GRAMMAR I SUBJECT - VERB INVERSION Inversion: in this structure the verb phrase comes before the subject.

There are two main types of inversion: (1) subject-verb inversion or full inversion where the subject is preceded by the entire verb phrase and (2) subject operator inversion or partial inversion where the subject is preceded only by the operator rather than by the main verb or full verb phrase. If no operator is present in the original clause, auxiliary do is added. (1) Best of all would be to get a job in Wellington. (2) Never before have so many people united to fight for this cause. (2) Never again did I think of the matter. In general inversion serves the following discourse functions: Cohesion and information flow (specially subject verb inversion) Intensification, dramatic emphasis (specially subject operator inversion) Placement of focus (both kinds of inversion) End-weight (both kinds of inversion) Types of inversion: type of inversion examples conditions commonly associated with this inversion initial adverbial (on one long wall) short transitive verbs (hung) long subjects (a row of Van Goghs) negative openings (on no account) degree expressions with so and such the linking words so, nor, neither archaic and formal expressions

subject-verb

On one wall hung a row of Van Goghs. On no account must he go. So badly was he affected that he never recovered. She didnt know much about life, nor did he. So be it Long may she reign!

subject-operator

subject-verb and subject-operator in formulaic use

Subject-verb inversion: this structure is most found with an (1) initial adverbial, (2) a long subject that introduces new information. Initial place or time adverbials are specially common. Usually these adverbials have a cohesive function. They are often tied to previous discourse and they often show how a scene unfolds, either in physical space or time. Here and there define a place relative to the speaker. Sometimes an adverbial particle of direction is used with inversion specially to emphasize a sudden action. When the delayed subject is heavier than the verb, even though the latter can be a more complex verb phrase inversion is used following the principle of end-weight.

End-weight: long or complex elements are placed towards the end of the clause. It helps to understand as readers or listeners do not have to remember complex information from the beginning of the speech. (1) On the beach were four colourful sunshades. Nowhere have I seen such beautiful flowers. First came the dancers, next came the flower-decked floats. Here come the first dancers. Theres the dog I was telling you about. There are many ways of cooking potatoes. Among these are frying, boiling, baking. (academic prose). In comes Gregory, laughing his head off. (initial adverbial) Among the sports will be athletics, badminton, basketball and volleyball. Also taken into account will have been the long and tedious meetings at the beginning of the year. Then came the turning point of the whole situation.

(2)

Subject operator inversion: in this structure only the operator (auxiliary) is placed before the subject. Apart from its special use in forming questions, subject operator inversion occurs under special conditions: Negative and restrictive opening elements: such as neither, nor, never, nowhere, on no condition, not only, hardly, no sooner, rarely, scarcely, seldom, little, less, only. Through inversion the force of the negative element is intensified. The negative trigger for inversion is usually an adverbial or a coordinating conjunction. A: I havent got a copy of the timetable. B: Nor have I. As I said before, on no account must he be told. Rarely are all the elements in their correct place. At no time did he say he wouldnt be there. Scarcely had I arrived when the fire broke out. Degree expressions with so and such, neither and nor: subject operator inversion occurs in clauses that begin with the degree adverb so followed by and adjective or adverb, similar constructions with such that. With so, that is optional. So annoyed was he (that) he wouldnt listen to the explanation. So badly was he hurt, he spent months in hospital. Such was his condition that he was operated on right away. Such is his commitment that he stayed there all through the week. Inversion can also occur when so is used as a pro-verb pointing back to the predicate of a preceding clause or when it stands for given information and has a cohesive effect, the new communicative clause is placed in end-position. Clauses with initial neither and nor express parallelism with a preceding negative clause which also has a cohesive effect. A: We used to watch that program on T.V. B: So did I. As AIDS increased all over the world, so did deaths. She didnt know the truth, nor did he. He hadnt known about the problem and neither had his parents.

Special cases of inversion: there are a few cases of formulaic inversion, which are considered archaic with strong literary overtones. Specially subjunctive verb forms that express a strong wish. If that is what you want, so be it! I wont let him get into trouble, so help me God! May God forgive your falsehoods. Another special case is the one we find in conditional sentences without if: Had I known you were coming I would have called. Had he got up earlier, he would have caught the train. ************************************************