Inversion
Бекежан Айгерім 108 ПД
• Standard word order of declarative sentences in English is
first the subject, then the verb. But, there is a literary
technique in English requiring changing the standard word
order which makes the sentences difficult to understand
for the beginners. In normal everyday English, inversion is
used: − to make questions: Does he? Can you? − after «so»,
«neither», «nor»: So do I, neither do I, nor do I. In
learning English grammar, most learners don’t pay attention
to the use of other types of inversion and the sentences
with complex inversion are considered as sentences with an
error of punctuation by them. Because, the learners analyze
the sentences and consider them as interrogative sentences
according to the order of auxiliary verbs or so, but cannot
understand or translate them into their native language. So,
they have to come to the conclusion that the sentences are
not grammatically correct.
• Inversion is a structure in which a verb or an auxiliary
verb is put before the subject even if the sentence is not
an interrogative one. We can use inversion before
several negative words such as «never,nowhere, no, not,
not only, rarely». In general, inversions are used to
emphasize the speaker’s idea. It is a literary technique
generally used for emphasis or for special effect. It also
sounds quite formal. So, sentences with inversion doesn’t
occur in everyday English: Example 1 (sentence without
an inversion): I have never seen such a beautiful girl!
Example 2 (the same sentence with an inversion): Never
have I seen such a beautiful girl! In example 2 inversion is
used to emphasize the fact that I have not seen such a
beautiful girl in my whole lifetime.
Thank you for your
attention!