倒装有两种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

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

Hanging on the wall was a splendid painting. 墙上挂着一幅精美的图画。

再如朗费罗(Longfellow)《雪花》中的一节当主语较长或主语所带修饰语较长时,为了使句子平衡,常将状语置于句首,句子用完全倒装语序。

eg.To the coal mine came a com-pany of PLA soldiers with orders from the headquarters to rescue the trapped miners.

eg.A company of PLA soldiers came to the coal mine with orders from the headquarters to rescue the trapped miners.

一个连队的解放军战士来到了那座煤矿,奉司令部之命解救受困的矿工。

eg.On the ground lay some air conditioners, which are to be shipped to some other cities.

eg.Some air conditioners lay on the ground, which are to be shipped to some other cities.

地上放着一些空调,等着用船运到其他城市去。

从例句中可看出, 采用倒装语序的A句结构平衡稳妥 ,读起来自然流畅,而采用自然语序的B句结构零乱, 读起来也别扭。因而,在主语较长时就应采用倒装语序以取得理想的表达效果。

2. 以表语开头的句子down, up, out, in, off, on, away等)或拟声词(bang, crack等)置于句首,句子采用全部倒装的语序(主语为人称代词的句子除外)。

eg.Up went the rocket into the air. 嗖地一声火箭就飞上天了。

eg.Down jumped the criminal from the third floor when the policeman pointed his pistol at him. 当警察把手枪瞄准那个罪犯时,嘭地一下他就从三楼跳了下去。

eg.Boom went the cannon! 轰隆一声大炮开火了!

eg.Bang came another shot!砰!又是一声枪响!

以上句子简洁明快 ,生动逼真地描述了有关动作 ,令我们一览此类倒装的风采。但这种倒装句的修辞功能在语段中可以体现得更为清楚。

"Stop thief! Stop thief!" There is a magic cry in the sound. The tradesman leaves his counter, ... Away they run, pell—mell, helter—skelter, yelling—screaming, ...

"Stop thief ! Stop thief !" The cry is taking by a hundred voices, ... Away they fly, splashing through the mud, up go the window, out run the people. ( Dickens )

作者在第一段和第二段中分别用副词away, up和out位于句首引出四个倒装句Away they run , Away they fly, up go the window , out run the people。从而制造出一种紧张、急促的气氛 ,生动地刻画了一个紧张、混乱的捉贼场面。

倒装是英语中一个重要的修辞手段。倒装句的使用丰富了我们的语言表达,了解并掌握倒装句各种句式的用法 , 不仅会提高我们对英语语言的欣赏能力 , 对英语表达能力的提高也将大有裨益。因此,写作中适当用一些倒装句式定会使文章表达更生动、有力。