倒裝是修辭方式之一——或?yàn)閺?qiáng)調(diào)語(yǔ)義,或?yàn)榫涫缴鷦?dòng)。相對(duì)于主謂完全顛倒的倒裝句,有一類倒裝句系添加助動(dòng)詞式倒裝。這類倒裝屬語(yǔ)法要求,盡管它仍有修辭功能。
先看第一組句子:
Only then was he able to do it.
Only at present can we write some passages in English.
Only after they had performed hundreds of experiments did they succeed in solving the problem.
由上可知,only強(qiáng)調(diào)狀語(yǔ)在句首時(shí),該句須語(yǔ)法性倒裝。
再看第二組句子:
Little do we doubt that this district is rich in mineral resources.
Never did I think of meeting you here.
Not until then did he recognize me.
Not only was he a scientist,(but)he was also an artist.
No sooner had the plane landed than the people cheered up.
He did not come. Nor/Neither did his classmates.
由上可知,否定意義的狀語(yǔ)被強(qiáng)調(diào)放在句首時(shí),該句須語(yǔ)法性倒裝。
還有第三組句子:
So fast does light travel that it is difficult for us to imagine its speed. (固定句型:Light travels so fast that it is difficult for us to imagine its speed.)
Our society has changed greatly and so have the people in it. (固定句型:Our society has changed greatly and the people in it have done so.)
Was / Were there no electricity, we would still live a hard life. (固定句型:If there was no electricity,we would still live a hard life.)
再如,Had it not been for their help,we should not have succeeded. (= If it had not been for their help, we should not have succeeded.)
由此可見,固定句型中的某部分需要強(qiáng)調(diào)放在句首時(shí),該句須語(yǔ)法性倒裝。
由上述三組語(yǔ)法性變動(dòng)的句子可以看出,若不倒裝則為語(yǔ)法性錯(cuò)誤。而修辭性倒裝則不然,它為文章的結(jié)構(gòu)或風(fēng)格所需要。
練習(xí)
(1)The old couple have been married for 40 years and never once ____ with each other.
A. they had quarreledB. they have quarreled
C. have they quarreled D. had they quarreled
(2)—Then will our project start!(修辭性倒裝)
—__________!
A. May you succeedB. Might you succeed
C. You may succeedD. You might succeed
(3)__________ that she couldn’t speak a word!
A. Moved so was she B. So moved she was
C. Was so moved she D. So moved was she
編輯/梁宇清