002 Inversion
.docINVERSI0N
In some cases the word order can be inverted (the V + Subj.)
-
AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION there is /are, was, were,
e.g. There is a burglar in the house.
There will be six peop1e for dinner tonight.
-
AFTER WORDS OR PHRASES, INTRODUCING SENTENCES, WHICH IMPLY NEGATION (never, at no time, nowhere, seldom etc.),
e.g. Never have I heard such a silly story.
Seldom has such a thing been done before.
-
AFTER no sooner, hardly, rarely,
e.g. Hardly (scarcely) had we begun the climb when the snow began to come down.
No sooner had they been given one increase in pay than they asked for another.
-
after ONLY + an ADVERB OF TIME OR PLACE,
e.g. Only now are we beginning to realize how great a man he was.
Only in north-west Scotland have I seen such scenery as that.
-
IF THE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE IS INTRODUCED BY '' only '', the word order in the principa1 clause is inverted,
e. g . Only when I heard the man's story, did I realise that you in danger.
6. after SO + ADJ or ADV,
e.g. So important was the news that the messenger was taken instantly to the King.
So seriously was he injured that he was taken to hospital at once.
7.in short answers after NEITHER0 (NOR),
e.g. Pedro can't speak Ukrainian, neither (nor) can Olaf.
Frieda didn't go to the dance, neither (nor) did Jan.
8. in author’s words in the Direct Speech,
e.g. ''That reminds me,'' said Hob, ''of a good story.'' ''What shall we do?'' said Jan.
BUT: ''What shall we do ?" he said.
9. in exclamatory sentences after THERE, HERE,
e.g. There goes our train! Here comes the bride!
10. when the sentence is introduced by an adverb, usually in the function of increasing,
e.g. Now comes my great news. Near the church was an old cottage. Such was the story he told me.
NOTE HOW A CHANGE OF WORD ORDER CAN COMPLETELY ALTER THE MEANING.
FOR EXAMPLE : a garden flower IS NOT THE SAME AS a flower-garden? a racehorse AS a horse-race; a glass eye AS an eyeglass; OR a foot long AS a long foot.
AND THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN :
'' He doesn't like wine very much,'' AND: ''He doesn't like very much wine.''