英语中的语序

周志高 提交于 周五, 01/03/2020 - 09:29

我们知道英语中的最常见、最基本的语序是 SVC, SVO. 例如:

  • I am a man. (SVC)
  • I like apples. (SVO)

同时,SVC, SVO 也是一个句子的主干部分(main parts), 有了这几个部分,句子可以说基本上大体上完整了。如果觉得句子表达的信息不够丰富,可以增加修饰成分(modifiers),这些修饰成分附着在各个中心词(head word)的前后,起到补充信息的作用。

以上是英语句子中最常见的语序。但是英语中并不是只有上述语序的存在,实际上我们还会见到其它语序。

例如把受词放到句首的:

  • What are you doing? (O+Auxiliary + S + V)
  • The king was killed. (O + Auxiliary + V)

还有把 Auxiliary verb 放到句首的:

  • Do you like tea? (Aux + S + V + O)
  • Have you finished that project? (Aux + S + V + O)
  • Was the king killed? (Aux + O + V)

还有把 main verb 放到句首的:

  • Are you ok? (V + S + C)
  • Are you Chinese? (V + S + C)

还有把 Compliment 放到句首的:

  • Out rushed a group of kids. (C + V + S)
  • There are seven monkeys in the tree. (C + V + S + Modifier)
  • Here comes the bus. (C + V + S)
  • Where are you? (C + V + S)

还有因为句首有否定意义的词,而出现“非主流”语序的,例如:

  • Hardly can we trust a man who often cheats others.

还有so, such 移到句首,而出现“非主流”语序的,例如:

  • So weak was his voice that nobody could hear him.
  • Such was the terrible weather that we had to cancel our original plan.

还有 only 移到句首,而出现“非主流”语序的,例如:

  • Only then did I realize that I really was the person to blame.
  • Only if you keep training for at least one year can you attend that boxing match.

还有表达祝福时出现“非主流”语序的,例如:

  • May you find comfort in the arms of the angel.

因为 SVC 和 SVO 是最常见的语序,所以语法书上通常是把其它语序说成是倒装(inversion),其实严格说来,不过是句子成分移位而已。句子成分移位的原因主要有两个:

  • 将句子中的某个成分放到句首话题化
  • 古英语中的V2原则
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