英语倒装句用法浅析 倒装(Inversion)是一种语法手段,用以表示一定句子结构的需要和强调某一句子成分的需要.英语的最基本结构是主、谓结构,倒装就是将这种比较固定的结构加以颠倒.倒装有两种:将主语和谓语完全颠倒过来,叫做完全倒装(Complete Inversion).如:In came a man with a white beard.只将助动词(包括情态动词)移至主语之前,叫做部分倒装(Partial Inversion).如:Only once was John late to class.英语句子的倒装一是由于语法结构的需要而进行的倒装,二是由于修辞的需要而进行的倒装.前一种情况,倒装是必须的,否则就会出现语法错误;后一种情况,倒装是选择性的,倒装与否只会产生表达效果上的差异.下面本文就拟从其修辞功能谈谈倒装句的用法.一、 表示强调:倒装句最突出、最常见的修辞效果就是强调,其表现形式如下:1.only +状语或状语从句置于句首,句子用部分倒装.例1:Only in this way can you solve this problem.只有用这种方法,你才可以解决这个问题.例2:Only after he had spoken out the word did he realize he had made a big mistake.只有当他已经说出那个字后才意识到自己犯了个大错误.2.not,little,hardly,scarcely,no more,no longer,in no way,never,seldom,not only,no sooner等具有否定意义的词或词组位于句首,句子用部分倒装.例1:No sooner had I got home than it began to rain.我刚到家就下起了雨.例2:Seldom do I go to work by bus.我很少乘公共汽车上班.3.so / such...that结构中的so或such位于句首可以构成部分倒装句,表示强调so /such和that之间的部分.例1:So unreasonable was his price that everybody startled.他的要价太离谱,令每个人都瞠目结舌.例2:To such length did she go in rehearsal that the two actors walked out.她的彩排进行得那么长,以致于那两个演员都走出去了.以上各例都用倒装语序突出了句首成分,其语气较自然语序强烈,因而具有极佳的修辞效果.二、 承上启下 有时倒装可把前一句说到的人或物,或与前一句有联系的人或物在下一句紧接着先说出来,从而使前后两句在意思上的关系更加清楚,衔接更加紧密,起到承上启下的作用.例1:They broke into her uncle's bedroom and found the man lying on the floor,dead.Around his head was a brown snake.他们破门进入她叔叔的卧室,发现他躺在地板上死了.一条棕褐色的蛇缠在他头上.例2:We really should not resent being called paupers.Paupers we are,and paupers we shall remain.我们确实不应因为被称作穷光蛋而愤愤不平.我们的确是穷光蛋,而且还会继续是穷光蛋.