教學札記（九）：主句和從句，誰前誰後有關係嗎？

05-08

我們知道，英文複雜句(complex sentence)有主句、從句之分，在簡單句中，句子的主幹也可以看成是主句，而修飾部分，可以看成是枝幹。那麼，這個主句從句、主幹枝幹，誰放在前面，誰放在後面是否有講究？

回答是肯定的。從語法上說，誰在前面、誰在後面都正確，但從語言表達上看，誰在前，誰就獲得了首先的注意；但這並不是說，只有主句、主幹才能放在前面。

我們先來看看下面這些句子：

If the price was good and the quality excellent, I might consider

buying a designer dress.（狀語從句，置於句首）

Finishing his homework, he started to play game. （現在分詞做狀語，置於句首）

Unprovided with original learning, uninformed in the habits of

thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved -- to write a book. （過去分詞做狀語，置於句首）

After shopping at the mall, walking the dogs and washing the car,

I finally got to stay in and relax. （介詞+分詞作為枝幹做狀語，置於句首）

With a beautiful set and a pyrotechnic display, the act was sure

to please. （介詞短語做狀語，置於句首）

In the week before their departure to Arrakis, when all the final

scurrying about had reached a nearly unbearable frenzy, an old crone came to

visit the mother of the boy, Paul. （介詞短語+狀語從句構成複合狀語，置於句首）

Halfway between West Egg and New York City sprawls a desolate

plain, a gray valley where New Yorks ashes are dumped Spring, with new buds

popping out, flowers blooming, and mild temperatures, is my favorite season. （副詞+介詞構成狀語，置於句首）

從上述句子我們可以看出，英文中，句子的主句、主幹並不必然置於句首，從句或枝幹同樣可以置於句首。其目的是為了強調從句、枝幹的內容，也可以是為了「暫時按下主要內容不表」而先說次要內容，起到勾起讀者興趣或創造懸念的作用。

這樣的把主要成分放在後半部分的句子被稱作Periodic Sentence，中文譯作「掉尾句」。