英语的最基本的结构是主、谓结构,倒装就是将这种比较固定的词序加以颠倒。英语的倒装结构分为两种:完全倒装和部分倒装。完全倒装即指整个谓语动词被放在主语的前面。在此和大家分享一下“完全倒装的常见结构”,以帮助大家很快识别倒装并还原。
常见的完全倒装结构:
(1) 副词here, there, then, now, next,等至于句首时:
Your turn comes now.Now comes your turn.
Edward and his wife came next.Next came Edward and his wife.
A ticket for you is here.Here is a ticket for you.
Notes: 主语为代词时,不用倒装
He comes now. Now he comes.
(2) 表地点的介词短语置于句首时:
An old man sat in front of the house.In front of the house sat an old man.
A beautiful lake lies at the foot of the hill.At the foot of the hill lies a beautiful lake.
Some students are sitting under the tree.
Under the tree are sitting some students.
Notes: 主语为代词时,不用倒装
He came in again.In he came again.
He sat in front of the house.In front of the house he sat.
(3) 方位副词off, away, up, in, down等至于句首时:
The horse went off.Off went the horse.
The prices went up.Up went the prices.
The bird flew away.Away flew the bird.
Notes: 主语为代词时,不用倒装
(4) 形容词/形容词短语/现在分词短语/过去分词短语做句子的表语位于句首时:(此时句中的谓语动词往往是系动词,包括be动词,持续系动词:keep, remain, stay等,感官系动词:feel, smell, sound, taste,变化系动词:become, go, get等。)
Mr. White and many other friends were present at the meeting.Present at the meeting were Mr. White and many other friends.
A boy was lying on the floor.Lying on the floor was a boy.
接下来,给大家列举几个考研真题的例句,检测大家是否能一眼识别完全倒装结构:
a. Implicit within Taylor’s definition is the concept that culture is learned, shared, and patterned behavior. (2013年英译汉)
分析:这里是完全倒装,倒装结构是上述的(4):形容词短语(implicit within Taylor’s definition)作表语置于句首。
译文:泰勒对文化的定义隐含这样一层意思,即文化是一种学习、交流和模式化的行为。
b. At the core of this debate is chairman Gerald Levin, 56, who took over for the late Steve Ross in 1992. (1997年阅读)
分析:这里是完全倒装,倒装结构是上述的(2):表地点的介词短语(at the core of this debate)置于句首。
译文:这场争论的核心人物是现年56岁的主席Gerald Levin。他于1992年接替已故的Steve Ross。
c. Emerging from the 1980 census is the picture of a nation developing more and more regional competition, as population growth in the Northeast and Midwest reaches a near standstill.
分析:这里是完全倒装,倒装结构是上述的(4):现在分词短语(emerging from the 1980 census)作表语置于句首。
译文:1980年的人口普查显示,随着东北部和中西部人口发展几乎停顿,国家形成越来越多的地方性竞争。
以上便是英语的完全倒装及其常见的结构。倒装结构是考研英语难点之一,了解和掌握常见的倒装结构,可以帮助大家很快识别长难句中的倒装并还原为正常语序,从而肃清句子理解的障碍。