河南 昝勝利
在高考英語試題中,倒裝句是天津卷、江蘇卷單項(xiàng)填空題的??键c(diǎn)。全國卷、浙江卷等雖未直接考查倒裝句,但由于倒裝句經(jīng)常在英語閱讀文章中出現(xiàn),因此其會(huì)影響學(xué)生對語篇的理解甚至解題。此外,在概要寫作、讀后續(xù)寫、應(yīng)用文寫作中適當(dāng)使用倒裝句會(huì)使文章的語言表達(dá)變得生動(dòng)形象、富有文采。
英語句子的語序通常是主語在前,謂語在后。把謂語動(dòng)詞的全部或一部分提到主語前面的句子叫做倒裝句。倒裝句包括全部倒裝和部分倒裝。為了幫助考生全面掌握有關(guān)倒裝句的基礎(chǔ)知識(shí),并在寫作中適當(dāng)運(yùn)用倒裝句,筆者對倒裝句進(jìn)行了系統(tǒng)梳理。
全部倒裝是指把全部的謂語動(dòng)詞放在主語的前面。以下幾種情況,通常用全部倒裝:
1.在there be 句型中,動(dòng)詞appear,come,exist,happen,lie,live,occur,seem,remain,stand 可替代be 動(dòng)詞。例如:
【典例1】Once upon a time,there lived a king who ruled a small country near the sea.
【典例2】There happened to be an ancient water town not too far away from the city.
【典例3】There remained some problems to be solved when the new president came to power.
2.表示地點(diǎn)的副詞here,there 置于句首,且主語是名詞而不是代詞時(shí)。例如:
【典例1】Here comes the school bus.
【典例2】There goes the bell.Let’s go to the classroom.
【典例3】John opened the door.There stood a girl he had never seen before.
注意:如果主語是代詞,只把副詞here,there 放在句首,主語在前,謂語在后。例如:
【典例1】Here it is.
【典例2】There we are.
3.表示時(shí)間的副詞now,then 和表示動(dòng)作方向的副詞away,down,in,off,out,up 等置于句首時(shí)。例如:
【典例1】Now comes your turn to answer my questions.
【典例2】Then followed a long silence.
【典例3】Away flew the bird.
【典例4】Down came the rain.
4.用作地點(diǎn)狀語的介詞短語置于句首,表示強(qiáng)調(diào)時(shí)。例如:
【典例1】In the room lay some old boxes full of clothes.
【典例2】By the roadside stood six blind men,begging from the passers-by.
【典例3】On the top of the mountains stands a pavilion overlooking the valley.
【典例4】The soldier finally arrived at a farm house,in front of which stood an old oak tree.
【典例5】In the middle of the city square is a music fountain,where the citizens enjoy themselves after work.
5.句中的表語比較短,而主語比較長,為了保持句子平衡而將表語前置時(shí)。例如:
【典例1】Present at the conference were professors from key universities and some government officials.
【典例2】Gone are the days when farmers used oxen and horses on their farms.
6.用感嘆句表示祝愿時(shí)。例如:
【典例】Long live the friendship between China and Pakistan!
部分倒裝是指把謂語的一部分,如助動(dòng)詞(do,does,did,will,shall,have,has,had)、系動(dòng)詞(be)、情態(tài)動(dòng)詞(can,may,must,dare等)等放在主語的前面。以下幾種情況,通常采用部分倒裝。
1.表示否定、半否定意義的副詞或短語,如little,never,never before,neither,nor,not only...but also...,not until,seldom,hardly,scarcely,not,nowhere,by no means,in no case,in no way,on no account,on no condition,under no circumstances 等置于句首時(shí)。例如:
【典例1】Not once did it occur to Michael that he could one day become a top student in his class.
【典例2】Not only do the workers want a pay increase,they want reduced hours as well.
【典例3】It’s nice.Never before have I had such a special drink!
【考例】(2019 年天津卷,12)The professor warned the students that on no account should they use mobile phones in his class.
【解析】句意:教師警告這些學(xué)生們,在任何情況下,他們都不能在上課時(shí)使用手機(jī)。本句含有that 引導(dǎo)的賓語從句,因短語on no account(絕不,切勿)置于從句的句首,因此應(yīng)采用部分倒裝。
2.當(dāng)“only+副詞、介詞短語或狀語從句”置于句首時(shí)。例如:
【典例1】Only then did I realize that it was foolish to break away from my friends and never contact them.
【典例2】Only by working hard can you make your dream come true.
【典例3】Only when I reread his poem recently did I begin to appreciate their beauty.
【考例1】(2015 年湖南卷,23)Only after talking to two students did I discover that having strong motivation is one of the biggest factors in reaching goals.
【解析】因“Only+介詞after+doing”置于句首,故句子的主干應(yīng)采用部分倒裝。
【考例2】(2015 年天津卷,3)Only when Lily walked into the office did she realize that she had left the contract at home.
【解析】因“Only +when 時(shí)間狀語從句”置于句首,故句子的主句應(yīng)采用部分倒裝。因when 引導(dǎo)的時(shí)間狀語從句為一般過去時(shí),主句也應(yīng)用一般過去時(shí)。
注意:如果only+when 狀語從句用于強(qiáng)調(diào)句中,不再倒裝,而是采用正常語序。例如:
【典例】It was only when he reached the tea-house that she realized it was the same place he’d been in last year.
【考例3】(2018 年天津卷,14)It was only when the car pulled up in front of our house that we saw Lily in the passenger seat.
【解析】句意:直到汽車在我們房子前停下,我們才看到莉莉坐在乘客席上。考查強(qiáng)調(diào)句,強(qiáng)調(diào)句型的結(jié)構(gòu)為:It is/ was+被強(qiáng)調(diào)部分(通常是主語、賓語或狀語)+that/who(當(dāng)強(qiáng)調(diào)主語且主語指人)+其他部分。本題強(qiáng)調(diào)時(shí)間狀語“only when the car pulled up in front of our house”,因此空白處應(yīng)填that。
3.副詞so,neither,nor 表示前句陳述的情況也適用另一個(gè)主語。如果前句是肯定句,用“so +系動(dòng)詞(be)/助動(dòng)詞/情態(tài)動(dòng)詞+另一個(gè)主語”;前句是否定句,用“neither/nor +系動(dòng)詞(be)/助動(dòng)詞/情態(tài)動(dòng)詞+另一個(gè)主語”。例如:
【典例1】Jane won’t join us for dinner tonight.Neither will Lucy.
【典例2】— I don’t know about you,but I’m sick and tired of this weather.
—So am I.I can’t stand all this rain.
【典例3】The headmaster will not permit the change in the course,nor will he even give it a thought.
【典例4】This is not my story,nor is it the whole story.My story plays out differently.
【典例5】If Tom doesn’t go to the party,nor/neither shall I.
注意:
(1)如果說話的兩個(gè)人在談?wù)撏患?,即前后的主語相同,只把so放在句首,第二個(gè)分句不采用倒裝。例如:
【典例1】—The weather is fine these days.
—So it is.
【典例2】—Xu Xin plays ping pang very well.
—So he does.That is why he has won a lot of world titles.
(2)如果前句既有實(shí)義動(dòng)詞,又有系動(dòng)詞或情態(tài)動(dòng)詞,或者前句既有否定,又有肯定,則用It is the same with.../so it is with...表示“……也是這樣”。例如:
【典例1】Alice is from America and she loves Chinese food.It is the same with Amy.
【典例2】I like rice,but I don’t like noodles.So it is with my brother.
4.在so...that...和such...that...句式中,當(dāng)“ so+形容詞/副詞”“ such+形容詞+名詞”置于句首時(shí),主句則采用部分倒裝。例如:
【典例1】So beautiful is Hangzhou that it attracts millions of tourists from home and abroad every year.
【典例2】Such fine weather did we have that we decided to go for a picnic.
5.由連接詞No sooner...than...,Scarcely...when...,Hardly...when...引導(dǎo)的狀語從句,意為“一……就……”,表示兩個(gè)動(dòng)作接連發(fā)生。主句通常采用過去完成時(shí)和部分倒裝,把had 置于主語之前,主句不采用倒裝。
【典例1】No sooner had Mo Yan stepped on the stage than the audience broke into thunderous applause.
【典例2】Scarcely had I sat down to eat when the phone rang.
【典例3】No sooner had I set off than it started raining.
6.連詞not only...but also...連接兩個(gè)句子時(shí),如果把not only 置于句首,第一個(gè)分句通常采用部分倒裝,but also 連接的分句不采用倒裝,but 可省略。
【典例】Not only did he turn up late,he also forgot to bring his wallet.
7.not until +時(shí)間狀語(從句)置于句首時(shí),主句采用部分倒裝,從句不倒裝。例如:
【典例】Not until all the fish died in the river did the villagers realize how serious the pollution was.
【考例】(2016 年江蘇卷,34)Not until recently did they encourage the development of tourists-related activities in the rural areas.
【解析】因not until recently 置于句首,因此句子采用部分倒裝。
注意:當(dāng)not until+狀語從句用于強(qiáng)調(diào)句型時(shí),不采用倒裝。
【典例】It was not until all the fish died in the river that the villagers realized how serious pollution was.
8.在省略if 的虛擬條件句中,通常將系動(dòng)詞were、助動(dòng)詞had,should 提到主語之前。例如:
【典例1】Had we booked a table earlier,we couldn’t be standing here in a queue.
【典例2】Should it rain tomorrow we would have to put off the sports meeting.
【典例3】Were I in your position,I would lend him a helping hand.
【考例1】(2017 年江蘇卷,22)Were it not for the support of the teachers,the student could not overcome her difficulty.
【解析】題干采用虛擬語氣,表示與現(xiàn)在的事實(shí)相反。因省略連詞if,故采用部分倒裝,把were 置于主語it 之前。
【考例2】(2015 年江蘇卷,28)It might have saved me some trouble had I known the schedule.
【解析】題干采用虛擬語氣,表示與過去的事實(shí)相反。主句在前,從句在后。因省略連詞if,故采用部分倒裝,把助動(dòng)詞had 置于主語I 之前。
注意與倒裝句相關(guān)的幾個(gè)問題:
1.由連詞as/though 引導(dǎo)的讓步狀語從句,可以將作表語的形容詞、作狀語的副詞置于句首,但主謂語序不變。如:
【典例1】Young as he was,he started making a living on his own.=Although/Though he was young...
【典例2】Much as I like the smart phone,I cannot afford it.=Although/Though I like the smart phone very much...
注意:
(1)如果把作表語的名詞提到句首,通常省略其前面的不定冠詞 a/an。例如:
【典例】Child as/though he was,Charles Chaplin started earning money for his family.
(2)有時(shí),as/though 引導(dǎo)的讓步狀語從句把動(dòng)詞原形置于從句的句首,采用“動(dòng)詞原形+主語+情態(tài)動(dòng)詞”的結(jié)構(gòu)。例如:
【典例1】Try as she might,Sue couldn’t get the door open.
【典例2】Object as you may,I have decided to travel to Tibet.
2.當(dāng)however/no matter how +形容詞或副詞引導(dǎo)狀語從句時(shí),通常放在句首,用以加強(qiáng)語氣,但讓步狀語從句的主謂不采用倒裝。例如:
【典例1】However far/No matter how far they are away from home,they still plan to go back home.
【典例2】However hard/No matter how hard he tried,he failed to find a solution to the problem.
3.以what/how 開頭的感嘆句,只把“What+形容詞+名詞”或“How +形容詞/副詞”置于句首,主謂不倒裝。例如:
【典例1】What terrible weather we are having today!
【典例2】How hard they are all working!
在英語中,為了加強(qiáng)語氣或?qū)渲械哪硞€(gè)句子成分進(jìn)行強(qiáng)調(diào),通常使用強(qiáng)調(diào)句式。強(qiáng)調(diào)句式的構(gòu)成:It is/was +被強(qiáng)調(diào)部分that/who/whom+句子的其他部分。除了謂語動(dòng)詞之外,句子中的其他成分都可以用該句式加以強(qiáng)調(diào)。如果被強(qiáng)調(diào)部分為人,用that 或who(強(qiáng)調(diào)主語)、whom(強(qiáng)調(diào)賓語);如果被強(qiáng)調(diào)部分不是人,而是事物,一律用that。例如:
【典例1】It was German Chancellor Angela Merkel who/that visited Wuhan in September 2019.
【典例2】It is Wuhan that German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited in September 2019.
【典例3】It is in September 2019 that German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Wuhan.
【典例4】It’s not doing the things we like,but liking the things we have to do that makes life happy.
【考例1】(2016 年天津卷,13)You are waiting at a wrong place.It is at the hotel that the coach picks up tourists.
【解析】題干中含有強(qiáng)調(diào)句式,被強(qiáng)調(diào)部分是地點(diǎn)狀語“at the hotel”,因此空白處應(yīng)填that。
【考例2】(2017 年天津卷,11)It was when I got back to my apartment that I first came across my new neighbors.
【解析】句意:正當(dāng)我回到公寓時(shí),我才第一次遇見我的新鄰居們。題干含有強(qiáng)調(diào)句式,強(qiáng)調(diào)部分為時(shí)間狀語“when I got back to my apartment”,因此空白處應(yīng)填that。
值得注意的是,當(dāng)only+副詞/介詞短語/when 狀語從句和not until+時(shí)間狀語(從句)置于句首時(shí),通常采用倒裝。但是,如果這些結(jié)構(gòu)用于強(qiáng)調(diào)句式中,句子則不再倒裝。例如:
【典例1】It was only when I left home to go to college that I began to realize how much my mother had done for me.
【典例2】It was not until he went abroad that my uncle realized how he missed his family.
在寫作中,如果全部使用普通句式,語言表達(dá)便會(huì)顯得中規(guī)中矩,平淡無奇。有句英語格言說“Variety is the spice of life.(多樣化是生活的調(diào)味品。)”。為了使表達(dá)靈活多樣,增強(qiáng)語言的感染力,教師可以鼓勵(lì)學(xué)生嘗試在寫作時(shí)使用倒裝句。請比較下面兩組表達(dá):
【考例1】(2018 年全國卷Ⅱ書面表達(dá))為校宣傳欄“英語天地”寫一則通知,請大家觀看一部英文短片Growing Together。
表達(dá)一:I’d like to offer you some detailed information.
表達(dá)二:Here is the detailed information.
表達(dá)二采用了倒裝句,語言更為簡練,表達(dá)效果更好。
【考例2】(2018 年全國卷Ⅲ書面表達(dá))為筆友介紹你校學(xué)生體育運(yùn)動(dòng)情況。
表達(dá)一:The playground is behind the teaching building,which consists of eight running tracks,four basketball courts,six badminton courts and a football field.
表達(dá)二:Behind the teaching building is the playground,which consists of eight running tracks,four basketball courts,six badminton courts and a football field.
表達(dá)二采用了倒裝句,由which 引導(dǎo)的定語從句緊跟在先行詞playground 之后,句子顯得更為緊湊。
總之,雖然倒裝句看似不按常規(guī)出牌,但是它們卻有自己的套路。如果教師引導(dǎo)學(xué)生深入研究倒裝句,認(rèn)真總結(jié)和歸納相關(guān)規(guī)律,就能使其更全面地掌握倒裝句的用法,在交際語境中正確地使用倒裝句,提升其語言表達(dá)的檔次,讓語言表達(dá)變得靈活多樣,增強(qiáng)語言的感染力。