含有“無靈主語”的句子是用無生命的事物作主語，但謂語卻常常使用有靈動詞——人或社會團體的動作和行為。這類句子常帶有擬人化的修辭色彩，既增加了主語的多樣性和表達的客觀性，又使語言更靈動，句子更有生命力。無靈主語主要分為兩大類，第一類就是無靈名詞作句子主語，第二類則是以非人稱代詞 it 作句子的形式主語。下面筆者舉例分析第一類無靈主語在寫作中的巧妙運用。

一、具體的事物名詞作句子主語，包括時間、地點等，謂語動詞常用see、witness、find等

1. 接下來幾分鐘，Harry竭盡全力一步步把我拉向岸邊。

有靈主語翻譯：During the next several minutes， Harry was dragging me to the shore inch by inch with all his might.

無靈主語翻譯： The next several minutes witnessed Harry’s dragging me to the shore inch by inch with all his might.

2. 在廢棄的街道上，有一個衣衫襤褸的小女孩悲傷地哭泣著。

有靈主語翻譯：On the deserted street， a little girl in rags was crying sorrowfully.

無靈主語翻譯：The deserted street found a little girl in rags crying sorrowfully.

二、表示思想情感和內(nèi)心活動的名詞作句子的主語，謂語動詞常用seize， grip， take hold of， choke， overwhelm， sweep over， envelope， surge等

1. 看到同桌欺負弱小，我氣得說不出話來，恨不得揍他。

有靈主語翻譯：I was too angry to say any words when I saw my desk mate bully the weak and even wanted to beat him.

無靈主語翻譯：Anger choked my words when I saw my desk mate bully the weak and even wanted to beat him.

2. 當聽到我失去了夢想中的工作時，我非常沮喪，默默流淚。

有靈主語翻譯：When hearing the news that I was denied the dream job， I felt extremely frustrated and cried silently.

無靈主語翻譯：A flush of frustration surged from the bottom of my heart when I heard I was denied the dream job and tears streamed down my cheeks silently.

三、表示身體器官、部位、形貌特征的名詞作句子主語，謂語動詞常用light up、brighten、linger、well up、beam等

1. Jenny生日聚會上，朋友送她禮物時，她喜笑顏開，興奮地跳了起來。

有靈主語翻譯：Jenny was very happy when receiving gifts from her friends at her birthday party and leapt into the sky with excitement.

無靈主語翻譯：Jenny’s face lit up/brightened when she received gifts from her friends at her birthday party. So much excitement welled up her that she leapt into the sky.

2. 自從那天，媽媽感受到了我們對她深深的愛，我們家里總是歡聲笑語。

有靈主語翻譯：We have smiled a lot since that day when our mom felt the deep love from us.

無靈主語翻譯： Cheerful laughter has lingered in our house since that day when our mom felt the deep love from us.

四、表示思想或行為動作的名詞作句子主語，謂語動詞常用 strike、arouse、hit， dawn on， pop into， flash， occur to， remind等

1. 突然，我想到一個很好的主意，為什么不制作一張有粉色康乃馨裝飾的賀卡呢？

有靈主語翻譯：Suddenly， I thought why not make a card decorated with pink carnations.

無靈主語翻譯：Suddenly， a terrific idea struck me， “Why not make a card decorated with pink carnations？”

2. 每當我看到這幅畫，就想起了我們之間深厚的友誼。

有靈主語翻譯：I was reminded of the deep friendship between us whenever I saw the picture.

無靈主語翻譯：The sight of the picture reminded me of the deep friendship between us.

五、表示自然現(xiàn)象的名詞作句子主語，謂語動詞常用blanket、threaten， hit， prevent等

1. 在海灘上游玩時，他們遇上了雷陣雨。

有靈主語翻譯：They met with a heavy thunderstorm when they were playing on the beach.

無靈主語翻譯：A heavy thunderstorm hit the beach when they were playing there.

2. 因為濃霧籠罩，他沒法爬到山上去看日出。

有靈主語翻譯：He couldn’t climb to the mountaintop to appreciate the sunset due to the thick fog.

無靈主語翻譯：A thick fog prevented him from climbing to the mountaintop to appreciate the sunset.

學習無靈主語用法的重點在于掌握其結(jié)構(gòu)，一般是無靈主語加上有靈動詞，給無生命體賦予了生命力，最終產(chǎn)生擬人的修辭效果。無靈主語重客觀、強調(diào)邏輯和思辨，巧妙使用無靈主語能為文章增色不少。