Inverted word order

Another common pattern of word order is the inverted one (or inversion). We distinguish full inversion (when the predicate precedes the subject, as in Here comes the lady of the house) and partial inversion (when only part of the predicate precedes the subject, as in Happy may you be!). Some grammarians also distinguish double inversion (when parts of the predicate are placed separately before the subject, as in Hanging on the wall was a picture).

In some cases inversion may be taken as a normal order of words in constructions with special communicative value, and is thus devoid of any special colouring. In other cases inversion is a sort of reordering for stylistic effect or for emphasis. First we enumerate those cases where inversion is a normal word order.

1. Inversion is usedto distinguish between the communicative types of sentences. With this function it is employed in:

a) General questions, polite requests and in tag questions.

Is it really true? Won’t you have a cup of tea?You are glad to see me, aren’t you?

b) Special questions, except questions to the subject and its attribute, where direct word order is used.

What are the police after?

c) There-sentences with the introductory non-local there, followed by one of the verbs denoting existence, movement, or change of the situation.

Therehas been an accident. Thereappeared an ugly face over the fence.

Thereoccurred a sudden revolution in public taste. Therecomes our chief.

d) Exclamatory sentences expressing wish, despair, indignation, or other strong emotions.

Long live the king! Come what may!

e) Exclamatory sentences which are negative in form but positive in meaning.

Have I not watched them! (= I have watched them.)

Wouldn’t that be fun! (= It would be fun.)

f) Negative imperative sentences.

Don’t you do it.

2. Inversion is used asa grammatical means of subordination in some complex sentences joined without connectors:

a) In conditional clauses.

Were you sure of it, you wouldn’t hesitate. Had she known it before, she wouldn’t have made this mistake.

b) In concessive clauses.

Proud as he was, he had to consent to our proposal.

c) In the second part of a sentence of proportional agreement (although inversion is not obligatory in this case).

The more he thought of it, the less clear was the matter.

3. Inversion is usedin sentences beginning with adverbs denoting place.This usage is traditional, going back to OE norms.

Here is another example.

There goes another bus (туда идет еще один автобус, еще автобус идет).

4. Inversion is usedin stage directions, although this use is limited to certain verbs.

Enter the King, the Queen. Enter Beatie Bryant, an ample blond.

5. Inversion may be usedin sentences indicating whose words or thoughts are given as direct or indirect speech. These sentences may introduce, interrupt, or follow the words in direct or indirect speech, or may be given in parenthesis.

“That’s him,” said Tom (Tom said). How did he know, thought Jack, miserably.

Direct word order can also be used here.

6. Inversion is usedin statements showing that the remark applies equally to someone or something else.

I am tired. - So am I. He isn’t ready. - Neither is she.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
The place of adverbials	\|	The emphatic and communicative functions of word order

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