Bright eyes theywere. (Dickens)

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Chapter XVI

WORD ORDER

§ 1. Word order in English is of much greater importance than in Russian. Due to the wealth of inflexions word order in Russian is rather free as the inflexions show the function of each word in a sen­tence. As English words have hardly any inflexions and their relation to each other is shown by their place in the sentence and not by their form, word order in English is fixed. We cannot change the position of different parts of the sentence at will, especially that of the subject and the object.

To illustrate this we will try to change the order of words in the following sentence.

Mrs. Winter sent the little boy with a message to the next village one December day. (Hardy)

If we put the direct object in the first place and the subject in the third, the meaning of the sentence will change altogether because the object, being placed at the head of the sentence, becomes the subject and the subject, being placed after the predicate, becomes the object.

The little boy sent Mrs. Winter with a message to the next village one December day

In Russian such changes of word order are in most cases possible.

Моя сестра видела замечательный фильм в Москве.

Замечательный фильм видела моя сестра в Москве.

So due to the absence of case distinctions word order is practically the only means of distinguishing between the subject and the direct object.

The above sentence may serve as an example of direct word order in an English declarative sentence:

(a) the subject;

(b) the predicate;

(c) objects;

(d) adverbial modifiers.

§ 2. Inverted order of words.

The order of words in which the subject is placed after the predicate is called inverted order or inversion.

Are you from Canada?

§ 3. Certain types of sentences require the inverted order of words. These are:

1. Interrogative sentences. In most of them the inversion is partial as only part of the predicate is placed before the subject, viz. the auxi­liary or modal verb.

Where did they find her? (Du Maurier)

Can I show you my library? (Greene)

With the verb to have (expressing possession) the auxiliary verb do is used.

Do you have a car?

(The usage of to have without the auxiliary verb is nowadays con­fined to very formal style.)

The whole predicate is placed before the subject when it is expressed by the verb to be.

Is he at home?

N о t e 1. No inversion is used when the interrogative word is the subject of the sentence or an attribute to the subject: Who is in the room? Who speaks English here? What photos are lying on the table?

N о t e 2. No inversion can be used in general questions in informal style: You see her often ? You’ve got the keys ?

2. Sentences introduced by there.

There is nothing marvellous in what Jam is going to relate. (Dickens)

Into the lane where he sat there opened three or four garden gates. (Dickens)

3. Compound sentences, their second part beginning with so or Either.

"Most of these military men are good shots," observed Mr. Snod- grass, calmly; "but so are you, ain't you?" (Dickens)

Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. R., escaped unhurt, so did three of their sons. (Daily Worker)

4. Simple exclamatory sentences expressing wish.

Be it so!

Gentle reader, may you never feel what I then felt.

 May your eyes never shed such stormy, heart-wrung tears as poured from mine. (Ch. Bronte)

§ 4. 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 or is withdrawn to the end of 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.

1. Inversion occurs when an adverbial modifier opens the sen­tence.

Here we must distinguish the following cases:

(a)Adverbial modifiers expressed by a phrase or phrases open the sentence, and the subject often has a lengthy modifier.

In an open barouche, the horses of which had been taken out, stood a stout old gentleman in a blue coat and bright buttons. (Dickens)

On a chair — a shiny leather chair displaying its horsehair through a hole in the top left hand corner — stood a black despatch case. (Galsworthy)

(b)An adverbial modifier with a negative meaning opens the sen­tence. Here belong such adverbial modifiers as: 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.

In vain did the eager Luffey and the enthusiastic struggle⁵ do all that skill and experience could suggest. (Dickens)

Little had I dreamed, when I pressed my face longingly agains Miss Minns's low greenish window-panes, that I would so soon have the honour to be her guest. (Cronin)

Never before and never since, have I known such peace, such a sense of tranquil happiness. (Cronin)

(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.

So wore the dayaway. (London)

Thus spoke Mr. Pickwick edging himself as near as possible to the portmanteau. (Dickens)

Now was the moment to act.

Then across the evening stillness, broke a blood-curdling yelp, and Montmorency left the boat. (Jerome)

If the subject is a pronoun inversion does not take place.

Thus he thought and crumpled up and sank down upon the wet earth. (London)

(d)Adverbial modifiers of manner expressed by adverbs placed at the head of the sentence, may or may not cause inversion. In case of inversion the auxiliary do must be used if the predicate does not contain either an auxiliary or a modal verb.

Silently and patiently did the doctor bear all this. (Dickens)

 Dimly and darkly had the sombre shadows of a summer's night fallen upon all around, when they again reached Dingley Dell. (Dickens)

But:

And suddenly the moon appeared, young and tender, floating up on her back from behind a tree. (Galsworthy)

 Speedily that worthy gentleman appeared. (Dickens)

(f) An adverbial modifier preceded by so is placed at the head of the sentence.

So beautifully did she sing that the audience burst into ap­plause.

2. Inversion occurs when the emphatic particle only, the adverbs hardly, scarcely (correlated with the conjunction when), the adverb no sooner (correlated with the conjunction than), or the conjunction nor °Pen the sentence. If there is inversion the auxiliary do must be used if ⁽he predicate does not contain either an auxiliary or a modal verb.

Only once did he meet his match in tennis.

In only one respect has there been a decided lack of progress in the domain of medicine, that is in the time it takes to become a qualified practitioner. (Leacock)

I do not care to speak first. Nor do I desire to make trouble for another. (Cronin)

No sooner had Aunt Julie received this emblem of departure than a change came over her... (Galsworthy)

Scarcely was one long task completed when a guard unlocked our door. (London)

3. Inversion occurs when the sentence begins with the word here which is not an adverbial modifier of place but has some demonstra­tive force.

"Here is my card, Sir," replied Mr. Pickwick. (Dickens) — «Вот моя визитная карточка, сэр», — ответил мистер Пиквик.

Here comes my brother John. — Вот идет мой брат Джон.

If the subject is expressed by a personal pronoun the order of words is direct.

"Here he is!" said Sam rising with great glee. (Dickens) — «Вот он!» — радостно сказал Сэм, вставая.

 "Here we are!" exclaimed that gentleman. (Dickens) — «Вот и мы!» — воскликнул этот джентльмен.

4. Inversion occurs when postpositions denoting direction open the sentence and the subject is expressed by a noun. Here belong such words as in, out, down, away, up, etc. This order of words makes the speech especially lively.

Out went Mr. Pickwick's head again. (Dickens)

The wind carries their voices — away fly the sentences like little narrow ribbons. (Mansfield)

Suddenly in bounced the landlady: "There's a letter for you, Miss Moss." (Mansfield)

But if the subject is a pronoun there is no inversion: Down he fell.

Her skirt flies up above her waist; she tries to beat it down, but it is no use — up it flies. (Mansfield)

5. Inversion occurs when an objcct or an adverbial modifi^cr expressed by a word-group with not аor many a... opens the sen­tence.

In case of inversion 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. (London)

Not a hint, however, did she drop about sending me to school.(Ch. Bronte)

Many a dun had she talked to and turned away from her fa­ther's door. (Thackeray)

Many a time had he watched him digging graves in the church­yard. (Dickens)

6. Inversion often occurs when a predicative expressed by an adjec­tive or by a noun modified by an adjective or by the pronoun such opens the sentence (in case the subject is a noun or an indefinite pronoun).

Violent was Mr. Weller's indignation as he was borne along. (Dickens)

Such is life, and we are but as grass that is cut down, and put into the oven and baked. (Jerome) Sweet was that evening. (Ch. ВгоШё)

Inversion is very common in clauses of concession where the predi­cative is followed by the conjunction as.

Great as was its influence upon individual souls, it did not seri­ously affect the main current of the life either of the church or of the nation. (Wakeman)

However, when the subject is expressed by a personal pronoun, the link verb follows the subject.

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