倒置法
狭義には主語と動詞の順が逆になることを倒置というが、ここでは、語順が基本文形と異なるものすべてのことを指す。
1. 文法上、倒置する構文
- 疑問文
- There is ... 構文
- 直接話法の伝達部で: “Aren’t you feeling well?” asked the doctor. (ただし必ずしも倒置しなくてもよい)
- 否定語句 (neither, nor, hardlyなど)やso, only が文頭にくるとき: “I’m tired.” “So am I.”
- 仮定法の動詞が were, had, should であり if を省略する場合: Should the ice in Antractica melt completely, the word’s oceans could be expected to rise by about 60 meters.
2. 強調や文のバランスを整えるための倒置
- SVC → CVS
- The children who managed to leave the country are lucky. → Lucky are the children who managed to leave the country.
ただし、主語が代名詞の場合は CSV の順にすることが多い。
- They are luckey. → Lucky they are.
- SVO → OSV
- I would never believe that sort of story. → That sort of story I would never believe.
ただし、目的語に否定語がつくと、OVS の順になる。
- Not one of these paintings would I ever wish to buy.
- 進行形の倒置
- A stream whose water is so clear that one can see the shape and color of every stone on the bottom is running through the field. → Running through the field is a stream whose water is so clear that one can see the shape and color of every stone on the bottom.
- 受動態の倒置
- A new law that forbids employers to reduce their employees’ wages on the basis of their health problem is required. →Required is a new law that forbids employers to reduce their employees’ wages on the basis of their health problem.
- SVOC → SVCO
- I’ve named the new machine developed by the group of scientist who have been trying to build a robot with artificial intelligence Betty. → I’ve named Betty the new machine developed by the group of scientist who have been trying to build a robot with artificial intelligence.
- 使役動詞 SVO+do → SV+do+O
- I failed to make the new machine developed by the group of scientist who have been trying to build a robot with artificial intelligence run.
→ I failed to make run the new machine developed by the group of scientist who have been trying to build a robot with artificial intelligence.