为了更准确地表达思想感情,使语言生动有力,产生鲜明的概念,具有更充分的说服力,作者往往采用各种手段对句子某些成分或整个句子进行强调.常用来表达强调的句型有:

　　1. It is... that 句型.该结构可以对句子除谓语之外的各个成分进行强调.如:

　　It is conflict that keeps freedom alive. 是冲突使自由充满活力.

　　It is with genuine feeling that the author praises all that is progressive. 作者带着真实的感情赞扬一切进步的事物.

　　2. 修辞问句表示强调.这类句子形式上是问句,实际上并不需要回答,只是以相反的语言形式来加强语气.如:

　　Can anyone doubt the wisdom of this action? 谁能怀疑这一行为是否明智呢?

　　In time of danger, of what avail are fair words and promises? 危难之时,巧言与许诺又有何用?

　　3. 双重否定表示强调.如:

　　There is no surgical patient I can't treat competently, treat just as well or better than any other surgeon. 任何外科病人我都能胜任治疗,我的治疗跟其他的外科医生一样高明,甚至比任何外科医生都更为高明.

　　There is no goal that you can't obtain so long as you have an honest attitude and strong will. 只要你有诚实的态度和坚强的意志,没有你达不到的目标.

　　A man who does not try to learn from others can't hope to achieve much. 一个不向别人学习的人是不能指望有多少成就的.

　　4. 感叹句及祈使句表示强调.如:

　　How sweet the air was! How green seemed the familiar shores of my native land! 那空气多么清新!那熟悉的故乡海岸又是多么的青翠啊!

　　Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today! 今天能做的事情切不可拖到明天!

　　Fancy inviting guests and not treating them properly! 真没想到请了客人又不好好招待!

　　5. 带有if从句的陈述句表示强调.如:

　　If there is one thing he likes, it is money. 如果说有他喜欢的东西的话,那就是钱.

　　He is seventy years old, if a day. But he still works eight hours every day. 他确实已经七十岁了,但仍每天工作八小时.

　　The specialist in biology works hard; he is nothing if not diligent. 这位生物学家工作努力,非常勤奋.

　　6. 从反面进行强调的句型.英语中有些句子,结构上虽是肯定形式却表达了强烈的否定意义;还有一些句子虽然结构上是否定的,却表达了强烈的肯定意义.这种句子的表面形式和所表达的思想内容不一致.

　　(1) 肯定形式表达否定意义.如:

　　The scientists reject authority as an ultimate basis for truth. 科学家不承认权威是真理的最终根据.

　　We differ on the matter. 我们在这件事上意见不一致.

　　The wooden bridge is anything but safe. 那座木桥一点也不安全.

　　(2)否定形式表达肯定意义.如:

　　Nothing in my life shook me so deeply as this first visit to China. 我一生中印象最深的是首次出访中国.

　　I have no idea what a genius is; but so far as I can form any conception of it, I should say it was a stupid word which can not be too soon abandoned. 我对于"天才"一词,无所高见,若要我就此发表看法,可说它是个毫无意义的词,把它抛得越早越好.

　　You can't overemphasize the importance of spoken language when you study English as a foreign language. 当你把英语作为一门外语学习时,怎么去强调口语的重要性也不过分.

　　The thought of returning to his native land never deserted him amid his tribulation. 在苦难中,重返故国的念头始终伴着他。

　　(文/李先进　英语辅导报大学一年级版03~04学年第40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。)