英语最基本的词序是主语在谓语动词的前面。如果将句子的主语和谓语完全颠倒过来,这称之为完全倒装。如果只将助动词或情态动词移至主语之前,谓语的其他部分仍保留在主语的后面,这称之为部分倒装。

一.部分倒装

1.否定副词位于句首时的倒装

在正式文体中,never, seldom, rarely, little, hardly, scarcely, no sooner, no longer, nowhere 等含有否定意义副词若位于句首,则其后要用部分倒装:

① I shall never forgive him. / Never shall I forgive him. 我永远不会宽恕他。

 He seldom goes out for dinner. / Seldom does he go out for dinner. 他很少出去吃饭。

③ She hardly has time to listen to music. / Hardly does she have time to listen to music. 她几乎没时间听音乐。

 He little realizes how important this meeting is. / Little does he realize how important this meeting is. 他不甚明白这个会议的重要性。

 We had no sooner reached the airport than the plane took off. / No sooner had we reached the airport than the plane took off. 我们刚到机场,飞机就起飞了。

注意

(1) 对于not…until句型,当not until…位于句首时,其后的主句要用倒装语序:

He didn’t leave the room until the rain stopped. / Not until the rain stopped did he leave the room. 雨停了之后他才离开这房间。

(2) 某些起副词作用的介词短语,由于含有否定词,若位于句首,其后要用部分倒装:

 On no accounts must this switch be touched. 这个开关是绝不能触摸的。

 In [Under] no circumstances will I lend money to him.无论如何我也不会再借钱给他了。

但是,in no time(立即,马上)位于句首时,其后无需用倒装语序:

In no time he worked out the problem. 他马上就算出了那道题。

2.“only+状语”位于句首时的倒装

当一个状语受副词only的修饰且置于句首时,其后用部分倒装语序:

 Only then did he realize that he was wrong. 到那时他才意识到他错了。

② Only in this way are you able to do it well. 你只有用这种方法才能把它做好。

 Only when he returned home did he realize what had happened. 当他回到家里时,才知道出了什么事。

3.“so+adj. / adv.”位于句首时的倒装

副词so后接形容词或副词位于句首时,其后用部分倒装:

① So cold was the weather that we had to stay at home. 天气太冷,我们只好呆在家里。

② So fast does light travel that we can hardly imagine its speed. 光速很快,我们几乎没法想像它的速度。

③ So sudden was the attack that we had no time to escape. 袭击来得非常突然,我们来不及逃跑。

4.“so+助动词+主语”倒装

当要表示前面提出的某一肯定的情况也同样适合于后者,通常就要用“So+助动词+主语”这种倒装结构:① You are young and so am I. 你年轻,我也年轻。

② She likes music and so do I. 她喜欢音乐,我也喜欢。

③ If he can do it, so can I. 要是他能做此事,我也能。

注意

(1) 若前面提出某一否定的情况,要表示后者也属于同样的否定情况,则应将其中的so改为neither或nor:

① You aren’t young and neither am I. 你不年轻,我也不年轻。

② She hasn’t read it and nor have I. 她没有读它,我也没有读。

(2) 注意该结构与表示强调或同意的“so+主语+特殊动词”结构的区别:

 "It was cold yesterday." "So it was." “昨天很冷。”“的确很冷。”

② "Father, you promised." "Well, so I did." “爸爸,你答应过的。”“嗯,是答应过。” @简单高中生

5.由not only…but also引出的倒装

当not only…but also位于句首引出句子时,not only 后的句子通常用部分倒装形式:

① Not only is he a teacher, but he is also a poet. 他不仅是一位教师,而且是一位诗人。

 Not only did he speak more correctly, but he spoke more easily. 不仅他讲得更正确,也讲得更不费劲了。

6.虚拟条件句的省略与倒装

当if引导的虚拟条件从句中含有had, were, should等时,如将if省略,则要将had, were, should等移到主语前,构成倒装句:

 Had you come yesterday, you would have seen him.若你昨天来,你就会见到他了。

② Should you require anything give me a ring. 如果需要什么,可以给我打电话。

③ Were it not for your help, I would still be homeless. 要不是你帮助,我会仍然无家可归。

注意

省略if后提前的had不一定是助动词:

Had I money, I would buy it. 假若我有钱,我就会买它。

二.完全倒装

1. here 和there位于句首时的倒装

表示地点的here和 there位于句首时,其后用完全倒装形式。这类倒装句的谓语通常是动词be和come, go等表示移动或动态的不及物动词:

 Here’s Tom. 汤姆在这里。

 There’s Jim. 吉姆在那儿。

 Here comes the bus. 公共汽车来了。

 There goes the bell. 铃响了。

 There goes the last train. 最后一班火车开走了。

注意

(1) 以上倒装句中的谓语动词come和go不能用进行时态,即不能说 Here is coming the bus。

(2) 若主语为代词,则不倒装:

① Here I am. 我在这儿。/ 我来了。

 Here it comes. 它来了。

(3) 其中的动词有时也可能是stand, lie, live等表示状态的动词(表示存在):

① There stood a desk against the wall. 靠墙放着一张书桌。

② Once upon a time there lived a man known by the name of Beef. 从前有个人名叫比夫。

2. away和down等位于句首时的倒装

地点副词away, down, in, off, out, over, round, up 等位于句首时,其后用完全倒装语序。这类倒装句的谓语通常表示动态的不及物动词:

 Away went the runners. 赛跑选手们跑远了。

 Round and round flew the plane. 飞机盘旋着。

 The door opened and in came Mr Smith. 门开了,史密斯先生进了来。

④ Down came the rain and up went the umbrellas. 下雨了,伞都撑起来了。

注意

若主语为人称代词,则不能用倒装:

① Away he went. 他跑远了。

 Down it came. 它掉了下来。

3.状语或表语位于句首时的倒装

为了保持句子平衡或使上下文衔接紧密,有时可将状语或表语置于句首,句中主语和谓语完全倒装:

① Among these people was his friend Jim. 他的朋友吉姆就在这些人当中。

 By the window sat a young man with a magazine in his hand. 窗户边坐着一个年轻人,手里拿着一本杂志。

注意

在表语置于句首的这类倒装结构中,要注意其中的谓语应与其后的主语保持一致,而不是与位于句首的表语保持一致。比较:

 In the box was a cat. 箱子里是一只猫。

 In the box were some cats. 箱子里是一些猫。

4.分词和不定式置于句首的倒装

有时为了强调,可将谓语部分的现在分词、过去分词或不定式置于句首,从而构成倒装:

① Buried in the sands was an ancient village. 一个古老的村庄被埋在这沙土之中。

 Standing beside the table was his wife. 站在桌旁的是他的妻子。

③ To be carefully considered are the following questions. 下列问题要仔细考虑。

(1) 涉及only的倒装及考题分析

按英语习惯同,当“only+状语”位于句首时,其后句子要用部分倒装。如:

Only then did he realize that he was wrong. 到那时他才意识到他错了。

Only in this way are you able to do it well. 你只有用这种方法才能把它做好。

Only in this way can our honour be saved. 只有这样,才能保住我们的荣誉。

Only then did I understand what she meant. 只有到那时我才明白她的意思。

Only after her death was I able to appreciate her. 只有到她死后我才认识到她的价值。

Only when he returned home did he realize what had happened. 当他回到家里时,才知道出了什么事。

Only in this way can we learn English. 只有这样才能学会英语。

The pilot reassured the passengers. Only then did I realize how dangerous the situation had been. 飞机驾驶员要乘客们放心,这时我才明白刚才的情况有多危险。

Only on one point do I agree with you. 只有一点,我同意你的说法。

(2) 涉及副词so的两类常考倒装

这类倒装主要见于以下两种情形:

① 当副词so后接形容词或副词位于句首时,其后要用部分倒装。如:

So cold was the weather that we had to stay at home. 天气太冷,我们只好呆在家里。

So fast does light travel that we can hardly imagine its speed. 光速很快,我们几乎没法想象它的速度。

So sudden was the attack that we had no time to escape. 袭击来得非常突然,我们来不及逃跑。@简单高中生

② 当要表示前面提出的某一肯定的情况也同样适合于后者,通常就要用“So+助动词+主语”这种倒装结构。如:

You are young and so am I. 你年轻,我也年轻。

She likes music and so do I. 她喜欢音乐,我也喜欢。

If he can do it, so can I. 要是他能做此事,我也能。

(3) 倒装句中的主谓一致

在“副词here, there, now, then, up, down, in, out, away等、作状语或表语的介词短语或分词短语+谓语动词+主语”的倒装结构中,谓语动词的数由动词后面的主语决定。如:

On the wall hang two maps. 墙上挂着两张地图。

On the wall hangs a world of map. 墙上挂着一张世界地图。

Here is your coat. 这是你的外套。

Here are your running-shoes. 这是你的跑鞋。

Such is the result. 结果就是这样。

Such are the results. 这就是结果。

(4) 副词后的倒装

here 和 there 之后以及诸如 back, down, off, up 等一类的副词小品词之后,名词主语一般置于谓语之后。这类副词常与诸如 come 和 go 等转移动词一起连用。如:

Here comes a taxi! There goes the last train! 有辆出租车来了! 最后一班火车开走了! (注意这里不可用进行时)

Down came the rain and up went the umbrellas. 下雨了,伞都撑了起来。

当我们给人东西或确定位置时,这种倒装常用在be之后(主语往往是复数)。如:

Here’s a cup of tea for you. 给你一杯茶。(给东西)

Here’s your letters. 这儿有你的信。(给与或指明)

There’s (重读) Johnny smith. 约翰尼·史密斯在那儿。(确定位置)

主语如是代词则不倒装。如:

Here it comes. 它来了。

There she goes. 她走了。

Up it went. 它上去了。

Here you are. 给你。

There she is. 她在那儿。

(5) 地点状语后的倒装

地点状语后面如有表示位置的动词 (如lie, live, sit, stand) 或转移的动词 (如come, go, rise),用作主语的名词可以放在动词之后。这种情形主要出现在描写文中。如:

At the top of the hill stood the tiny chapel. 那座小教堂矗立在山顶上。

In the fields of poppies lay the dying soldiers. 罂粟地里躺着奄奄一息的士兵们。

别的动词如属被动语态也可以倒装。

In the distance could be seen the purple mountains. 远处可以见到紫色的山。

主语如是代词则不能倒装:

At the top of the hill it stood out against the sky. 它背衬青天矗立在山顶上。

(6) 否定副词之后的倒装

否定或近似否定副词(往往是时间或频度副词,如never, rarely, seldom),或是具有否定作用的副词,如 little, on no account 等。如:

Never / Seldom has there been so much protest against the Bomb. 这么强烈的反对原子弹的抗议活动从未 / 很少 / 有过。

Little does he realize how important this meeting is. 他对这个会议的重要性不甚了了。

On no account must you accept any money if he offers it. 他如要给你钱,你可绝不能接受。

当这种副词不在句首时,当然应该用正常词序:

There has never / seldom been so much protest against the Bomb. 从未 / 很少发生过这么强烈的反对原子弹的抗议活动。

He little realizes how important this meeting is. 他不甚明白这个会议的重要性。

另外,有些含有否定意义的介词短语置于句首时,其后也要用倒装。如:

In no case should you give up. 你绝不能放弃。

On no condition should we tell her about it. 我们绝不能把此事告诉她。

On no accounts must this switch be touched.这个开关是绝 不能触摸的。

In [Under] no circumstances will I lend money to him.无论如何我也不会再借钱给他了。

Under no circumstances should you lend him any money. 你无论如何都不该把钱借给他。

No way will I go on working for that man. 我不再给那个人工作了。

(7) 涉及not only…but also…的部分倒装

not only…but also…前后连接两个句子时,not only后的句子要用部分倒装,但but also后的分句不用倒装。如:

Not only did he come, but he saw her. 他不仅来了,而且还见到了她。

Not only does she speak Spanish, (but) she also knows how to type. 她不但会说西班牙语,还会打字呢。

Not only is he a teacher, but he is also a poet. 他不仅是一位教师,而且是一位诗人。

Not only did he speak more correctly, but he spoke more easily. 不仅他讲得更正确,也讲得更不费劲了。

Not only did they present a musical performance, but they also gave a brief introduction to the history of Western brass instruments. 他们不但做了音乐表演,而且简短地介绍了西方铜管乐器的历史。@简单高中生

(8) 类似So / Neither do I的部分倒装

so / neither / nor表示前面所说的情况也适合于后者时,其句型是:so / neither / nor+特殊词+主语。使句此句型需注意以下几点:

①内容是肯定时,用so,内容是否定时,用neither或nor;

②“特殊词”与前句中的情态动词、助动词或be相同,或根据前句的时态,用do, does, did;

③“特殊词”的人称和数与其后的主语一致;

④“特殊词”本身没有否定形式。如:

You are young and so am I. 你年轻,我也年轻。

She likes music and so do I. 她喜欢音乐,我也喜欢。

If he can do it, so can I. 要是他能做此事,我也能。

You aren’t young and neither am I. 你不年轻,我也不年轻。

She hasn’t read it and nor have I. 她没有读它,我也没有读。

(9) 涉及so…that的部分倒装

在so... that…结构中,若将so+adj. / adv. 置于句首,则其后的主句要用部分倒装。如:

So cold was the weather that we had to stay at home. 天气太冷,我们只好呆在家里。

So much did they eat that they could not move for the next hour. 他们吃得太多了,一个小时都动弹不得。

So loudly did he speak that even people in the next room could hear him. 他讲话声音那么大,隔壁屋里的人都听得见。

So fast does light travel that we can hardly imagine its speed. 光速很快,我们几乎没法像它的速度。

So sudden was the attack that we had no time to escape. 袭击来得非常突然,我们来不及逃跑。

类似地,当such…that…结构的such…置于句首时,such后的句子也要使用部分倒装。如:

Such a nice man did he seem that we all believe him. 他像个很和蔼的人,所以我们都喜欢他。

(10) 表语或状语置于句首时的完全倒装

有时为了强调或者为了使句子平衡或者为了使上下文连接得更加紧密,就将表语和地点状语(多为介词短语)置于句首,谓语动词也常置于主语前,构成完全倒装。如:

By the door stood an armed guard. 门口站着一名手持武器的士兵。

At the next table was a pretty girl waiting for someone. 隔壁桌上坐着一个等人的漂亮姑娘。

Among these people was his friend Jim. 他的朋友吉姆就在这些人当中。

By the window sat a young man with a magazine in his hand. 窗户边坐着一个年轻人,手里拿着一本杂志。

At the front of the book is a table of contents, giving details of what is in the book. 书的前部有目录,详列了书中的内容。

(11) as引导让步状语从句时的倒装

as作“虽然”解,引导让步状语从句时,必须将表语、状语或动词原形提到as前面。此时应注意几点:

① 若提前的表语是没有形容词修饰的单数可数名词,要省略不定冠词;@简单高中生

② 若提前的是动词原形(多为不及物动词),与之连用的通常是may, might, will, would等,且这些词都要保留在原来的位置上(主语后);

③ though有时也可像as这样使作倒装。如:

Tired as I was, I tried to help them. 虽然我很累,我还是努力帮助他们。

Try as he would, he couldn’t open the door. 他试过多次了, 却仍打不开那门。

Search as they would, they would find nobody in the house. 无论怎样搜查,他们在房子里仍然没有找到一个人。

Hard as (though) they tried, they couldn’t make her change her mind. 尽管他们做了很大努力,却没法让她改变主意。

Boy as he was, he behaved like a girl. 他虽是个男孩,但举止却像个女孩。

(12) 非谓语动词置于句首的倒装

有时为了强调,可将谓语部分的现在分词、过去分词或不定式置于句首,从而构成倒装。如:

Buried in the sands was an ancient village. 一个古老的村庄被埋在这沙土之中。

Standing beside the table was his wife. 站在桌旁的是他的妻子。

To be carefully considered are the following questions. 下列问题要仔细考虑。

内容借鉴整理于网络,仅供学习参考。