英语句子最基本的结构是主、谓结构,倒装就是将这种比较固定的词序加以颠倒.英语的倒装有两种形式.一种是将句子的主语和谓语完全颠倒过来,称为完全倒装,如:Then began an eight-year war between Iran and Iraq. (于是伊朗和伊拉克之间开始了长达八年的战争.);另一种是只将助动词(包括情态助动词)移到主语之前,称为部分倒装,如:Seldom can she finish her task in a short time. (她很难在短时间内完成任务.)

　　引起倒装的情况有很多,在大学英语四级考试中常见的主要有以下几种.下面举例说明.

　　一、虚拟条件句中的倒装

　　例1:________for my illness, I would have lent him a helping hand. (CET-4, 1995/1)

　　A) Not being B) Had it not been

　　C) Without being D) Not having been

　　本题答案为B).本句意思是:要是我没有生病,我肯定会给他帮助的.从主句的谓语可以看出,本题是过去时的虚拟语气,从句谓语应该用过去完成时.由于省略了连词if ,所以将 had 移到句首构成倒装结构.

　　例2:________before we depart the day after tomorrow, we should have a wonderful dinner party. (CET-4, 1997/1)

　　A) Had they arrived

　　B) Would they arrive

　　C) Were they arriving

　　D) Were they to arrive

　　本题答案为D).本句是将来时的虚拟语气,这点从从句的时间状语the day after tomorrow 可以看出.因此从句的谓语应用should或were to+ 动词原形.由于从句省略了连词if,就应将should或were移到句首,形成倒装.

　　二、表示否定意义的词或词组位于句首

　　例1:We have been told that under no circumstances________the telephone in the office for personal affairs. (CET-4, 1999/6)

　　A) may we use B) we may use

　　C) we could use D) did we use

　　本题答案为A).本句中的否定短语under no circumstances位于宾语从句句首,句子需要用倒装 ,故B)和C)错误,D)项时态不对.本句意思是:我们被告之,在任何情况下都不能因私事而使用办公室的电话.

　　例2:Not until the game had begun______at the sports ground. (CET-4, 2000/6)

　　A) should he have arrived

　　B) had he arrived

　　C) did he arrive

　　D) would he have arrived

　　本题答案为C).本句将not until置于句首,主句要倒装.由于从句用的是过去完成时,因此主句应用一般过去时.本句意思是:直到比赛开始了,他才到运动场.

　　三、让步状语从句的倒装

　　例如:________, he does get annoyed with her sometimes.( CET-4, 2000/6)

　　A) As he likes her much

　　B) Although much he likes her

　　C) Much as he likes her

　　D) Much although he likes her

　　本题答案为C).本句是由as引导的让步状语从句,需要使用倒装语序,将状语放到句首,故C)正确.本句意思是:虽然他很喜欢她,但他有时候也觉得她很讨厌.

　　四、only位于句首的倒装

　　例如:Only under special circumstances ______to take make-up tests. (CET-4, 1997/6)

　　A) are freshmen permitted

　　B) freshmen are permitted

　　C) permitted are freshmen

　　D) are permitted freshmen

　　本题答案为A).以" only + 副词(介词短语、状语从句)"开头的句子需要用倒装结构,B)和C)没有用倒装结构,而D)却用了错误的倒装结构.本句的意思是:一年级的学生只有在特殊情况下才允许补考.

　　五、neither, nor, so等位于句首的倒装

　　例如:I could not persuade him to accept it,________make him see the importance of it. (CET-4, 1995/1)

　　A) if only I could not

　　B) no more than I could

　　C) or I could not D) nor could I

　　本题答案为D).本句是考查nor引导的倒装结构,nor表示"也不"的意思.本句意思是:我无法说服他接受它,我也无法让他认识到这件事的重要性.

　　六、为了保持句子平衡而使用的倒装

　　英语句子有时候会出现主语太长而谓语太短的情况,为了保持句子平衡,或者为了使句子与前文衔接紧凑,常常将谓语和状语一起放在主语之前.有时为了强调,将某一成分移到句首,因而形成倒装结构.

　　例1:They erected a bronze tablet on which was carved "The Yellow River Source".他们立了一块铜牌,上面写着"黄河之源".

　　例2:The girl who loves him so deeply finds herself unable to forgive his mistake. Around this point develops the sketch, which is humorous and full of a strong local flavor. 那个深爱他的女孩觉得她不能原谅他的错误.围绕这一点就写成了这一短剧.它不但幽默,而且充满了浓郁的地方风味.

　　练习:

　　1. ________for your help, I wouldn't have got what I have today.

　　A) It were not B) Were it not

　　C) If were not D) Were not it

　　2. He didn't watch TV last week, ________did his younger sister.

　　A) or B) and C) but D) neither

　　3. ______on the ground was an old man aged nearly 60.

　　A) Lying B) Laying

　　C) Laid D) Slept

　　4. ______do we hear fine singing from school choirs.

　　A) Seldom B) Not

　　C) Almost D) Rather

　　5. Only after you have received the telephone ________the time of his arrival.

　　A) know you

　　B) you ought to know

　　C) can you know

　　D) you can know

　　答案:

　　1.B 2.D 3.A 4. A 5.C

　　(文/吴彬　英语辅导报大学一年级版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。)