插入语一般对一句话作一些附加的说明。它是中学英语语法的重点,也是高考的考点。掌握这一语言现象不仅有利于对句子、篇章的理解,而且也有助于提高书面表达的写作水平。　        

一、常见的插入语有形容词(词组)、副词、不定式、现在分词短语、介词短语、从句以及固定短语。

1.常见的形容词(词组)、副词作插入语的有:
sure enough(果然); strange; worse still(更糟糕的是); most important(最重要的是); honestly; obviously; however; otherwise; luckily; unfortunately; besides; first; second; especially; surprisingly等。
Worse still, the lion could even carry off the baby in its mouth.We must do the experiment carefully; otherwise you'll get another result. Honestly, I don't need it at the moment. He likes the country, especially in spring.

2.常见的不定式作插入语的有:
to tell the truth; to be short(简单地); to begin with(首先); to be sure(自然、当然、果然); to be honest/frank; to make things worse; to make a long story short; to speak of(值得一提的是), to be fair, to sum up(概括地说) 等。
这些插入语表示说话人的态度,在句子中作独立成份。
________ the truth, this is all Greek to me.
A. Tell   B. To tell   C. Telling    D. Told                
That's a good idea, to be sure!
To make things worse, many of the men have gone off to cities in search of higher pay.

3.常见的现在分词短语作插入语的有:
generally speaking; frankly speaking; judging from/by; talking of(谈到); considering(考虑到,因为是);putting it mildly(说得客气一点)等。这些分词用来修饰全句。
Judging from appearance, he seems to be a strong man.

4.常见的介词短语作插入语的有:

in fact; in addition; in a word; on the other hand; in other words; in one‘s opinion; in that case; by the way; of course; as a rule(通常);to one’s surprise; for example; on the contrary(相反);in a way(在某点上、在某种程度上); for one thing; for another (thing)等。
In a way, I think we both won in the game.

5.常见的从句作插入语的有:
if you don’t mind; if you like; if you please; if necessary; if any; if I may say so; if convenient; as it happens等。
You can, ________, come to join us in the game.

A. if you please    B. if you possible     C. if youhappy     D. if you necessary  

6.常见的固定短语作插入语的有:
as a result; that is (to say); what’s more; as above; all in all (总之),等。
All in all, they have had a wonderful time today.

7.常用作插入语的介词短语in a few words (或in sum, in short) 简而言之 of course当然 in other words换句话说,  in a sense在某种意义上, in general一般说来,  in my view在我看来， in his opinion(judgment)按照他的意见(判断)， in conclusion总之, in summary概括地说, in fact事实上，in the first place首先, in addition此外, to our knowledge 据我们所知，to my joy (delight, satisfaction)使我欣慰(高兴、满意)的，to their surprise(astonishment，amazement)使他们惊奇的，to her regret (disappointment)使她遗憾(失望)的，for instance(或example) 例如，as a matter of fact事实上

1). Of course， he did not succeed for the lack of experience.
当然，他由于缺乏经验而未成功。2). She knows much more about computer science than the other students do， for in stance. 　　例如，她在计算机科学方面就比其他同学懂得多。

8、插入句 I am sure我可以肯定地说，I believe我相信, I wonder我不知道, you know你知道, you see你明白, that is也就是说, it seems看来是, as I see it照我看来, what is important (serious)重要(严重)的是, I’m afraid恐怕，it is said据说等。

1). It will result in success, I suppose.

我想，这件事终于会成功的。
2). One day，it is said，Newton saw an apple fall from a tree. 　

据说，有一天牛顿见到一个苹果从树上掉下来。
3). What is more important，information superhighways can carry great amounts of
information around the country quickly and cheaply. 　

更重要的是，信息高速公路能把大量信息迅速、便宜地传遍全国。

二、插入语的位置,可放在句首、句中或句末,一般用逗号或分号隔开。
Besides, I enjoy learning about new things from politics to sports and music.
He knows three foreign languages, namely, English, Japanese and Spanish.
但是有些词或短语可插在句子中,不用逗号隔开。　　
What on earth are you doing here?

三、表示疑问的插入语结构含think, suppose, guess, say, imagine, expect, believe等动词的疑问句,后接含疑问词的宾语从句时,要将疑问词放在句首。例如:　　
Whom do you think I should see first?这一结构可改为:Whom should I see first, do you think?
He made another wonderful discovery, ________of great importance to science.
which I think is 　 B. which I think it is   C. which I think it    D. I think is

巩固练习：请选出最佳答案。

1. It is always difficult being in a foreign country, ________if you don't speak the language.         A. extremely      B. naturally 　 C. basically       D. especially

2. ________be sent to work there? (上海2002)
A. Who do you suggest           　B. Who do you suggest that should
C. Do you suggest who should     　D. Do you suggest whom should

3. Two middle-aged passengers fell into the sea ,________, neither of them could swim.
A. in fact    B. luckily   C. unfortunately  D. naturally　                    

4. Never waste anything, and________, never waste time.
A. after all     B. at all     C. in all       D. above all

5. His father came home at midnight, and ____, he was drunk. 　A. as a result    B. that is to say   C. what's more   D. sooner or later

6. My sister speaks English＿＿, if not better than, my brother.  
A. as well    B. as well as   C. so well D. so well as

7. ＿＿＿＿＿, you have given me a lot of help.  
A Tell the truth     B. To tell the truth   C. Telling true D. Telling truth

8. ＿＿＿＿＿ his face, the young man must be over 20.
A. Judged from  B. Judged    C. Judging from D .Judging

9. I don’t mind picking up your things from the store ,____,the walk will do me good .
A. sooner or later   B. still     C. in time     D. besides                    

10. What he said,＿＿＿＿＿, has nothing to do with what he did.  
A. to my surprise    B. to my surprised     C. to my surprising  D. to our surprises