5.4        Infinitives and Gerunds

Day 1    Inversion

What is inversion?

In most English statements, the subject comes before the verb. In some patterns, however, we put the verb (or part of it) before the subject. This is called inversion.

在很多的英文句式中，主語都是用在動詞後面的。但是在某些句形，動詞是會在主語前的。這種寫法被稱為倒裝法。

Normal Statement : Subject + Verb + Object

Inverted Statement : Verb + Subject + Object*

Questions : Verb + Subject + Object*

*Sometimes only part of the verb (the auxiliary) is put before the subject.

You may have noticed that  questions  and  inverted statements  share the same sentence structure. Therefore, many students find it difficult to distinguish between these two types of utterances. To be able to tell a  question  from an  inverted statement, you must first learn more about inversion.

你或許留意到問句和倒裝句有某些相同的結構。所以，很多學生都會覺得要分辨它們是很難的事要。懂得分辨問句和倒裝句， 我們一定先要學習更多有關倒裝句的東西。

1. Inversion after negative adverbs 否定副詞的倒裝法

    Inversion occurs when certain adverbs or adverbial phrases are used at the beginning of a sentence. Most of these adverbs have

    a negative or restricting meaning. These patterns are rather formal.

    當某些副詞或副詞短句用於句首時，倒裝句便會發生。大多數副詞都有一個否定或限制的意思。這些句形都是較正

     式的。

2. Inversion after adverbs of place 地方副詞後的倒裝句

    We can also use inversion when adverbs of place are used at the beginning of a sentence. These adverbs include here and there.

    This pattern is often used in story-telling.

    當地方副詞用在句首時，我都會用倒裝句。這些副詞包括here 和 there。這個句式常用於說故事的模式中。

   In a flat near mine lived a very rude family./ In a flat near mine there lived a very rude family.

   Near the door stood a postman. / Near the door there stood a postman.

   Here comes our hero.

   There goes the plane.                                                           

    But note that we cannot use this pattern when the subject is a pronoun :

 Here comes he. X (right: Here he comes.)

 Under a tree sat she. X (right: Under a tree she sat.)

    但我們要留意，當主語是代名詞時，我們不可以用這個句形。

3. Inversion in conditional sentences with should, were and had.

    In conditional sentences which contain should, were or had in the if-clause, we can omit the word if and use inversion. This is  

    a rather formal pattern.

    在條件句中，如果在 if-子句中包含了 should, were 或  had, 我們就要省略  ‘if’ 這個字，並使用倒裝句。這是一個較正

    式的句形。

    Should they feel guilty about neglecting the children, they may become jealous of the maid who looks after them.

    Were I rich, I should buy a Mini-cooper.

    Had they treasured their family, I’m sure they would have been happier.