ESL Basic English Grammar Questions and Help

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:07:11 GMT

When a sentence is in its "natural order" It notmally makes more sence then inverted order.
Often times writers use inverted order to create an effect or to change the emphasis in a sentence.

The verb(what the subject does) comes before the subject(the main character or thing in the sentence) in the sentence.

example

Natural : The soldier ran over the hill.

Inverted: Over the hill ran the soldier.

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 04:06:44 GMT

Janissary
as you know , i am not enough experienced in english and such matters but

if i were you i would use "do i see him tomorrow ,i would ask it about it",intead of "Would I see him tomorrow, I would ask him about it. " besides i dont know is this correct gramatically...

as for the last post i really wondered if we can use inverted sentences wherever we can use if clauses, no matter it is true or untrue condition ,too. i ll waiting to be clarified

thnx

yeah i dont know the answer too... what do you think the answer is?!

Re: Inverted sentences

Grammar Geek — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:23:07 GMT

In normal English declarative sentences, the subject comes BEFORE the verb.

When the order is inverted, it means the verb comes before the subject.

As you can see from the examples of inversion, the verb came before the subject.

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:46:56 GMT

Inverted sentence order means the verb comes before or after the subject?

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:41:39 GMT

The present subjunctive can also lend itself to inversion: "Be he alive or be he dead...".

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:34:23 GMT

Ruslana
2. When you talk about an improbable (unlikely) event, you should use Past Inderfinite in the subordinate clause and would + Indefinite Infinitive (without to) in the main clause.

If I saw him tomorrow, I would ask him about it. (I wish I could see him but it will hardly happen.)

This is hypothesis but you shouldn't use the past tense for a future event. To make it clear say: "If I were to see him tomorrow...".

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:20:06 GMT

Should you acknowledge the receipt of this letter, I would be obliged.

This would be correct. Remember that this English is quite formal. Common in letters and perhaps a debate. Definitely found in literature and on TOEFL-type exams.

doggplasma

Re: Inverted sentences

Grammar Geek — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:04:38 GMT

Inverted simply means the verb comes before the noun. Sometimes it's done for emphasis, and sometimes the sentence structure requires the inversion.

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:59:30 GMT

Inverted is a way of saying a sentense that does no flow naturaly. like. On the high hill top standes the scary house. well thats what i know.

Re: Inverted sentences

Clive — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:26:46 GMT

Hi,

I think you should try to work with very simple, short sentences to be sure you grasp the idea of inversion. Can you try to write and post the simplest example you can think of?

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:50:55 GMT

Hi guys,

I am new to this this forum , and currently have troubles with inverted sentences.

After reading few posts, i kinda get a general idea of what the inverted sentences look like.

However would you guys like to take a look at the following sentence. Coz i don't really whether it is an inverted sentence or not.

Computers are becoming faster, more powerful, and more reliable, and so too are modems, the devices that allow two or more computers to share information over regular telephone lines.

What you guys think ?

Re: Inverted sentences

Clive — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 01:57:46 GMT

Hi,

Have you read all of the earlier posts in this thread? Then, do a search for 'inverted sentence' using the search box at the top right.

After all that, try to write some sentences. post them here, and we will help you with comments. OK?

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 23:38:54 GMT

Um, i need help learning inverted sentences....

Re: Inverted sentences

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 17:08:04 GMT

Hi Janissary

I'm Giugliano and although my first language is spanish right now I'm studying for the TOEFL test, so I think I could help you.

It is sometimes possible to place adverbial at the beggining of a sentence. This indicate a stronger emphasis on the action than when the adverbial is in its normal position. If the adverbial appers at the beggining of a sentence, the grammar of the setence is somewhat different.

Rule: (Hardly/ Rarely/ Seldom/ Never/ Only/ etc..) + auxiliary + verb...

Example: Never have so many people been unemployed as today.

Giugliano

Re: Inverted sentences

Ruslana — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 17:35:22 GMT

Janissary, I see why you are confused. I forgot to mention one thing.

Inversion is used in statements to give emphasis (the negative words, by the by, express a kind of emphasis too). For example, the word only is not so much negative as emphatic (at least, to my mind). So, I think the sentence your have written is right.

By the way, look at what I have found: Post:165537.