Inverted order of words.
The order of words in which the subject is placed after the predicate is called inverted order or inversion.
Haven't you any family? (Du Maurier)
§ 3. Certain types of sentences require the inverted order of words. These are:
1. Interrogative sentences. In most of them the inversion is partial as only part of the predicate is placed before the subject, viz. the auxiliary or modal verb.
Where did they find her? (Du Maurier)
Can I show you my library? (Greene)
The whole predicate is placed before the subject when it is expressed by the verb to be or to have.
Is he at home?
Have you many friends?
N о t e. — No inversion is used when the interrogative word is the subject of the sentence or an attribute to the subject: Who is in the room? Who speaks English here? What photos are lying on the table?
2. Sentences introduced by there.
There is nothing marvelous in what Jam is going to relate. (Dickens)
Into the lane where he sat there opened three or four garden gates. (Dickens)
3. Compound sentences, their second part beginning with so or
neither.
"Most of these military, men are good shots," observed Mr. Snodgrass, calmly; "but so are you, ain't you?" (Dickens)
Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. R., escaped unhurt, so did three of their sons. (Daily Worker)
4. Simple exclamatory sentences expressing wish.
Be it so!
Gentle reader, may you never feel what I then felt. May your eyes never shed such stormy, heart-wrung tears as poured from mine. (Ch. Bronte)
§ 4. The inverted order of words is widely used when a word or a group of words is put in a prominent position, i.e. when it either opens the sentence or is withdrawn to the end of the sentence so as to produce a greater effect. So word order often becomes a means of emphasis, thus acquiring a stylistic function.
In this case inversion is not due to the structure of the sentence but to the author's wish to produce a certain stylistic effect.
1. Inversion occurs when an adverbial modifier opens the sentence.
Here we must distinguish the following cases:
(a) Adverbial modifiers expressed by a phrase or phrases open
the sentence, and the subject often has a lengthy modifier.
In an open barouche, the horses of which had been taken out, stood a stout old gentleman in a blue coat and bright buttons. (Dickens)
On a chair —a shiny leather chair displaying its horsehair through a hole in the top left hand corner — stood a black dispatch case. (Galsworthy)
(b) An adverbial modifier with a negative meaning opens the
sentence. Here belong such adverbial modifiers as: in vain, never,
little, etc. In this case the auxiliary do must be used if the predicate does not contain either an auxiliary or a modal verb.
In vain did the eager Luffey and the enthusiastic strugglers do all that skill and experience could suggest. (Dickens)
Little had 1 dreamed, when I pressed my face longingly against Miss Minns's low greenish window-panes, that I would so soon have the honour to be her guest. (Cronin)
Never before and never since, have I known such peace, such a sense of tranquil happiness. (Cronin.)
(c) Adverbial modifiers expressed by such adverbs as so, thus, now, then, etc. placed at the head of the sentence, if the subject is expressed by a noun.
So wore the day away. (London)
Thus spoke Mr. Pickwick edging himself as near as possible to the portmanteau. (Dickens)
Now was the moment to act.
Then across the evening stillness, broke a blood-curdling yelp, and Montmorency left the boat. (Jerome)
If the subject is a pronoun inversion does not take place.
Thus he thought and crumpled up and sank down upon the wet earth. (London)
(d) Adverbial modifiers of manner expressed by adverbs placed at the head of the sentence may or may not cause inversion. In case of inversion the auxiliary do must be used if the predicate does not contain either an auxiliary or a modal verb.
Silently and patiently did the doctor bear all this. (Dickens)
Dimly and darkly had the sombre shadows of a summer's, night fallen upon all around, when they again reached Dingley Dell. (Dickens)
But: And suddenly the moon appeared, young and tender, floating up on her back from behind a tree. (Galsworthy)
Speedily that worthy gentleman appeared. (Dickens)
(f) An adverbial modifier preceded by so is placed at the head of the sentence.
So beautifully did she sing that the audience burst into applause.
2. Inversion occurs when the emphatic particle only, the adverbs hardly, scarcely (correlated with the conjunction when), the adverb no sooner (correlated with the conjunction than), or the conjunction nor open the sentence. If there is inversion the auxiliary do must be used if the predicate does not contain either an auxiliary or a modal verb.
Only once did he meet his match in tennis.
In only one respect has there been a decided lack of progress in the domain of medicine that is in the time it takes to become a qualified practitioner. (Leacock)
I do not care to speak first. Nor do I desire to make trouble for another. (Cronin)
No sooner had Aunt Julie received this emblem of departure than a change came over her... (Galsworthy)
Scarcely was one long task completed when a guard unlocked our door. (London)
3. Inversion occurs when the sentence begins with the word
here which is not an adverbial modifier of place but has some
demonstrative force.
"Here is my card, Sir," replied Mr. Pickwick. (Dickens)
«Вот моя визитная карточка, сэр», — ответил мистер Пиквик.
Here comes my brother John.
Вот идет мой брат Джон.
If the subject is expressed by a personal pronoun the order of words is direct.
"Here he is!" said Sam rising with great glee. (Dickens)
«Вот он!» — радостно сказал Сэм, вставая.
"Here we are!” exclaimed that gentleman. (Dickens)
«Вот и мы!» — воскликнул этот джентльмен.
4. Inversion occurs when postpositions denoting direction open the sentence and the subject is expressed by a noun. Here belong such words as in, out, down, away, up, etc. This order of words makes the speech especially lively.
Out went Mr. Pickwick's head again. (Dickens)
The wind carries their voices — away fly he sentences like little narrow ribbons. (Mansfield)
Suddenly in bounced the landlady: "There's a letter for you, Miss Moss." (Mansfield)
But if the subject is a pronoun there is no inversion:
Down he fell.
Her skirt flies up above her waist; she tries to beat it down, but it is no use — up it flies. (Mansfield)
5. Inversion occurs when an object or an adverbial modifier
expressed by a word-group with not a..., or many a... opens the sentence.
In case of inversion the auxiliary do must be used if the predicate does not contain either an auxiliary or a modal verb.
Not a hansom did I meet with in all my drive. (London)
6. Inversion often occurs when a predicative expressed by an adjective or by a noun modified by an adjective or by the pronoun such opens the sentence (in case the subject is a noun or an indefinite pronoun).
Violent was Mr. Weller's indignation as he was borne along. (Dickens)
Such is life, and we are but as grass that is cut down, and put into the oven and baked. (Jerome)
Sweet was that evening. (Ch. Bronte)
Inversion is very common in clauses of concession where the predicative is followed by the conjunction as.
Great as was its influence upon individual souls, it did not seriously affect the main current of the life either of the church or of the nation. (Wakeman)
However, when the subject is expressed by a personal pronoun, the link verb follows the subject.
Bright eyes they were. (Dickens)
7. Inversion is also found in conditional clauses introduced without any conjunction when the predicate is expressed by was, were, had, could or should.
Even were they absolutely hers, it would be a passing means to enrich herself. (Hardy)
He soon returned with food enough for half-a-dozen people and two bottles of wine —enough to last them for a day or more, should any emergency arise, (Hardy)
§ 5. Position of the object.
The usual position of the object in declarative sentences is after the predicate. However, in exclamatory sentences the direct object may occupy the first place.
What wonderfully blue eyes you have, Ernest! (Wilde)
This position of the object generally does not cause inversion, except in poetry, high prose, and negative exclamatory sentences.
Thee would I spare — nay more — would save thee now! (Byron)
Passage after passage did he explore, room after room did he peep into! (Dickens)
In declarative sentences the front position of the object serves the purpose of emphasis. In Russian this position of the object is common
As a rule this prominent position of the object causes no inversion except when the object is expressed by word-groups with not a... or many a...
The direct object acquires some prominence when it is separated from the predicate by some secondary part of the sentence — generally an adverbial modifier or a prepositional indirect object. We may call this the back position of the object.
She produced from her pocket a most housewifely bunch of keys. (Ch. Bronte)
I had at heart a strange and anxious thought. (Ch. Bronte)
Cowperwood smiled as he saw in the morning papers the announcement of the passage of each ordinance granting him a franchise. (Dreiser)
As is seen from the above examples this occurs when the object has an attribute.
The front position of the indirect object in declarative sentences is rare. The prepositional indirect object is more common in this position, especially in colloquial English.
Of his love he would tell her nothing. (Voynich)
To Martin the future did not seem so dim. Success trembled just before him. (London)
Sometimes the front position of the prepositional indirect object causes inversion.
To this circumstance may be attributed the fact that none of the letters reached my hand. (Dickens)
- 6. Position of the attribute.
I. The usual place of the attribute expressed by an adjective, noun, pronoun, or participle is before the word it modifies.
What extraordinary ideas you have about the way to behave to a woman! (Wilde)
With most of such attributes the order in which they follow each other is generally free, i.e. it can be easily changed.
Amelia Sedley had such a kindly, smiling, tender, generous heart of her own as won the love of everybody who came near her. (Thackeray)
However, with some attributes the order in which they follow each other is more or less fixed.
Attributes denoting age, colour, material, and nationality come next to the noun modified.
e.g. Rawdon preferred the quiet little Belgian city to either of the more noisy capitals. (Thackeray)
e.g. Two years of married life had not lengthened her short dark chestnut hair. (Galsworthy)
II. Post-position of the attribute.
There are some cases when the post-position of the attribute is its normal place, i.e. when it is not emphatic.
1. Most adjectives in -able and -ible are generally placed after the noun, especially when the noun is preceded by the adjective only or an adjective in the superlative degree: sufferings unspeakable, the only person visible, with all the solemnity possible, the most interesting thing imaginable.
However, a few adjectives with the same suffixes stand before the noun they modify.
He is the only reasonable man here.
She is a sensible little girl.
2. In some stock phrases the adjective is placed after the noun:
wealth untold — несметные богатства
from times immemorial — с незапамятных времен
a poet laureate — поэт-лауреат
generations unborn — грядущие поколения
3. The adjectives proper (собственно, как таковой) and present (присутствующий) are placed after the noun.
We shan't find anything about sculpture in this book, it deals with architecture proper.
В этой книге мы не найдем ничего о скульптуре, она посвящена архитектуре как таковой.
All the people present welcomed Paul Robeson enthusiastically.
Attributes expressed by cardinal numerals denoting the place of the object in a series always follow the noun modified. No article is used in this case: page ten, tram number six, room two.
Adjectives stand after indefinite and negative pronouns.
I'd like to read something very interesting.
6. Attributes expressed by prepositional phrases follow the noun modified.
As a gesture of proud defiance he had named his son Francis Nicholas (Cronin)
Besides the cases when the post-position of the attribute is its normal (unemphatic) place, there are a few instances when the postposition of an attribute expressed by an adjective serves the purpose of emphasis.
It was with a conscience uneasy that Edwin shut the front door one night a month later. (Bennett)
In this example we can easily put the attribute before the word modified, but then it will not be prominent.
Whereas the post-position of a single adjective is rather rare, two or more adjectives are often placed after the word modified for the sake of emphasis: these adjectives may or may not be joined by a conjunction.
He gave Annette a look furtive and searching. (Galsworthy)
When an attribute expressed by an adjective modifies a proper noun or a personal pronoun, it mostly stands in loose connection to it whether it is placed in pre-position or in post-position.
Clare, restless, went out into the dusk. (Hardy)
Pale and constrained, he walked into the room and took his seat at the window. (Cronin)
§ 7. Position of adverbial modifiers.
An adverbial modifier hardly ever separates the direct object from the predicate. It stands either before the predicate or after the direct object.
Helen heard me patiently to the end. (Ch. Bronte)
We could also very well say: "Helen patiently heard me to the end," but no other position of the adverbial modifier is possible here, unless it is meant to be emphatic; in this case it is placed at the beginning of the sentence.
However, an adverbial modifier separates the direct object from its verb when the object has an attribute.
He knew instinctively the principles of "pyramiding" and "kiting". (Dreiser)
He could read English but he saw there an alien speech. (London)
1. An adverbial modifier of time is generally placed either at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
On Tuesday night the new laundrymen arrived, and the rest of the week was spent breaking them into the routine. (London)
Probably we shall try tomorrow. (Heym)
Adverbial modifiers expressed by the adverbs now and then can be placed in nearly any position.
Tess then remembered that there would have been time for this. (Hardy)
Indeed, anything untoward was now sedulously kept from James. (Galsworthy)
We now slowly ascended a drive and came upon the long front of a house. (Ch. Bronte)
Note. — The hour is generally mentioned before a more general adverbial modifier of time such as day, night, evening, morning.
At nine in the evening Badly White... opened the door to the room and poked his head in. (Maltz)
2. An adverbial modifier of place generally stands either at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
Down in the mill yard a Bessemer furnace was blowing flame into the sky. (Maltz)
Geodin led the guests into the parlour. (0. Henry)
There it was all spiritual. Here it was all material and meanly material. (London)
...a library was a most likely place for her, and he might see her there. (London)
However, an adverbial modifier of place sometimes comes between the predicate and the prepositional object.
He emerged from the theatre with the-first of the crowd. (London)
Adverbial modifiers of place generally precede those of time and purpose:
I am going to the country tomorrow.
Well, they only kept up there about an Hour but that was sure a long time. (Maltz)
Sybil had gone to town to buy a new carpet for the first floor landing. (M. Dickens)
3. The place of the adverbial modifier of frequency is more fixed than that of other adverbial modifiers which enjoy a certain freedom of position. As a rule they precede the predicate verb in a simple tense form but follow the verb to be and all the modal verbs. In a compound tense form they follow the first auxiliary.
No one ever loved me. (London)
Lily would complain that she always told Jane everything she knew. (Herbert)
She was always on the point of telling him the truth.
Does he often come to see you?
Adverbial modifiers of frequency sometimes occupy the first place. This position generally does not cause inversion.
Often he had asked her to come and pass judgement on his junk. (Galsworthy)
Occasionally a small band of people followed the preachers to their mission. (Dreiser)
4. The most frequent position of an adverbial modifier of manner is after the predicate if the verb is intransitive, and after the direct object if the verb is transitive.
"You needn't worry about me," Louise said stoutly. (M. Dickens)
Cokane shakes hands effusively with Sartorius. (Shaw)
An adverbial modifier of manner generally stands between the predicate-verb and the prepositional indirect object though it is also found after the object.
She leaned lightly against his shoulder. (London)
5. Adverbial modifiers of degree always precede the predicate; if the verb is in a compound tense-form they follow the first auxiliary.
I entirely agree with you.
He has quite forgotten about the concert.
6. An adverbial modifier of degree expressed by the adverb enough generally follows the adjective it modifies, but may follow or precede a noun.
He is clever enough but very lazy.
When enough modifies a noun it may either follow or precede it.
I have time enough to do it.
I have enough time to do it.
