插入语的修饰规则浅析
By Shirley
在 GMAT 句子改错中，插入语是很常见的一种成分。此文主要分析插入语的形式以及修饰规则。
一、插入语的定义
放在句中的修饰成分。修饰成分包括定语、状语和同位语。插入语的形式：两边有逗号或破折号隔开
Eg：The direction in which the Earth and the other solid planets—Mercury, Venus, and Mars—spins were determined from collisions with giant celestial bodies in the early history of the Solar System.
二、插入语的处理方式
跳过（把两边逗号一起拿掉），插入语是不重要的句子成分，因此可以跳过处理。
三、插入语的修饰总规则：向前修饰
Plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon , in the form of carbon dioxide, and converting it to energy-rich sugars.
解析：in the form of carbon dioxide 向前修饰 carbon。
以下分别从定语、状语和同位语放在句中做插入语来分析。
（一）同位语做插入语，向前修饰名词。
1. The filibuster, a parliamentary device that slows the snail's pace that prevails even in the best of times in congressional sessions and tests the endurance of everyone associated with it,
l seems more and more an anachronism in the age of telecommunications. 划线部分是做 the filibuster 的同位语；
2. Efforts to equalize the funds available to school districts, a major goal of education reformers and many states in the 1970's, have not significantly reduced the gap that exists.
l 划线部分做 efforts 的同位语。
（二）定语从句做插入语，向前修饰名词
Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
l 划线部分向前修饰 The Color Purple。
（三）介词短语放句中，向前修饰名词
1. Plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide, and converting it to energy-rich sugars.
l 划线部分向前修饰名词 carbon。
2. While they remove carbon dioxide from the air, conserve soil and water, and house thousands of species, forests also supply potentially valuable pharmaceuticals and, as sources of building material and firewood,provide employment for millions worldwide.
l 划线部分是向前修饰 forests。
（四）状语从句放句中，修饰就近句子
Scientists have identified an asteroid, 2000 BF19, that is about half a mile wide and that, if it were to strike Earth, could do tremendous damage to part of the planet but would probably not cause planetwide destruction.
l 划线部分是条件状语从句，就近修饰 that could do..这定语从句。
（五）现在分词放句中，向前修饰名词
Neuroscientists, having amassed a wealth of knowledge over the past twenty years about the brain and its development from birth to adulthood, are now drawing solid conclusions about how the human brain grows and how babies acquire language.
l 划线部分向前修饰名词 neuroscientists.
四、不能做插入语的成分
（一）动词短语不能做插入语
A recent poll indicates that many people in the United States hold a combination of conservative and liberal political views; i.e., they denounce big government, saying government is doing too much and has become too powerful, while at the same time supporting many specific government programs for health care, education, and the environment.
A they denounce big government, saying government is doing too much and has become too powerful, while at the same time supporting
B they denounce big government--they say that government is doing too much and has become too powerful--but supporting at the same time
C they denounce big government, say that government is doing too much and it has become too powerful, while they support at the same time
D while they denounce big government, saying that government is doing too much and has become too powerful, at the same time supporting
E while they are denouncing big government--they say that government is doing too much and it has become too powerful-- supporting at the same time
解析：C 选项中 say that 在句中做插入语的成分，导致一个句子有 2 个谓语动词，句子结构不完整，排除。答案 A.
（二）连续分词短语或介词短语不能做插入语
Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.
(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,
(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter
(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter
(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations
(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and
解析：A 选项中 coordinating them...向前修饰 illustrations 不符合逻辑语义，排除。答案 C。
