1. 为什么要提出倒装句?
英语倒装句在英语文章中随处可见,比如疑问句中,这类倒装句在学习语法时有讲解。但是,另一类倒装句,即文学作品中使用的倒装句,或者基于强调的目的使用的倒装句,这属于修辞学的范畴,一般语法书上鲜有提及,如果学习者把这种倒装用在考试中,估计直接给你判错!但是,我们学习英语的目的是为了阅读,交际,应用;如果不学习修辞学的倒装句,常常会给我们阅读海量的英语文章和书籍带来困扰,因此,有必要学习了解。
2. 倒装句基础知识和分类。
2.1 什么是倒装句?
倒装句就是为了强调,突出等目的,而颠倒按文法规则或习惯用法的正常语序。例如——
(1) Not only is he difficult to understand, but he is also funny.
(2) Never have I understood less about women.
(3) Scarcely have they been on time.
2.2 倒装句格式。
倒装句主要有以下四种格式:
(1) 将形容词置于其所修饰的名词之后(noun+adjective)(针对形容词置于名词之前的情况,严格讲形容词本可以放在名词之后)。例如——
the soldier strong. (健壮的士兵。)
(2) 谓语动词置于主语之前(verb+subject)。例如——
shouts the policeman. (警察呼叫。)
(3) 名词置于前置词之前(noun+preposition)。例如——
worlds between. (之间的世界。)
(4) 宾语置于主语和谓语之前 (object+subject+verb)。
在英语中,有的倒装是文法结构的一部分,这种倒装的应用也相当普遍。例如,在疑问句中,动词(verbs),或者辅助动词(auxiliaries),或者帮助动词(helping verbs)置于主语之前。类似地,还有感叹句中的倒装,宾语置于主语和谓误之前,以wh-词置于句首引导。例如——
What a beautiful picture it is!
Where in the world were you!
How wonderful the weather is today!
2.3 规范文法中使用倒装句的情况。
2.3.1 当我们使用一个否定副词或者副词短语在句子的开头以强调我们所表达内容的时候,要使用倒装句。
2.3.1.1 Never, Rarely, Seldom在句中使用倒装。
Never, rarely, 和seldom 使用倒装来表达一种给定的情况的独特性。常常使用完成时并包括比较级。例如——
(1) Never have I been more insulted!
我从来没有像现在这样被侮辱过!
(2) Seldom has he seen anything stranger.
他从来没有遇见过比这更奇怪的东西。
(3) Rarely has someone been so wrong as you.
很少有人错得像你一样离谱。
2.3.1.2 Hardly, barely, no sooner, 和scarcely在句中使用倒装。
Hardly, barely, no sooner, 和scarcely在句中使用倒装,基于过去的事件有后续延展的情况。其强调的要点是一件事情完成之后另一件是如何紧接着发生。例如——
(1) Scarcely had I got out of bed when the doorbell rang.
我刚起床门铃就响了。
(2) No sooner had he finished dinner, when she walked in the door.
他刚只完饭,她就走进门来。
(3) Barely had I walked in the door when my dog came rushing to greet me.
我刚一进门,我的狗就冲过来迎接我。
2.3.1.3 only之后的表达式在句中使用倒装,例如 “only when”,“only as soon as”,“only then”,“not only…but”,“only in the way”,等。
“only”用在各种各样的时间表达式中,例如,“only when”,“only as soon as”,“only then”,“not only…but”,“Only later”,等。其强调的要点是要清楚地理解某种状况时某件事情是多么的重要。例如——
(1) Only then did I understand the problem.
真到那时我才明白这个问题。
(2) Only after understanding the situation does the teacher make a comment.
只有在了解情况后,老师才发表评论。
(3) Only when all the stars have gone out will I grasp the complexity of the universe.
只有当所有的星星都消失了,我才理解了宇宙的复杂性。
(4) Not only does he love chocolate and sweets but he also smokes.
他不仅喜欢巧克力和糖果,而且他还抽烟。
(5) Only later did she really think about the situation.
只是到了后来他才真正考虑了这种情况。
(6) Only in this way could John earn enough money to survive.
只有用这种方法约翰才能挣到足够的钱来生活。
2.3.1.4 在little之后的使用倒装。
“little”在否定句中使用倒装,目的在于强调某件事没有被完全理解。倒如——
(1) Little did he understand the situation.
他几乎不了解当时的情况。
(2) Little have I read concerning nanotechnology.
我几乎没有读过有关纳米技术的书。
(3) Little was I aware that she was in town.
我一点儿也不知道她在城里。
2.3.1.5 so和such之后的使用倒装。
“so”用于形容词,而“such”用于名词。
I.“so”的倒装结构:"so + adjective ... that" 再与“to be”动词连接。例如——
(1) So strange was the situation that I couldn't sleep.
情况如此奇怪,使用我夜不能寐。
(2) So difficult is the test that students need three months to prepare.
这个考试太难了,学生需要三个月备考。
(3) So expensive was the ticket that we couldn't attend the show.
票价太贵,我们没能去看演出。
II.“such”的倒装结构:“such + to be + noun ... (that): ”。例如——
(1) Such is the moment that all greats traverse.
所有伟人都经历过这样的时刻。
(2) Such is the stuff of dreams.
这就是梦想。
(3) Such are the days of our lives.
我们的日子就是这样。
2.3.1.6 在下面的情况下,倒装句出现在句子的第二部分。
(1) not until (直到……才)
Not until I saw John with my own eyes did I really believe he was safe.
直到我亲眼见到了John,我才真正相信他是安全的。
(2) not since (自那以后……没有了)
Not since Lucy left college had she had such a wonderful time.
自从Lucy大学毕业后,她就再也没有过这样愉快的时光。
(3) only after (只有在...以后)
Only after I'd seen her flat did I understand why she wanted to live there.
直到看过她的公寓,我才明白她为什么想住在那里。
(4) only when (只有当…才能)
Only when we'd all arrived home did I feel calm.
直到我们都回到家,我才感到平静。
(5) only by (只有当…才能)
Only by working extremely hard could we afford to eat.
只有极其努力地工作,我们才能吃得上饭。
2.3.1.7 其它否定副词或副词短语。
(1) in no way (决不,一点也不)
In no way do I agree with what you're saying.
我决不同意你所说的。
(2) on no account (决不)
On no account should you do anything without asking me first.
没有事先问过我,你不要轻举妄动。
2.3.2 疑问句中用倒装。
疑问句中使用的倒装属于主谓倒装,属于分类中的第二种,用法最为常见。
I. 只有两个动词时态,有连系动词“to be”的情况。
现在时态:am I / are you / is he
过去时态:were you / was she
II. 其它动词时态,我们需要改变主语和辅助动词的位置(如果有超过一个辅助动词,改变第一个辅助动词的位置),无需改变其它动词的位置。
当前进行时: am I going / are you going
过去进行时: was he going / were they going
当前完成时: have we gone / has she gone
当前完成进行时: has she been going / have they been going
过去完成时: had you gone
过去完成进行时: had he been going
将来时态: will they go
将来进行时: will you be going
将来完成时: will they have gone
将来完成进行时: will she have been going
情态动词: should I go / would you go
III. 有两种时态,我们需要加入“do/does/did”来完成倒装句。
无“to be”动词的当前时态:do you go / does he go
无“to be”动词的过去时态:did you go / did he go
2.3.3 条件格式的倒装。
有时候,条件格式使用倒装,以使其听起来更正式。在这种情况下,条件句被省略,if从句用倒装格式替代,常见有if被were,had,should等替代的场合。
(1) Had he understood the problem, he wouldn't have committed those mistakes.
如果他明白这些问题,他就不会犯这些错误。
(2) Should he decide to come, please telephone.
如果他决定来,请打电话。
(3) Had I known, I would have helped him.
假如我知道,我就会帮助他了。
2.4 修辞学中使用倒装句的情况。
陈了符合文法格式或习惯用法的倒装之外,在文学作品中,为了达到某种特殊的艺术效果,有的作者还使用了一些不常用的倒装句。
文学术语中还有一个对倒装的更为模糊的定义。倒装句还可以指规则韵律(regular meter)书写,并插入一个不属于这种模式的韵律(metrical foot)。例如,如果一个诗人用长短格(iambic)五音步格(pentameter)写作,并且在其中一行中使用长短格(trochee)而不是抑扬格(iamb)五音步格,那就被认为是倒装句。Shakespeare的最著名诗行<>中有这样一个例子:“To be or not to be; that is the question.”这句诗行中有五个音步,有4个是长短格(iambs)。Shakespeare使用在“that ”上强调而不是在“is”上强调的方式中断了长短格。这种类型倒装也称为置换(substitution)或倒置法(anaclasis)。
与所有的文学手段一样,倒装句在散文或诗歌中的主要作用是帮助作者达到文体效果,如强调某一点,或从某一点改变读者的焦点。在诗歌中,倒装句经常被用来创造韵律,韵律,或是线条的押韵,比小说中使用倒装更为普遍,因为非自然性的倒置很好地创造了一种诗意的轻快。下面举例说明——
(1) <<Romeo and Juliet>> (William Shakespeare)。
在Shakespeare时期的作品中,倒装句十分常见。看看其作品中的倒装句例子。<<Romeo and Juliet>> 第1幕第5场(Act 1, Scene 5):
“Her mother is the lady of the house,
And a good lady, and wise and virtuous.
I nursed her daughter that you talked withal.
I tell you, he that can lay hold of her,
Shall have the chinks.”
“她的母亲是这所房子的女主人,
一位贤惠的女士,聪慧又善良。
我照顾过你和她说过话的女儿。
我告诉你,谁要是娶了她,
谁就抓住了机会。”
lay hold of:习语,表示“抓住”(“to grab,to take and hold,to understand”)。
倒装的部分:
“I tell you, he that can lay hold of her”=“I tell you, that he can lay hold of her,”。
(2) <<Macbeth>> (William Shakespeare)。
Macbeth: “If ’t be so, For Banquo’s issue have I fil’d my mind, (‘t = it,fil’d = filled)
For them the gracious Duncan have I murther’d, (murther’d= murthered)
Put rancors in the vessel of my peace
Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings -the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, Fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance!”
“如果是这样,我脑子都是Banquo的问题,
为了他们,我杀了仁慈的Duncan
用怨恨来换取我的安宁
献给人类共同的敌人,
让他们成为国王——Banquo国王的后裔!
而不是这样,来吧,命运,进入名单,
支持我说出这句话!”
倒装的部分:
a. “For Banquo’s issue have I fil’d my mind”=“I have fil’d my mind for Banquo’s issue.”
b. “For them the gracious Duncan have I murther’d”=“For them I have murther’d the gracious Duncan”
上面的倒装用于强调Macbeth杀了Duncan之后脑子里的思想斗争。这种思想斗争逐渐使他精神失常。
(3) <<Kubla Khan>>(Samuel Taylor Coleridge)。
“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round;
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.”
“Kubla Khan在上都
庄严的欢乐圆顶法令:
圣河Alph在那里流淌
穿过人类无法测量的洞穴
下到没有阳光的大海。
两倍于五英里的肥沃土地
四周环绕着墙壁和塔楼;
花园里有蜿蜒的细沟,
那里开了许多香树;
这里有像山一样古老的森林,
覆盖着阳光明媚的绿叶。”
倒装的部分:
a. “In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree”=
“A stately pleasure-dome decree
In Xanadu Kubla Khan”。
b. “And here were forests ancient as the hills”=“And here were forests as ancient (as) the hills”。
c. “Enfolding sunny spots of greenery”=“Enfolding greenery spots of sunny.”
这里的倒装主要是为了增强诗歌的艺术效果。
(4) <<Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood>>(颂歌:来自早期童年回忆的不朽启蒙) (William Wordsworth)。
“To me alone there came a thought of grief:
A timely utterance gave that thought relief,
And I again am strong:
The cataracts blow their trumpets from the steep…”
“只有我一个人想到了悲伤:
一句及时的话让人松了一口气,
我再次变得坚强:
白内障从陡峭的山坡上吹响号角……”
倒装的部分:
a. “To me alone there came a thought of grief”=“There came to me a thought of grief alone”。
b. “And I again am strong”=“And I am strong again”
(5) <<Adonais>> (Percy Bysshe Shelley)。
在下面的诗行中,Shelley描述了他最喜欢的文学和政治人物Milton:
“Blind, old, and lonely, when his country’s pride,
The priest, the slave, and the liberticide,
Trampled and mocked with many a loathed rite…”
“失明,衰老,孤独,当他的国家的骄傲,
牧师,奴隶和自由主义者,
被用许多令人厌恶的仪式践踏和嘲笑……”
倒装的部分:整个结构倒装。
以上几行中的倒装句帮助诗人强调重点,更突出了Milton的独特品质。
(6) <<Love in Jeopardy>> (Humbert Wolfe)。
“Here by the rose-tree
they planted once
of Love in Jeopardy
an Italian bronze.”
“在玫瑰树旁
他们种过一次
爱的危险
意大利青铜”
倒装的部分:
a. “Here by the rose-tree
they planted once
of Love in jeopardy
an Italian bronze.”=
“Here by the rose-tree
they once planted
an Italian bronze
of Love in Jeopardy.”
在这里,诗人试图产生一种古老的效果,因为他正在诗中描述一个古老的雕像。
(7) <<Sonnet 18>> (Wiliam Shakespeare)。
“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed,
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course untrimmed:
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”
“有时天堂的眼睛太热了,
他金色的脸色常常黯淡,
每一个集市有时都会衰落,
偶然的机会,或大自然未经修整的变化过程:
只要人能呼吸,眼睛能看见,
这生命万岁,这给你生命。”
Shakespeare在他的戏剧和诗歌中用了很多的倒装句,既有倒置法(anastrophe)又有长短音换位法(anaclasis)。在这首著名的十四行诗中(sonnet)中,Shakespeare改变了一些词序,使台词更有诗意和风格化。我们看摘录的第一行,“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines.”在句法上正确的词序应该读作,“Sometimes the eye of heaven shines too hot.” Shakespeare把shines放在句尾,与“declines”形成押韵。这一行还强调了“太热”和“阳光”之间的并行关系。这首诗的末尾对句也使用了倒装,使用了不寻常的措词“So long lives this.” 这一句使用了“so long”对句开头,创造了一个非常好的重复,以“this gives life”作为“lives this”的开头,形成了非常好的回环(antimetabole)。
(8) <<Richard III>> (Wiliam Shakespeare)。
“LOUCESTER: Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.”
“LOUCESTER:现在是我们不满的冬天
在York的阳光下度过了一个灿烂的夏天;
所有的云彩都笼罩着我们的房子
深埋在大海的怀抱里。”
这是一个长短音换位(anaclasis)倒装的例子,在这一段来自Shakespeare的<< Richard III >>的著名演讲中,在Gloucestor宣称的最开头,重读出现在意想不到的地方。虽然大部分是五音步,第一个韵律是长短格(trochee)(一个重读音节跟一个非重读音节),因为这个倒装将特别强调放在“now”上。
(9) <<The Bells>> (Edgar Allen Poe)。
“Hear the tolling of the bells–
Iron bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!”
“听到钟声–
铁铃!
他们的歌催着多么庄严的思想世界!”
第三句是一个简单的倒置法(anastrophe),句法的正常顺序应该是,“Their monody compels a world of solemn thought,”Poe转换了强调。他这样做达到了双重功率,既使用“compels”来保持了与“bells”的押韵结构,又将强调的重点放在了“a world of solemn thought”上。
(10) <<Song of Myself >> (Walt Whitman)。
“I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”
“我为自己庆祝,我为自己歌唱,
我认为你应该认为,
因为每一个属于我的原子也一定属于你。”
这是另一个简单的倒装的例子。这段摘Walt Whitman的诗集包括了他的诗的前三行,
“Song of Myself”。在第三行,Whitman写道,“For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”如果有人用非诗意的方式说这些,他或她可能会说,“Every atom that belongs to me belongs to you as well.” Whitman在这句话的中间倒装“as good”,而不是在结尾处,把这两个从句用“belonging”和“belongs”建立了一个很好的平行关系。
如果他将“as well”放在最后,重点应该放在那里,而不是放在诗中“me”和“you”之间更重要的平行关系上。
(11) <<Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening >> (Robert Frost)。
“Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.”
“我想我知道这是谁的树林。
他的房子在村子里;
他不会看到我停在这里
看着他的树林被雪填满。”
这是Robert Frost<<雪夜林边驻足>>中的一个倒装句,也是从诗的开头开始的。开头行的语法正确的措辞是,“I think I know whose woods these are.”然而,这完全失去了对树林本身的强调。通过将“know”置于句尾,Robert也可以在诗中建立起符合AABA, BBCB, CCDC, DDDD格式的押韵结构。
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