對于一個具有一定英語水平的人來說，諳熟其句子方式，不僅有助于辨別該語言的各種修辭現象，了解句子運用的規(guī)律，從而提高分析語言表現技巧的能力，而且還可以有力提高準確、有效地運用語言的能力。為此 ，本文想就英語中怎樣突出句子的重點粗略地談談自己的看法。

　　怎樣突出句子的重點

　　句子的重點可以通過下列方法，加以突出：

　　1. 把重點擺在句首或句尾。

　　一般而論，最顯眼的位置是在“句尾，其次是在句首，中間的位置最平淡，乏善可陳。例如：

　　(1) Incorrect grammar and improper construction invariably distract readers'attention.

　　(2) The history of vocabulary is, in many ways, the record of civilisation.

　　把重點放在句尾是種“吊胃口”的方法，讀者或聽者非得讀完或聽完整句不可。

　　2. 在復雜句里，把主句放在從句之后。

　　除了名詞從句和形容詞從句之外，因為它們位置較固定，副詞從句中有幾種的位置靈活，可以在主句之前出現，也可以跟在主句之后。通常我們就把這樣的副詞從句提前，重點則放在后頭的主句，如(3b)：

　　(3a) I came upon an old classmate when I went to town yesterday.

　　(3b) When I went to town yesterday, I came upon an old classmate.

　　副詞短語更是如此，如 (4b):

　　(4a) Steel is commonly used to make knives, razors and other useful tools because of its durability.

　　(4b) Beacuse of its durability, steel is commonly used to make knives,razers and other useful tools.

　　3. 把較重要或有分量的詞語放在后頭，如(5b)和(6b)：

　　(5a) I was delighted and amused by the classical opera

　　(5b) I was amused and delighted by the classical opera.

　　(6a) That singer's life was tragic and brief.

　　(6b) That singer's life was brief and tragic.

　　4. 把句子中一系列的項目作邏輯性的排列。例如：

　　(7) Tony ate his dinner, watched TV, and then went to bed.

　　(8) Were you bored with years of study in elementary school, high school and institute of higher education?

　　5. 必要時，重復重要的語詞或概念。

　　例如：

　　(9) Jackie enjoys the company of ladies. He likes their beauty, he likes their delicacy, he likes their vivacity, and he likes their silence.

　　(10) ...the land stretched out without names. Nameless headlands split the surf; nameless lakes reflected the nameless mountains and nameless rivers flowed through nameless valleys and nameless bays.

　　6. 盡量用主動說態(tài)，因此(11b)比(11a)好：

　　(11a) A pedestrian was struck on the head by a flying stone.

　　(11b) A flying stone struck a pedestrian on the head.

　　7. 適當時候，可用倒裝句和平行句，如：

　　(12) Seven dwarfs lived here in the centre of the dark forest. → Here, in the centre of the dark forest lived seven dwarfs.

　　(13) Severity breeds fear; roughness breeds hatred.

　　(14) Honesty recommends that I speak; self-interest demands that I remain silent.