Inverted word order of words
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 966.
The order of words in which the subject is placed after the predicate is called inverted order or inversion.
E.g. Haven't youany family?
| Types of sentences with inverted order of words | |
| interrogative sentences Note: No inversion is used when the interrogative word is the subject of the sentence or an attribute to the subject | Where did they find her? Is he at home? Who speaks English here? |
| sentences introduced by there | There is nothing marvellous in what Jam is going to relate. Into the lane where he sat there opened three or four garden gates. |
| Compound sentences, their second part beginning with so or neither. | Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. R., escaped unhurt, so did three of their sons. |
| simple exclamatory sentences expressing wish | Be it so! |
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 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.
| Cases of inversion | |
| 1. when adverbial modifier opens the sentence a) adverbial modifiers expressed by a phrase or phrases open the sentence, and the subject often has a lengthy modifier. b) an adverbial modifier with negative meaning opens the sentence (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. 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. d) adverbial modifier of manner expressed by adverbs placed at the head of the sentence may or may not cause inversion. In this case the auxiliary do must be used if the predicate does not contain either an auxiliary or a modal verb. f) an adverbial modifier preceded by so is placed at the head of the sentence. | a) In an open barouche, the horses of which had been taken out, stood a stout old gentleman in a blue coat and bright buttons. b) In vain did the eager Luffey and the enthusiastic strugglersdo all that skill and experience could suggest. Little had I 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. c) So wore the day away. Thus spoke Mr. Pickwick edging himself as near as possible to the portmanteau. d) Silently and patiently did the doctor bear all this. Dimly and darkly had the sombre shadowsof a summer's night fallen upon all around, when they again reached Dingley Dell. f) So beautifully did she sing that the audience burst into applause. |
| 2. the emphatic particleonly, the adverbshardly, scarcely(correlated with the conjunction when), the adverbno sooner(correlated with the conjunction than),or the conjunctionnoropen the sentence.In this case 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. I do not care to speak first. Nor do I desire to make trouble for another. No sooner had Aunt Jullie received this emblem of departure than a change came over her. |
| 3. when the sentence begins with the wordherewhich is not an adverbial modifier of place but has some demonstrative force. Note: If the subject is expressed by a personal pronoun the order of words is direct | “Here is my card, Sir,” replied Mr. Pickwick. Here comes my brother John. “Here he is!” said Sam rising with great glee. |
| 4. when postpositions denoting direction open the sentence and the subject is expressed by a noun. (in, out, down, away, up, etc.) Note: If the subject is expressed by a personal pronoun the order of words is direct | Out went Mr. Pick wick's head again. Suddenly in bounced the landlady: “There's a letter for you, Miss Moss.” Down he fell. |
| 5. when an object or an adverbial modifier expressed by a word-group withnot a…, or many a ..,opens the sentence.In this case 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. Many a time had he watched him digging graves in the churchyard. Many a dun had she talked to and turned away from her father's door. |
| 6. when a predicative expressed by an adjective or by a noun modified by an adjective or by the pronounsuchopens the sentence (in case the subject is a noun or an indefinite pronoun). Note: when the subject is expressed by a personal pronoun, the link verb follows the subject. | Violent was Mr. Weller's indignation as he was home along. Such is life, and we are but as grass that is cut down, and put into the oven and baked. Bright eyes they were. Starved and tired enough he was. |
| 7. in conditional clauses introduced without any conjunction when the predicate is expressed bywas, were, had, could or should. | Even were they absolutely hers, it would be a passing means to enrich herself. |
Ex. 1. Comment on the word order and explain the саses of inversion.
1. Martin Eden had been mastered by curiosity all his days. 2. "What did the master say exactly?" "Well, of course, I wasn't supposed to hear." 3. Well, come on, shall I go or shan't I? Half past three — it's quite a good time! 4. "Is Mrs. Oliver at home?" asked Rhoda. 5. There was a curious expression on her face — a mingling of grim determination and of-strange indecision. 6. Yes, here he was, without Savina, on his way to total disillusion about the biggest 'research development of his time. 7. Suddenly the door opened and admitted the Baron. Followed a complete and deathlike silence. 8. But never, never could he have anticipated that evening, some months alter the birth of their child. 9. However, not for the world would he be different from the others. 10. Not often did he unbend to his servants, but as the butler tucked the rug round his knees he spoke to him. 11. This morning, however, he was scarcely in the mood for one of those long conversations, which so often beguiled the tedious hours. Nor could he bring himself to glance at the lesson books. 12. Jose did not answer. Fretfully the Consul shifted his position. 13. So immersed was the little boy that he did not hear the car. 14. No sooner had they disappeared than Nicholas heard the sound of clattering footsteps. 15. Not for an instant did he believe that Nicholas spoke the truth. 16. On they went. Once Alvin let out a sharp exclamation. 17. He'd been one of those fair babies that everybody took for a girl. Silvery fair curls he had, blue eyes and a little freckle like a diamond on one side of his nose. 18. Outside, waiting at the back entrance, was a tall, well-proportioned youth of 19 years old. 19. Up the staircase he went, falling down, picking himself up again, feeling no hurt. 20. Yet not for the world, would he have revealed the strange inexplicable bitterness which rankled within his breast. 21. So never see his son alive that the shock almost deprived him of his reason. 22. Tall and graceful she was, in a well-made dress of dark blue silk, almost the colour of her eyes. 23. Were I less attached to you, I might pretend to gloss it over. Had I a slighter regard for your intelligence, pi should perhaps withheld from you. 24. In front of the candles as at an altar stood one of my presents to her, a pair of Chinese incense holders in the form of little bronze warriors, who held aloft as spears the glowing sticks of incense. 25. So it's you that have disgraced the family. 26. At the sides of the house were bushes of lilac entirely hiding the farm buildings behind. 27. A fresh wrong did these words inflict. 28. Marble was the hero of his life and his fate. Not until this very moment with his hands tenderly, lovingly on the marble had he come fully alive. 29. Hardly had we been in our cell half an hour, when a convict sauntered down the gallery and looked in. 30. He did not speak: nor did I. 31. Happy she never seemed, but quick, sharp, absorbed, full of imagination and changeability. 32. At this period came the young Skrebensky. 33. Only once did Michelangelo go to the master of the studio for help. 34. Many a tear did I shed at night. 35. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. 36. Little did my poor aunt imagine what a gush of devout thankfulness thrilled through me. 37. "I hate to leave our fine house." "So do I." 38. A snowy white silk blouse, falling well open, showed off her long neck. 39. Directly in front of her window was a stone parapet... 40. Never, indeed, would he forgive her that episode.
Ex. 2. Translate into English using inversion.
1. Киевке поезд қашан аттанады? 2. Келіспеушілік оларда тек қана бір тармаққа қатынасты болды. 3. Жолшыбай ол бір сөз де шығарған жоқ. 4. Ол балалармен әрдайым өте шыдамды. Бірға ғана рет ол оларға ашуланды. 5. Біз бөлмеге кіріп үлгергенжоқпыз, жамбыр да басталды. 6. Мен орманның шетіне жеткенде, үлкен жасыл жайылым көрдім. Ешқашан ондай тамаша көрініс көрмеп едім. 7. Кітап қаншама қиын болса да, біз оны ляззатанып оқыдық. 8. Экскурсиядан кейін менім шаршағаным соншама, театрға бара алмадым. Апам мені босқа көндіруге тырысты, мен келіскен жоқпын. 9. Міне менің автобусым келе жатыр. Сау болыныз. 10. Такой интересный был спектакль, что мы жалели, когда он кончился. 11. Менде уақыт көбірек болса, мен итальян тілін үйренер едім. 12. Тек поездің ішінде ғана болғанда, ол қол шатырды үйде тастап кеткенің есiне түсірді.
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| Ex. 30. Point out what parts are detached and by what they are expressed. | | | Position of the object |