例 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。
對于此題,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 余人。
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:
墻后是一些高樹。
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.
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。關于這個問題,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。