現代英文中的「倒裝 (Inversion)」#2 「主語--輔助動詞調位」 vs. 「主語--整個限定動詞調位」
在本系列的 #1,我說到現代英文句子中偶爾還會出現的「倒裝(inversion)」,是英文以前的「V2」詞序(「動詞在第二位置」)這文法特徵遺留下的「化石」。
這次,我會先列出現代代英文中還可以出現(或必需出現)這種「倒裝法」的情景,並在其後數篇的newsletter中逐項詳述情況。
________________
在考慮還會出現倒裝的情景前,我們須清楚清這詞序調動在結構上的兩種類型。
第一種,稱為「subject-auxiliary inversion (主語--輔助動詞調位)」,即主語跟限定動詞組中的第一個位置的輔助動詞調換位置。
例如:
Never have I seen such a man. (我從未見過這樣一個男人)
當有情況要用到這種倒裝時,只有限定動詞組中第一個位置的輔助動詞會與主語調換位置。
此例句中的整個限定動詞組是「have seen」,但只有輔助動詞「have」跟主語「I」對調了,「seen」仍保持在主語後面的位置:
Never have I seen such a man.
Never have seen I such a man.* ❌
如有情景需要用到「subject-auxiliary inversion」 ,但該限定動詞又剛好沒有包含輔助動詞在內(因為它是簡單現在式或簡單過去式的字形),我們便要先額外加入「do」作為輔助詞,再用它來跟主語交換位置。這與問題句中的倒裝形式是一樣的。
例如:
Never imagined I such an outcome.* (我從未想像過這樣的結果) ❌
Never did I imagine such an outcome. ✔️
這例句情景需要用到「subject-auxiliary inversion」,不過簡單過去式的限定動詞「imagined」因為本身沒有輔助動詞,自身無法跟主語「I」對調。因此,這裡要先多加入一個輔助動詞「do」,才能與主語進行倒裝。
這個「do」套用了限定動詞「imagined」的簡單過去式字形,主要動詞「imagined」則變回infinitive 字形「imagine」,正如我們組成獨立問題句時一樣。
__________________
第二種現代英文中的「倒裝」結構種類,可以稱為「subject-whole verb inversion (主語--整個限定動詞倒裝)」,即整個限定動詞組都跟主語互換位置。
這情況通常只會出現在限定動詞僅包含一個單字、且沒有輔助動詞的句子中,即簡單現在式或簡單過去式的字形。與「subject-auxiliary inversion」不同,這裡無需加入額外的「do」,動詞自身就可以跟主詞互換位置。
例如:
Under the tree stood the man. (那個人站在樹下方)
Into the room came a group of students. (一群學生走進了房間)
以上例句中,只包含一個單字的限定動詞「stood」和「came」,都直接跟主語「the man」和「a group of students」調換位置,不必加額外的輔助動詞「do」。
其實,一旦觸發「subject-whole verb inversion」,即使是多於一個單字的限定動詞,也應該整個詞組與主語對換位置 。不過這是非常少出現的,更別說相對於英文現在「正常」的詞序,倒裝句式本來就夠少見了,因此我們暫不在此詳述。
________________
我們已釐清了兩種倒裝結構種類的差異,現在可以簡略看看那些會觸發(或要求)倒裝的情景:
Subject-auxiliary inversion 主語--輔助動詞調位:
「否定」倒裝 – 當一個否定整個子句的副詞組被移到最前:
Never have I seen such a man.
Never did I imagine this outcome.
Not only did he not help, he even tried to sabotage us.
(不單只沒有幫助我們,甚至試圖破壞我們的計劃)
與上句有相同句式,省略「重複」的部份,並有「so」或「as」等字在最前的子句:
Peter has qualified for the Olympics. So has Mary (qualified for the Olympics).
Peter qualified for the Olympics. So did Mary (qualify for the Olympics).
(彼得已經獲得奧運資格。瑪麗也是。)有「限制」意思的副詞組(例如「only then」)被移到子句最前面:
Only then did I realize the importance of his words.
(只有在那時我才意識到他說話的重要性)
(但注意:當限定動詞是「be」時,即使在這種「主語 — 輔助動詞」倒裝句中,我們也不需要添加額外輔助動詞「do」。我們只需將主語和「be」調位。這與組成疑問句的形式相同。如:)
Never was I so surprised by anything.
Subject-whole verb inversion(主語--整個限定動詞倒裝):
「地點性」或「方向性」倒裝 – 當一個「地點」或「方向」的副詞組被移到子句的開頭:
Under the tree stood a man.
Into the room came a group of students.
「be」 的倒裝 – 當子句的限定動詞是「be」,而原來在「be」後的形容詞被移到最前強調(但不是所有有「be」的情況也可以): “Blessed is the one who trusts in the lord.” (聖經中的句子) There is an apple. (有個蘋果)
"Impossible is Nothing.”(品牌 Adidas 的廣告標語)
直接對話引述,而被引述的部分被移到頭:
"This is great,” said he, “but I would like the other one.” “Sure,” muttered I.
我會在日後的篇章中再詳細講解各種場景。
但無論如何,倒裝法已是現代英文中的「化石」。即使它們仍然出現於某些情景中,很多時侯,卻還是會讓人覺得有點不自然。所以,你在寫倒裝的句式時要多注意一點。
______________
小練習:
以下句子屬哪種結構類型的倒裝?
「subject-auxiliary」或是「subject-whole verb」?
Only after I have exhausted all my options will I give up!
(只有當我用盡所有選擇後,我才會放棄!)
After the competition came the medal ceremony.
(比賽結束後是頒獎典禮)
___________________
“Inversion” in Modern English #2:
Subject-Auxiliary Inversion vs. Subject-”Whole Verb” Inversion
In #1 of this series, I explained that so-called “inversion” in modern English sentences is a “fossil” of the “V2” (verb in the second position) word order that English used to have.
This time, I want to list out the main examples of scenarios in which “inversion” appears (or is required) in modern English. In the next few newsletters, I will give more details about each.
________________
Before we consider the scenarios of inversion in modern English, we need to be clear that there are two types of inversion in terms of structure.
The first type can be called “subject-auxiliary inversion.” With this type of inversion, the subject switches positions with only the first auxiliary verb of a finite verb group.
For example:
Never have I seen such a man. (我從未見過這樣一個男人)
When a scenario calls for this type of inversion, only the auxiliary verb in the first position in a finite verb group switches places with the subject.
In this example, the whole finite verb group is “have seen” – but only the auxiliary verb “have” switches positions with the subject “I.” The part “seen” remains behind the subject:
Never have I seen such a man.
Never have seen I such a man.* ❌
When a scenario calls for “subject-auxiliary inversion,” but the finite verb in that sentence happens to not already contain an auxiliary verb (because it is in simple present or simple past form), an extra auxiliary “do” needs to be added in first – and this extra “do” is the part that switches with the subject. This is the same inversion operation as in question formation.
For example:
Never imagined I such an outcome.* (我從未想像過這樣的結果) ❌
Never did I imagine such an outcome. ✔️
In this example that requires “subject-auxiliary inversion,” the simple past finite verb “imagined” cannot switch places with the subject “I” by itself. Rather, an extra auxiliary “do” needs to be added in first before it is then inverted with the subject.
This “do” takes on the simple past form of the original finite verb form “imagined” – and the main verb “imagined” changes back to infinitive form (“imagine”), just like in question formation.
__________________
The second structural type of “inversion” in modern English can be called “subject-whole verb inversion.” When a scenario calls for this type of inversion, the whole finite verb switches places with the subject.
Usually, this only happens in sentences in which the finite verb is only one word and without an auxiliary – as in, in simple present or simple past form. Unlike with “subject-auxiliary inversion,” this verb itself switches places with the subject. The extra “do” does not need to be added.
For example:
Under the tree stood the man. (那個人站在樹下方)
Into the room came a group of students. (一群學生走進了房間)
In these sentences in which “subject-whole verb inversion” has been triggered, the one-word finite verbs “stood” and “came” are inverted with their subjects “the man” and “a group of students.” No extra auxiliary “do” needs to be added.
Technically, the whole finite verb group would switch with the subject even when it consists of more than one word, but this is very rare, and inverted sentences are already rare among sentences with “normal” word order, so we won’t consider them here.
________________
Now that we have clarified the structural difference between these two structural types of inversion, we can look briefly at the types of scenarios that would trigger (or require) each type:
“Subject-auxiliary inversion”:
1. “Negative” inversion – when a clause-negating adverb is moved to the front:
Never have I seen such a man.
Never did I imagine this outcome.
Not only did he not help, he even tried to sabotage us.
2. Clauses that follow the pattern of a previous clause, omit the “repeated” parts, and have the particles “so” or “as” in front:
Peter has qualified for the Olympics. So has Mary (qualified for the Olympics).
Peter qualified for the Olympics. So did Mary (qualify for the Olympics).
3. Clauses in which a “limiting” adverb – like “only then” – is moved to the front:
Only then did I realize the importance of his words.(只有在那時我才意識到他說話的重要性)
(Note: When the finite verb is a form of “be,” then we don’t need to add “do” even for this type of inversion. We just invert the subject and “be.” This is the same as question formation. E.g.:)
Never was I so surprised by anything.
“Subject-whole verb inversion”:
1. “Locative” or “directive” inversion – when an adverb of “location” or “direction” is moved to the front of the clause:Under the tree stood a man.
Into the room came a group of students.
2. nversion with “be” – when the finite verb of the clause is “be,” and the original predicate adjective (adjective after the “be”) is emphasized at the front (not always possible):
“Impossible is Nothing.” (marketing slogan of the brand Adidas)
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the lord.” (from the Christian bible)
There is an apple.
3. Direct quotes – when a direct quote is moved to the front of a clause:
"This is great,” said he, “but I would like the other one.”
“Sure,” muttered I.
I will explain each scenario in more detail in later installments!
But always remember that inversion is a “fossil” in modern English. As such, even when they still appear in these scenarios, they are often awkward and unnatural – so be careful when you invert your own sentences.
___________________
Mini Exercise:
Are the following examples of inversion “subject-auxiliary” or “subject-whole verb”?
a. Only after I have exhausted all my options will I give up!
(只有當我用盡所有選擇後,我才會放棄!)
b. After the competition came the medal ceremony.
(比賽結束後是頒獎典禮)
Comments
Post a Comment