定语从句中的倒装
英语中的倒装现象俯拾即是,但定语从句中的倒装却鲜为人知,其实这种不太为大家注意的结构在现代英语中并不少见。
这类定语从句中的倒装一般有以下三个特点:
1.定语从句中的谓语动词常为be或表示动向和静止方位的不及物动词。如:
(1)He described it as“a very agreeable situation located within two smallhills,in the midst of which flowed a great river”.
他将其描绘成“一个位于两山中间的非常可爱宜人的地方、一条大河从那里穿流而过。”
(2)They arrived at a farmhouse,in front of which sat a small boy.
他们来到一个农家,屋前坐着位小男孩。
有时也用及物动词的被动态。
(1)I had just been reading a patent liver-pill circular,in which were detailedthe various symptoms…
我刚刚读了一份新出的肝药广告,上面详细地讲到各种症状。
(2)It cuts a clean cylinder of rock,from which can be seen the strata the drillhas been cutting through.
它切下一块表面光洁的圆柱形石头,从其表面能看出钻头钻过的岩层。
2.引导词多为关系代词,常以介词短语的形式出现。如:
(1)The majority of the guests,among whom were many journalists andintellectual men,disapproved of the death penalty.
大多数客人反对死刑,其中有不少记者和文人。
(2)The nation is divided geographically into more than 90 areas,in each ofwhich is a“Limited State District Court”.
全国分成90多个地理区域,各区都有州立地方法庭。
有时,也可用关系副词where。如:
(1)She knew a little corner where was the seat beneath the yew tree.
她熟悉一个小小的角隅,那里有棵紫杉树,树下有个座位。
3.从句多为非限制性定语从句,起补充描写作用。如:
Beowulf has 17 expressions for the“sea”,…to which should be added
13more from other poems.
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