有這樣一道題:
In the letter__________these words,「I love you」.
A. was
B. were
C. saw
D. found
此題應選B。選項A,C,D都有可能被誤選。
對於此題,考生首先要弄清它是一個倒裝句,其正常詞序為:These words "I love you" were in the letter. 為了結構緊湊和平衡,才使用此倒裝句式。又如:
輪船上有2000餘人。
正:On the ship were more than 2000 people.
正:More than 2000 people were on the ship.
值得注意的是,以上這類倒裝句,還涉及主謂一致問題:
牆後是一些高樹子。
正:Behind the wall are some tall trees.
誤:Behind the wall is some tall trees.
老師四周圍著一些年輕的學生。
正:Around the teacher were some young students.
誤:Around the teacher was some young students.
這兩座山之間有一個小村莊。
正:Between the two hills was a small village.
誤:Between the two hills were a small village.
盒子裡有一些小球。
正:In the box are some small balls.
誤:In the box is some small balls.
這類句子,有的考生之所出錯,是因為他們把句首的介詞短語看作主語,從而把謂語與介詞短語中的名詞保持一致。
關於這個問題,有個比較簡單的方法可以判定:即在英語中介詞短語通常不能作主語,假若一個句子的主語位置是一個介詞短語,考生應考慮是否是一個倒裝句。