中英两种语言的结构有很大不同，词序便是其中之一。例如英语单数人称代词(singular personal pronouns)的排列顺序是：you and I; he and I; you, he and I。you常常居前；I则殿后。复数人称代词(plural personal pronouns)的位置是：we and you; you and they; we, you and they。we常常在最前；they在最后。

　　英语复数人称代词词序和中文的一样，但单数人称代词的排列却和中文的不同。中文中，"我"常在前；"他"常在后：我和你；我和他；我，你，他。

　　简简单单的人称代词的词序，就有这么大的差别，其他更复杂的结构之间的差异，就更可想而知了。

　　现在试再举些其他词序差异的例子：①要分清敌我→We must distinguish between ourselves and the enemy.②男女老少→men and women, young and old③发展钢铁工业→develop the iron and steel industry。

　　此外，中英文并列的词语有轻重之分。中文往往把重的词放在前，把分量较轻的置后；英语则恰恰相反：轻者在前，重者在后。例如：④无地和少地的农民→those peasants who have little or no land⑤救死扶伤→heal the wounded and rescue the dying ("扶"也可译为"support"或"assist")⑥使人民经济有所增长，有所补充→We must help the people to supplement and expand their economy.

　　上述中英词序的差异，稍有疏忽，便会出错，因此要多多留意。

　　其实，不谈两种不同语言的词序，就英语本身来说，词序(word order)问题也是经常出现的错误之一，只是不如其他错误普遍罢了。

　　⒈频率副词(adverbs of frequency)，如：

　　⑦a. Jim always is happy.

　　b. Jim is always happy.

　　⒉倒装句(inverted constructions)，如：

　　⑧a. Only by working hard you can become useful to the country.

　　b. Only by working hard can you become useful to the country.

　　⑨a. Seldom I have seen such an irrational person.

　　b. Seldom have I seen such an irrational person.

　　⑩a. Under no circumstances we will help those not wishing to help themselves.

　　b. Under no circumstances will we help those not wishing to help themselves.

　　⒊可分开的片语动词宾语(objects of separable phrasal verbs)，如：

　　{11}a. Take off it now!

　　b. O.K. Let me take it off straight away.

　　上述例句中，所有a句的词序都是错误的，b句才是正确的。

　　(文/徐培军；英语辅导报大学二年级版03～04学年第34期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)