涉及主謂一致的倒裝

有這樣一道題:

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：

墻后是一些高樹子。

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.

盒子里有一些小球。

正：In the box are some small balls.

誤：In the box is some small balls.

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。