核心问题
Well, you never were fond of work!
语法书上一再强调:never, always, usually, sometimes, often 等副词的一般语序是:放在实义动词之前或者放在连系动词或助动词之后(I was never very good at maths.)。但是上面的句子却把 never 放在连系动词之前,这是什么原因?
词典解答
把 never, always, usually, often, sometimes 等副词放在连系动词之后, 是最常见的语序, 可称之为正常语序。但是, 当连系动词 be 成为信息焦点时, 上面的副词就要放在连系动词之前, 在表示同意或反驳对方刚才说过的话时, 尤其如此。这种语序可称为异常语序。
A. 正常语序
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The sun always rises in the east. (Leech) 太阳总是从东方升起。
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The bus is always on time. (Leech) 公共汽车总是很准时。
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I'm always losing my glasses. (Leech) 我老是找不到我的眼镜。
B. 异常语序
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You always were generous. (Dreiser) 你总是很慷慨。
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That's where she usually is at this time of day. (CGEL) 那里是她白天这个时候通常在的地方。
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He said he would never tell them, and he never has told them. (PEU) 他说过他永远不会告诉他们,他也的确从来没有告诉他们。