淺談英語倒裝句
2011-08-06 11:43 科技信息報 今日文教 8.8 王晶
倒裝(Inversion)是一種語法手段,用以強調一定句子結構或某一句子成分,把正常情況下較晚出現的句子成分移至句首,使之處于突出的位置。英語句子的倒裝有兩種情況,一是由于語法結構的需要而進行的倒裝,二是由于修辭的需要而進行的倒裝。前一種情況,倒裝是必須的,否則就會出現語法錯誤;后一種情況,倒裝是選擇性的,倒裝與否只會產生表達效果上的差異。
由于語法結構的需要而進行的倒裝有兩種,將主語和謂語完全顛倒過來,叫做完全倒裝(Complete Inversion)。如:On the wall hang two large portraits。只將謂語動詞的一部分(如be,have,助動詞、情態動詞等)移至主語之前,叫做部分倒裝(Partial Inversion)。如: Seldom has drumming caused such conflict。下面我結合英語教學實踐,對兩種倒裝句的結構特點進行分類分析。
(一)完全倒裝(Complete Inversion)
1.當句首是here/there/in/up/down/on/out/back/then等表示地點、時間、方位的副詞,而謂語動詞是rush/run/com/go等不及物動詞時,用全部倒裝結構,此時的謂語動詞不需要助動詞。
如:For a moment nothing happened. Then (B) all shouting together.
A. voices had come B. came voices
C. voices would come D. did voices come
但如果主語是代詞時,則謂語不倒裝。如:Here you are. There she comes。
2.表示地點的介詞短語位于句首時。如:On the wall hang two large portraits。
3.當謂語動詞時等不及物動詞,而且地點狀語提至句首時,或當主系表結構中的表語提前時或在句型中,都可以引起全部倒裝,此時要注意主謂一致。
4.直接引語的部分或全部位于句首時,點明說話人的部分主謂語要倒裝。
(二)部分倒裝(Partial Inversion)
1.否定或否定意義的副詞或介詞置于句首時,引起部分倒裝結構,常見的詞有little/never/not/seldom/no longer 等。新課標Unit23中有很多這樣的例子。如:Neither could they relax or read a book without plugging their ears.
2. “not only...(but also)...”位于句首引導兩個分句時,前一個分句中的主謂要采用部分倒裝,第二個分句則不倒裝。如: The computer was used in teaching. As a result, not only (B) , but students became more interested in the lessons.
A. saved was teachers’ energy
B. was teachers’energy saved
C. teachers’ energy was saved
D. was saved teachers’ energy
3. only修飾的狀語(副詞、介詞短語或狀語從句)位于句首時。如:Only with more practice can you pass the driving test. 但only修飾主語時,則不倒裝。如:Only the teacher has the right to do that.
4. not until位于句首時,只有主句用倒裝,until引導的從句不倒裝。如:Not until all the fish died in the river did the villagers realize how serious the pollution was.
5.在no sooner...than..., hardly/scarcely/barely... When... 結構中,前面部分位于句首時,其后的分句要部分倒裝(謂語用過去完成時)。如:No sooner had he finished his talk than he was surrounded by the workers.
6. so/neither/nor開頭的句子,說明前面的內容也適用于后者時,用倒裝句“so/neither/nor + be/have/助動詞/情態動詞+主語”。如:He is a teacher, so am I.
但同意對方的看法,表示“是的、確實”之意時,用“so+主語+be/have/助動詞/情態動詞”句式,即主謂不倒裝。如:Jam is a good students. So he is.
7. as/though引導讓步狀語從句時,可將謂語部分的形容詞/名詞/動詞等提到句首,采用部分倒裝。如果位于句首的是單數可數名詞,其前不加冠詞。如:Child as he is, he knows a lot.
8.在so/such...that...結構中,so/such及其修飾部分位于句首時,主句要用部分倒裝。
如:So sudden (C) that the enemy had no time to escape.
A. did the attack B. the attack did C. was the attack
D. the attack was
倒裝也是英語中一個重要的修辭手段。倒裝句可以用來突出強調,平衡句子結構,承上啟下,渲染氣氛,使描寫更加生動等作用。了解并掌握倒裝句各種句式的用法,不僅會提高我們對英語語言的欣賞能力,也會大大提高我們的英語表達能力。
