倒装(Inversion)是一种语法手段,用以表示一定句子结构的需要和强调某一句子成分的需要。英语句子中,如果主语较长或主语结构比较复杂,就会引起倒装。比如:Happy indeed is Tom who get a gift from one of his friends. 当前置宾语由“not a + 名词”或者“not a single + 名词”构成时,也会引起倒装,例如:
英语中的倒装有两种,最常见的是某些状语的前置:一种是全部倒装,是指整个谓语放在主语之前,另外一种是局部倒装,仅仅是指助动词放在主语之前,其他成分不需要改变顺序。常见的有以下几种情况:
需要全部倒装的情况有:
1.表示方位的副词(如:down, up, out, in, off, on, away等)或者拟声词等作状语位于句首,谓语动词为go,come等表示位置转移的动态动词时。例如:
1)Up went the rocket into the air. 嗖地一声火箭就飞上天了。
2)There was a sudden gust of wind and away went his hat. 突然一阵风吹来,他的帽子飞走了。
但是,如果主语是人称代词的句子,那就不用倒装,例如:
1)Lower and lower Jim bent.吉姆弯腰弯的越来越低。
2)Lower and lower he bent. 他弯腰弯的越来越低。
2.表示地点的介词词组位于一个句子的句首时。例如:
1)In this chapter will you study the important point of the exam. 本章节,你们将会学习到考试的重点。
2)From the valley came a tinkling sound.从山谷中,传来一阵丁当声。
部分倒装的情况有:
3.表示否定的词或带有否定意义的词语(如 not, little, hardly, scarcely, no more, no longer, in no way, never, seldom, not only, no sooner等)位于句首时,一般引起部分倒装。例如:
1)Never have I found him in such a good mood. 我从没发现他心情如此好。
2)Not for one minute do I think I have any hope of getting promoted.我从没想过我有任何升职的希望。
3)No sooner had I got home than it began to rain. 我刚到家就下起了雨
4)Hardly had he finished his work when the telephone rang.电话响起时,他还没有完成他的工作。
4.句首状语如果由“only+副词”、“only+介词词组”、“only+状语从句”构成,也可引起部分倒装。例如:
1)Only yesterday did he find out that his watch was missing.直到昨天,他才发现他的手表不见了。
2)Only in this way can you solve this problem. 只有用这种方法,你才可以解决这个问题。
3)Only after he had spoken out the word did he realize he had made a big mistake.只有当他已经说出那个字后才意识到自己犯了个大错误。
5.在以关联连词so(...that)开头的句子结构中,“so+形容词”位于句首时,引起全部倒装;“so+副词”位于句首时,引起局部倒装。例如:
1)So unreasonable was his price that everybody startled. 他的要价太离谱,令每个人都瞠目结舌。
2)So much does he worry about his financial postition that he can’t sleep at night.他太担心他的财政位置,以至于他无法安然入睡。
倒装是英语中一个重要的修辞手段。倒装句的使用丰富了我们的语言表达,了解并掌握倒装句各种句式的用法,不仅会提高我们对英语语言的欣赏能力,对英语表达能力的提高也将大有裨益。因此,写作中适当用一些倒装句式定会使文章表达更生动、有力。