inversion for adverb phrase

keannu said:

When inversion happens with adverb phrase, 1 and 3 has the form of verb+subject, but 2 has subject+verb. Is it because "he" is a pronoun? or isn't there any fixed rule for inversion?

1. My cell phone was under the table.
-> Under the table was my cell phone.
2. He stood at the door
-> At the door he stood.
3. A helicoptor passed right over our heads.
-> Right over our heads passed a helicopter.

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keannu said:

You mean these are all possible. ...

Yes, though in each case, I would reverse those phrases, i.e. "A helicopter passed right over our heads." Though, I understand this is not your original question.

Then, what's the difference between the two? I think the purpose of inversion is to emphasize what comes first, isn't it?
At the door he stood.: emphasizing he?
At the door stood.he : emphsizing stood?

Actually, you have this backwards, IMO

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keannu said:

Y
Then, what's the difference between the two? I think the purpose of inversion is to emphasize what comes first, isn't it?
At the door he stood.: emphasizing he?
At the door stood.he : emphsizing stood?

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emsr2d2 said:

At the door stood he.

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5jj said:

That sounds most unnatural to me.

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emsr2d2 said:

Me too!

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Barb_D said:

It sounds like it is part of a nursery rhyme.

A little gray mouse came to my door
And right at the door stood he.
And he looked, and he looked, and he looked at me.
At me and my kitty cats three.

I mean, I just made that up, but it has that feel to it, doesn't it?

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Barb_D said:

It sounds like it is part of a nursery rhyme.

A little gray mouse came to my door
And right at the door stood he.
And he looked, and he looked, and he looked [STRIKE]at me.[/STRIKE] some more.
At me and my kitty cats three.

I mean, I just made that up, but it has that feel to it, doesn't it?

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