What is English inversion and how to use it?

Sentences that reverse the original word order for the purpose of emphasizing and highlighting words are called inverted sentences. In an inverted sentence, the inversion component can be restored to its original position, while the meaning and syntactic components of the sentence remain unchanged.

The usage of English inverted sentences is to change the normal statement word order, and its main function is to emphasize the advanced part. Inverted sentences are divided into complete inverted sentences and partial inverted sentences:

1, all upside down

Predicate verbs are all inverted before the subject.

2. Partial inversion

When the auxiliary verb or modal verb is placed before the subject, the position of the predicate verb remains unchanged and belongs to partial inversion.

3. Negative words are inverted in advance. When negative words are used at the beginning of a sentence, the sentence should be partially inverted.

Commonly used negative words are:

Not only ... (but also), until ... (until ...), not long scatter ... (than) (once) ...), Never/ rarely, Hardly/ hardly, Never/not (also), at any time and under any circumstances (Never). It should be noted that the part after the latter group of words is not inverted, only the part after the negative word is inverted.

4. Adverbs are inverted in advance

Adverbs brought to the beginning of a sentence cause inversion, which can be divided into the following situations:

Only+adverbs (when, before, if, after, etc. ) or only+ prepositional adverbial (guided by in, under, by, on, after, etc. ) must be partially inverted in advance.

Only then did he realize how stupid he was.

Adverbs such as oft, so and so are advanced and partially inverted. Note that another inversion of so means "also ..."

California mainly depends on crop income, and so does Florida. California is too dependent on crop income, and so is Florida.

Inversion of neither nor.

He can't dance, and neither can I. He can't dance, and neither can I.

Adverbs such as in, out, down, up, away, off, here, there and over are all reversed in advance.

The man jumped off his horse.

The man jumped off the horse. (Preposition at the beginning of the sentence, completely inverted)

There are several books and magazines scattered on the floor.

There are several books and magazines scattered on the floor. (The past participle was put at the beginning of the sentence, completely inverted)

Long live our great country!

Great long live the motherland! Some sentences expressing wishes are completely upside down.

Although she is in danger, she never cares about her own safety.

Although she is in great danger, she doesn't care about her own safety. Adverbs indicating negative meanings are located at the beginning of the sentence. )

Brave as they are, danger scares them.

Brave as they are, such danger still scares them. (as/though leads adverbial clauses to use partial inversion)