倒装结构
在英语当中,主语和谓语有两种顺序:一种和汉语一致,即主语在前;另外一种顺序是谓语在主语前面,即倒装。阅读中一般会出现以not only等否定连词和never,seldom rarely, hardly等否定副词引导的倒装句。理解倒装句,就要把它转换成普通语句,把倒装语序还原为自然语序,在自然语序下理解句子。
例句1:In a dispute, not only do the interests of one party not coincide with those of the other party, but they are in conflict.
分析:该句中,not only...but also...引导了倒装句,把其中的句子换成正常语序就是:the interests of one party do not coincide with those of the other party.整句的意思是:在一个争论中,不仅一方的利益和另外一方不一致,而且它们是相互矛盾的。
例句2:Hardly had we arrived in Shanghai when it began to snow.
分析:此句是由hardly...when引导出了倒装,意思是:我们一到上海天就开始下雪。