阅读攻略－CET阅读长难句分析(四)（在线收听）

四、改变语序

改变语序主要指倒装句式。这种打破相对固定的常规次序的做法，或是为了强调句子的表达意义重心，或是强调一种表达语气，如虚拟语气、否定语气等。这些句子往往和一些副词、连词相关，有明显的标志。例如：

Should you break the rule against staring at a stranger on an elevator, you will make the other person exceedingly uncomfortable, and you are likely to feel a bit strange yourself. ( CET-4, 1996.6 ) 表示与将来事实相反的虚拟语气，从句的谓语用should + 动词原形或were to + 动词原形，从句中的if 可以省略，需将were或should前移至句首。

Despite the good news, civil engineers aren’t resting on their successes. Pinned to their drawing boards are blueprints for improved quake-resistant buildings. ( CET-4, 1997.6 ) 这是一个倒装句，正常语序为：Blueprints for improved quake-resistant buildings are pinned to their drawing boards。通过倒装，一方面句中的their指上句中的civil engineers, their的位置提前，与上一句的语气连接更符合逻辑；另一方面该句的主语偏长（blueprints for improved quake-resistant buildings），通过倒装可以避免句式头重脚轻。