請看下面一道考題：
______, he talks a lot about his favorite singers after class.
A. A quiet student as he may be B. Quiet student as he may be
C. Be a quiet student as he may D. Quiet as he may be a student
這道題很有一定難度。具體說來，它主要涉及兩個考點：一是讓步狀語從句倒裝后的詞序問題。讓步狀語從句之所以要采用倒裝結構，主要是為了強調位于句首的名詞、形容詞、副詞、動詞等，其詞序形式為：被強調的成分+as / though + 主語+動詞。二是在倒裝的讓步狀語從句中，位于句首的單數可數名詞是否帶冠詞的問題。按照英語習慣，英語中的單數可數名詞在泛指時，一般要有不定冠詞的修飾，但是位于倒裝讓步狀語從句句首的單數可數名詞是個例外，即使泛指其前也不加不定冠詞。由此可知，上面這道考題的答案應為B。
為了幫助同學們全面掌握讓步狀語從句的倒裝用法，本文將這類語法現象歸納為以下五種句型：
一、名詞+as / though+主語+動詞
King as he was, he was unhappy. 他雖是國王，但他并不幸福。
Child as he is, he knows to help other. 他雖是個孩子，但卻知道幫助別人。
Teacher though he is, he can’t know everything. 他雖然是老師，但也不可能什么都懂。
【說明】其中的動詞通常為連系動詞，也就是說位于句首的名詞是其后連系動詞的表語。另外，要特別注意位于句首的名詞前習慣上不用冠詞，即使其前有形容詞修飾也不用冠詞。比較：
Boy as [though] he is, he likes to play with girls.=Though [Although] he is a boy, he likes to play with girls.他雖是男孩，卻喜歡與女孩子玩。
Strong man as [though] he is, General Botha has been severely put to the test during the past few weeks.= Though [Although] he is a strong man, General Botha has been severely put to the test during the past few weeks.
波賽將軍雖然堅強，但在過去的數周里也受到了嚴峻的考驗。
二、形容詞+as / though+主語+動詞
Successful as he is, he is not proud.
他雖然成功，但不驕傲。
Improbable as it seems, it’s true.
雖然看起來不太可能，但卻是真的。
Stupid as it sounds, I was so in love with her that I believed her.
盡管聽起來很愚蠢，我是如此愛她竟然相信了她的話。
Patient as he was, he didn’t like waiting that long.
他雖說有耐心，也不愿等這么長。
Beautiful though the necklace was, we thought it was over-priced.
那條項鏈雖然很漂亮，我們認為價錢太高。
【說明】其中的動詞也通常為連系動詞，也就是說位于句首的形容詞是其后連系動詞的表語。
三、副詞+as / though+主語+動詞
Much as I like Paris, I couldn’t live there. 盡管我喜歡巴黎，但我不能住在那里。
Hard though they tried, they couldn’t make her change her mind.
盡管他們做了很大努力，卻沒法讓她改變主意。
Fast as you read, you can’t finish the book in two days.
盡管你讀得很快，你總不能在兩天之內就讀完這本書。
He was unable to make much progress, hard as he tried.
盡管他做了努力，卻未能取得很大進步。
【說明】有的詞典將much as 作為習語看待，認為它是一個用以引導讓步狀語從句的復合連詞。再如：
Much as I admire him as a writer, I do not like him as a man.
他作為一名作家我很佩服他，但我卻不喜歡他這個人。
Much as I like you, I couldn’t live with you.
我盡管很喜歡你, 卻不能和你在一起生活。
