《新概念》难句赏析(2)

难句二：
Much as we may pride ourselves on our good taste, we are no longer free to choose the things we want, for advertising exerts a subtle influence on us.
尽管我们可以夸自己的鉴赏力如何敏锐，但我们已经无法独立自主地选购自己所需的商品了；因为广告在我们身上施加着一种潜移默化的影响力。
——《新概念》第三册，第26课《Wanted: a large biscuit tin》
评析 该句涉及though引导让步状语从句的倒装，即Much as we may pride ourselves on our good taste= Though we may pride ourselves on our good taste。不难发现，though导的让步从句当需要倒装时必须将表语或状语提前（形容词、副词、分词、实义动词提前），其余句子成分位置不变。但注意：
1) 倒装后可以保留though，也可以把though改成as或者that。
2) 句首名词不能带任何冠词。
3) 句首是实义动词，其他助动词放在主语后。如果实义动词有宾语和状语，随实义动词一起放在主语之前。
例如：
Though he is talented and smart, he is lazy and self-indulgent. 倒装后：Talented and smart though (as /that) he is, he is lazy and self-indulgent. 尽管他很有天赋也很聪明，但他过于懒惰过于自我放纵。
Though I much admire your courage, I don’t think you acted wisely. 倒装后：Much as I admire your courage, I don’t think you acted wisely. 尽管我很佩服你的勇气，但我并不认为你的行为是明智的。
Though she was a child, she had to make a living. 倒装后：Child as she was, she had to make a living.尽管她还是个孩子，她必须自己去谋生。
Though he failed, he would stick to his goals. 倒装后：Fail as he did, he would stick to his goals.尽管他失败了，但是他仍不放弃自己的目标。
Though you will change your mind, I will not be on your side. 倒装后：Change your mind as you will, I will not be on your side.即使你改变主意了，我也不会站在你这边。

拓展 由于《新概念》整套书是以书面英语为主，为了避免行文单调并增加语言的书卷气和端正度，书中一些颇有难度的倒装结构层出不穷：以 “so（……that）；such（……that）；to such a degree；to such an extent”为句首的句子，引起局部倒装。
例如：
So vast is the number of planets, that intelligent life is bound to be a natural part of the universe. 行星的数目是那么庞大，有智力的生命必然是宇宙的自然组成部分。（《新概念》第四册，第43课《Are there strangers in space》）
Such is human nature that a great many people are often willing to sacrifice higher pay for the privilege of becoming white-collar workers. 许多人常常愿意放弃较高的薪水以换取做白领的殊荣，此乃人之常情。（《新概念》第三册，第4课《The double life of Alfred Bloggs》）

有些倒装或是仅仅起强调作用或是考虑到保持句子平衡，不引起主谓语的语序改变。
例如：
Wherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead dear and small animal like rabbits. 无论它走到哪儿，一路上总会留下一串死鹿以及死兔子之类的小动物。（《新概念》第三册，第1课 《A puma at large》）（注：其中a trail of dead dear and small animal like rabbits是left的宾语，因为过于长，所以被移至状语behind it之后。）
Affluent he may be, but he is by no means sure what to tip the doorman or the chambermaid. 他们可能很富有，但给看门人和房间服务员多少小费，心里却根本没有数。（《新概念》第四册，第47课《The great escape》）（注：affluent作表语，正语序是he may be affluent，这里前置仅仅起强调作用。）