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Inversion of Subject and Verb

The document discusses the inversion of subject and verb, which is used for emphasis or literary purposes. It occurs in several cases: 1) When a negative or frequency adverb like "never" or "often" begins the sentence. 2) When a word indicating place like "there" or "out" starts the sentence, and the verb denotes movement or position. 3) When a word like "so" or "thus" indicating manner or frequency begins the sentence. 4) When conditionals omit "if" or phrases like "only when" are used.

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Huy Nguyen
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50 views3 pages

Inversion of Subject and Verb

The document discusses the inversion of subject and verb, which is used for emphasis or literary purposes. It occurs in several cases: 1) When a negative or frequency adverb like "never" or "often" begins the sentence. 2) When a word indicating place like "there" or "out" starts the sentence, and the verb denotes movement or position. 3) When a word like "so" or "thus" indicating manner or frequency begins the sentence. 4) When conditionals omit "if" or phrases like "only when" are used.

Uploaded by

Huy Nguyen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE INVERSION OF SUBJECT AND VERB

I. REMARKS:
+ The inversion of subject and verb is generally used for emphasis or
for some literary purpose.
+ In the inversion construction, the word order is the same as that in
questions.
II. CASES:
There is the inversion of subject and verb in a sentence:
1. When a Negative or Semi-negative adverb begins the sentence.
- Never have I heard such a thing.
- Seldom did he give his wife a present.
- Little does he know what is awaiting him.
- No sooner had I got outside than it began to rain.
- Not only do they come late, but they are also often absent.
2. When HERE, THERE, FIRST, LAST or an Adverb or Adverb
phrase of Place, which does not normally have front position, begins
the sentence.
- There comes the bus we’ve been waiting for.
- Last went the elephants.
- Out into the street ran the weeping girl.
Notes:
a. In this construction, the verbs denote a state, position or movement
(BE, EXIST, LIVE, LIE, SIT, STAND, GO, COME, ENTER, RUN, RUSH …).
They can stand before the subjects and are nearly always in the Simple Present
or Simple Past tense.
b. There is no inversion in sentences beginning with HERE or THERE if
the subjects are pronouns.
- Here lie the unknown soldiers.
- Here they lie, cold and forgotten.
3. When SO, SUCH, THUS or an Adverb or Adverb phrase of
Frequency, which does not normally have front position, begins the
sentence.
- So sick was he that he had to be taken to hospital.
- Such was the tale he told me.
- Thus should you act and not otherwise.
- Many a time has he given me good advice.
- Often did we go for walks together.
4. When ONLY WHEN (AFTER, THEN, BY, WITH, IN, AT … )
begins the sentence. If the sentence is complex, the inversion takes
place in the Main clause.
- Only at night do I have a chance to read.
- Only when he is here, does he speak English.
5. When IF is omitted from a Conditional sentence.
- Were she to see you, she would be very surprised.
- Had I been there, I should have spoken to him.
6. When the object, generally qualified by such a word as MANY,
MUCH, LITTLE or NO, begins the sentence.
- Many a trick had we played in class, without the teacher noticing it.
- Little help will you get from him.
7. When a predicative Adjective, Present Participle or Past Participle
begins the sentence.
- Calm and peaceful was the sea.
- Spent was the day and darkening was the sky.

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