雖然Although it rained, we had fun.
when / while / before / after時間When I arrived, the party had started.
if / unless條件If you study, you will pass.
since自從/既然Since you’re here, help me.
so…that如此…以至於He was so tired that he fell asleep.

4.3 關係代名詞:引導形容詞子句

關係代名詞先行詞例子
whoThe girl who sits next to me is kind.
whom人(受格)The man whom I met is a doctor.
which物/動物The book which I read was great.
that人/物The car that he bought is red.
whose所有格The boy whose dog is lost is crying.

4.4 that 引導名詞子句

that 也可以引導名詞子句,當作主詞或受詞使用:

That the earth is round is a fact.(當主詞) I know that she is honest.(當受詞)

5 個複合句的層次分析

分析 1

The teacher who teaches us English is very kind, so all the students love her.

層次分析
主要子句 1The teacher is very kind
形容詞子句who teaches us English(修飾 teacher)
對等連接詞so
主要子句 2all the students love her

分析 2

Although the exam was difficult, the students who had studied hard did well.

層次分析
副詞子句Although the exam was difficult
主要子句the students did well
形容詞子句who had studied hard(修飾 students)

分析 3

When I got home, I realized that I had left my keys at the office.

層次分析
副詞子句When I got home
主要子句I realized [something]
名詞子句that I had left my keys at the office(當 realized 的受詞)

分析 4

The boy whose father is a doctor wants to become a scientist because he loves science.

層次分析
主要子句The boy wants to become a scientist
形容詞子句whose father is a doctor(修飾 boy)
副詞子句because he loves science(修飾 wants)

分析 5

I believe that the book which I bought yesterday is the best one that I have ever read.

層次分析
主要子句I believe [something]
名詞子句that the book is the best one(believe 的受詞)
形容詞子句 1which I bought yesterday(修飾 book)
形容詞子句 2that I have ever read(修飾 one)

Section 5:10 個句子解碼練習

請對以下每個句子完成四個任務:

  1. 找 SVO
  2. 圈出修飾語
  3. 標出子句(如果有)
  4. 翻譯成中文

第 1 題: The little dog ran quickly across the busy street.

威威解析
  1. SVO: The dog (S) + ran (V) —— 不及物動詞,無受詞
  2. 修飾語: little(adj),quickly(adv),across the busy street(介系詞片語)
  3. 子句: 無(簡單句)
  4. 翻譯: 小狗快速地跑過繁忙的街道。

第 2 題: My mother made a delicious cake for my birthday.

威威解析
  1. SVO: My mother (S) + made (V) + a cake (O)
  2. 修飾語: delicious(adj),for my birthday(介系詞片語)
  3. 子句: 無(簡單句)
  4. 翻譯: 我媽媽為我的生日做了一個好吃的蛋糕。

第 3 題: The girl wearing the blue jacket is my classmate.

威威解析
  1. SVO: The girl (S) + is (V) + my classmate (C)
  2. 修飾語: wearing the blue jacket(分詞片語),blue(adj)
  3. 子句: 無(簡單句,分詞片語不是子句)
  4. 翻譯: 穿著藍色外套的那個女生是我的同學。

第 4 題: We should finish the project before the deadline arrives.

威威解析
  1. SVO: We (S) + should finish (V) + the project (O)
  2. 修飾語: before the deadline arrives(副詞子句)
  3. 子句: 主要子句 + 副詞子句(before 引導)
  4. 翻譯: 我們應該在截止日期到來之前完成這個專案。

第 5 題: The restaurant that opened last week near our school is already very popular.

威威解析
  1. SVO: The restaurant (S) + is (V) + popular (C)
  2. 修飾語: already(adv),very(adv),near our school(介系詞片語)
  3. 子句: that opened last week(形容詞子句,修飾 restaurant)
  4. 翻譯: 上週在我們學校附近開的那家餐廳已經非常受歡迎了。

第 6 題: Although the weather was terrible, we still enjoyed the trip because the food was amazing.

威威解析
  1. SVO: we (S) + enjoyed (V) + the trip (O)
  2. 修飾語: still(adv),amazing(adj),terrible(adj)
  3. 子句:
    • 副詞子句 1:Although the weather was terrible
    • 副詞子句 2:because the food was amazing
  4. 翻譯: 雖然天氣很糟,我們仍然享受這趟旅行,因為食物太棒了。

第 7 題: The scientist who discovered the new medicine has received many awards since she published her research.

威威解析
  1. SVO: The scientist (S) + has received (V) + many awards (O)
  2. 修飾語: new(adj),many(adj)
  3. 子句:
    • 形容詞子句:who discovered the new medicine(修飾 scientist)
    • 副詞子句:since she published her research
  4. 翻譯: 發現那種新藥的科學家自從發表了她的研究後,已經獲得了許多獎項。

第 8 題: Not only did she finish the report on time, but she also helped her colleagues with their work.

威威解析
  1. SVO:
    • 子句 1:she (S) + finish (V) + the report (O)
    • 子句 2:she (S) + helped (V) + her colleagues (O)
  2. 修飾語: on time(介系詞片語),also(adv),with their work(介系詞片語)
  3. 子句: Not only…but also… 連接兩個對等子句(Not only 倒裝)
  4. 翻譯: 她不但準時完成了報告,還幫同事做他們的工作。

第 9 題: The fact that the earth revolves around the sun was not widely accepted in ancient times.

威威解析
  1. SVO: The fact (S) + was not accepted (V) —— 被動語態
  2. 修飾語: widely(adv),in ancient times(介系詞片語)
  3. 子句: that the earth revolves around the sun(名詞子句,當 fact 的同位語)
  4. 翻譯: 地球繞著太陽轉這個事實在古代並不被廣泛接受。

第 10 題: Whoever finishes the test first can leave the classroom without waiting for the bell.

威威解析
  1. SVO: Whoever finishes the test first (S) + can leave (V) + the classroom (O)
  2. 修飾語: first(adv),without waiting for the bell(介系詞片語)
  3. 子句: Whoever finishes the test first(名詞子句,當主詞)
  4. 翻譯: 任何最先完成考試的人可以不用等鐘聲就離開教室。

Section 6:10 個實戰句子

以下句子的風格和難度模擬國中會考/學測閱讀測驗中常出現的句子。每題有三個小題。


實戰第 1 題

The discovery of penicillin, which was made by Alexander Fleming in 1928, changed the world of medicine forever.

1-a. 請找出本句的主詞和主要動詞。 1-b. “which was made by Alexander Fleming in 1928” 是什麼子句?修飾什麼? 1-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

1-a. 主詞:The discovery of penicillin;動詞:changed 1-b. 形容詞子句,修飾 “penicillin”(也有人認為修飾 “discovery”,但根據句意應是修飾 “discovery” —— 青黴素的發現是由 Fleming 做的) 1-c. 1928 年由亞歷山大·弗萊明所發現的青黴素,永遠改變了醫學界。


實戰第 2 題

Despite the warnings from environmental scientists, the government continued to allow factories to release harmful chemicals into the river.

2-a. 請找出 SVO。 2-b. “Despite the warnings from environmental scientists” 在句中扮演什麼角色? 2-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

2-a. S:the government;V:continued;O:to allow factories to release harmful chemicals into the river 2-b. 介系詞片語,當副詞用,表示讓步(儘管)。 2-c. 儘管環境科學家提出了警告,政府仍持續允許工廠將有害化學物質排放到河裡。


實戰第 3 題

It wasn’t until she arrived home that she realized she had left her phone at the coffee shop.

3-a. 請問本句使用什麼特殊句型? 3-b. 請找出三個動詞,並說明分別是什麼時態。 3-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

3-a. It was not until…that…(直到…才…)的強調句型。 3-b. arrived(過去式)、realized(過去式)、had left(過去完成式,表示在 realized 之前發生) 3-c. 她直到回到家才發現自己把手機留在咖啡店了。


實戰第 4 題

The reason why many teenagers prefer online shopping to visiting physical stores is that it offers greater convenience and lower prices.

4-a. 請找出主詞和動詞。 4-b. 本句包含幾個子句?請一一列出。 4-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

4-a. 主詞:The reason(why many teenagers prefer online shopping to visiting physical stores 是形容詞子句修飾 reason);動詞:is 4-b. 三個子句:

  • 主要子句:The reason is [that…]
  • 形容詞子句:why many teenagers prefer online shopping to visiting physical stores
  • 名詞子句:that it offers greater convenience and lower prices(當補語) 4-c. 許多青少年偏好網購勝過去實體店面的原因是,網購提供更大的便利性和更低的價格。

實戰第 5 題

Had the researchers known about the side effects earlier, they would have redesigned the experiment.

5-a. 請問 “Had the researchers known” 是什麼句型的變化? 5-b. 請找出本句的假設條件和假設結果。 5-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

5-a. 這是與過去事實相反的假設語氣倒裝句。原句為 If the researchers had known…,省略 if 後將 Had 倒裝到主詞前面。 5-b. 假設條件:Had the researchers known about the side effects earlier;假設結果:they would have redesigned the experiment. 5-c. 如果研究人員早知道那些副作用的話,他們就會重新設計實驗了。


實戰第 6 題

The more time students spend on social media, the less likely they are to complete their homework on time.

6-a. 請問本句使用什麼句型? 6-b. “the less likely they are to complete…” 的 S+V 是什麼? 6-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

6-a. The + 比較級…, the + 比較級…(越…就越…)的句型。 6-b. S:they;V:are;C:likely to complete their homework on time 6-c. 學生花在社交媒體上的時間越多,就越不可能準時完成作業。


實戰第 7 題

What surprised everyone at the meeting was not the proposal itself but the fact that it came from the newest employee.

7-a. 請問 “What surprised everyone at the meeting” 在句中扮演什麼角色? 7-b. “that it came from the newest employee” 是什麼子句? 7-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

7-a. 名詞子句,當主詞。 7-b. 名詞子句,當 fact 的同位語 (appositive),用來具體說明 fact 的內容。 7-c. 讓會議中所有人驚訝的不是提案本身,而是它來自最新員工這個事實。


實戰第 8 題

The old man, sitting alone on the bench in the park, watched the children playing happily on the playground.

8-a. 請找出 S+V+O。 8-b. 請列出所有修飾語及其種類。 8-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

8-a. S:The old man;V:watched;O:the children 8-b. sitting alone on the bench in the park(分詞片語,修飾 man)、playing happily on the playground(分詞片語,修飾 children) 8-c. 獨自坐在公園長椅上的老人,看著在遊樂場開心玩耍的孩子們。


實戰第 9 題

Only when we understand the problem can we begin to look for an effective solution.

9-a. 請問本句為什麼 can 放在 we 前面? 9-b. 請問 “Only when we understand the problem” 是什麼子句? 9-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

9-a. 因為 “Only + 副詞子句” 放句首時,主要子句需要倒裝 (inversion)。正常語序為 we can begin… 9-b. 副詞子句,修飾主要子句的條件。 9-c. 只有當我們了解問題時,我們才能開始尋找有效的解決方案。


實戰第 10 題

The invention of the smartphone, which combines the functions of a phone, a camera, and a computer, has completely transformed how people communicate with each other.

10-a. 請找出主詞和動詞。 10-b. 請問 “how people communicate with each other” 在句中是什麼成分? 10-c. 請翻譯整句。

威威解析

10-a. 主詞:The invention of the smartphone;動詞:has transformed 10-b. 名詞子句,當 has transformed 的受詞。 10-c. 結合了電話、相機和電腦功能的智慧型手機的發明,已經徹底改變了人們彼此溝通的方式。


Section 7:句子解碼總複習 Checklist

在進入下一篇 R02 基礎閱讀-段落理解 之前,請確認你已經掌握:

  • 我能在一個句子中快速找到主要動詞
  • 我能分辨主詞、受詞、補語
  • 我能辨識形容詞、副詞、介系詞片語等修飾語
  • 我能判斷一個句子包含幾個子句
  • 我能分辨形容詞子句、副詞子句、名詞子句
  • 我能把長句「瘦身」成 S+V+O 的核心句
  • 我能正確翻譯包含修飾語和子句的長句

恭喜!

如果以上都能打勾,你已經具備了閱讀理解最基礎也最重要的能力——句子解碼。接下來我們要進入段落層次,學習如何理解一整段文字的主旨和結構。

下一課: R02 基礎閱讀-段落理解