Questions about Inversions - Inverted Word Order

[Anonymous]

Introduction

I have some questions about inverted word order in sentences.

I understand that we some times invert the word order of sentences in English for emphasis or added "effect" per se.

A

1. Are there any particular circumstances or types of sentences where this would be likely to occur, or perhaps only occur?

2. Are there any other reasons for doing this other than the one I stated so far?

3. If one's first language is English, inverting sentences might come rather easy. Are there any particular rules with regards to inverted word order that a student of English could use in order to gain an understanding of how this is done in the correct way?


B

1. Could anyone offer a grammatical type explanation for the following example of inverted word order?

2. Also, could anyone please say if "than" and "when" can be used interchangeably in the following example? And if so, is there a grammatical explanation or some sort of reason for it?


As soon as Emily put the phone down it rang again.

No sooner did Emily put the phone than it rang again.

No sooner did Emily put the phone down when it rang again.

..............................................................

All answers to, and comments about this "question" of inverted word order would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

CS

 

[gwendolinest]

FYI, the technical term for this inversion of word order is hyperbaton.

I’d say that hyperbaton is a just rhetorical device, used merely to embellish speech.

Fade-col

 

[Anonymous]

FYI, the technical term for this inversion of word order is hyperbaton.

I’d say that hyperbaton is a just rhetorical device, used merely to embellish speech.

Fade-col

mm....

I thought hyperbaton was something that had more to do with a type of unnatural word order, which would be used for effect.

What I mean to point out here is not a type of word order that is unnatural, but reversed or put into a different order.

 

[Anonymous]

To me, what I am asking about here are inversions or sentences with inverted word order. I don't quite see it as hyperbaton. Here's one definition of hyperbaton. I believe there might be some slight variations on it. I can't say the example I've left here is hyperbaton. The word order is inverted, but the order is still logical in a standard way.

hy·per·ba·ton (hī-pûr'bə-tŏn')
n.
A figure of speech, such as anastrophe or hysteron proteron, using deviation from normal or logical word order to produce an effect.

 

[gwendolinest]

What I mean to point out here is not a type of word order that is unnatural, but reversed or put into a different order.

Oops. Then I don’t know. Sorry.

cry

 

[Anonymous]

No problem. As I said, I appreciate all input and comments with regards to this this question. (made me think about what I was saying and asking here, no problem)

8)

 

[RonBee]

Inversion

>>>No sooner did Emily put the phone down when it rang again.<<<

I would be hard pressed to explain why, but I definitely wouldn't use
when there.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Inversion

>>>No sooner did Emily put the phone down when it rang again.<<<

I would be hard pressed to explain why, but I definitely wouldn't use
when there.

I'd be hard pressed to explain it as well. That's the problem. I did a search and found a similar sentence that in fact uses "when" in that form. It was on Google. I didn't save it. I'd have to find it again. Using "when" somehow occurs to me as a way to invert the sentence, but I understand your point about it not sounding completely correct. Still, it doesn't sound completely incorrect to me either. Maybe I'll do another search or check the Collins Concordancer later. Of course, it wouldn't be conclusive, but at least it could be seen as some sort of indicator.

 

[Anonymous]

A similar sentence using "when" instead of "than" is in this text. Perhaps it's just the context that allows for it, but it is the same sentence structure using "when" instead of "than". I will add that the other examples I found only use "than".

http://www.schmoozeletter.com/schmoozeletter/html/43.html


We started to walk back across the gravel parking lot, and no sooner did I have the key in the car door when I heard my wife screaming, "Oh no! Oh, oh, oh!"

 

[Tdol]

The technical argument is that the comparative 'sooner' should be followed by 'than'. Many people say 'when', however. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

The technical argument is that the comparative 'sooner' should be followed by 'than'. Many people say 'when', however. :wink:

I see. If you happen to have any particular comments with regards to what I posted at the top of the thread, it would be appreciated. I did searches for the subject of "inverted word order" in English and didn't come up with anything to speak of. Maybe I don't know how to search for this subject in the best way on the net.

:shock: :?

 

[RonBee]

A similar sentence using "when" instead of "than" is in this text. Perhaps it's just the context that allows for it, but it is the same sentence structure using "when" instead of "than". I will add that the other examples I found only use "than".

http://www.schmoozeletter.com/schmoozeletter/html/43.html


We started to walk back across the gravel parking lot, and no sooner did I have the key in the car door when I heard my wife screaming, "Oh no! Oh, oh, oh!"

I can see why somebody might use when, but "no sooner did" already carries the sense of the immediacy of the moment: no sooner did this happen than that happened.

<My two cents. ;-)>

 

[Anonymous]

A similar sentence using "when" instead of "than" is in this text. Perhaps it's just the context that allows for it, but it is the same sentence structure using "when" instead of "than". I will add that the other examples I found only use "than".

http://www.schmoozeletter.com/schmoozeletter/html/43.html


We started to walk back across the gravel parking lot, and no sooner did I have the key in the car door when I heard my wife screaming, "Oh no! Oh, oh, oh!"

I can see why somebody might use when, but "no sooner did" already carries the sense of the immediacy of the moment: no sooner did this happen than that happened.

<My two cents. ;-)>

Two cents noted. <no sooner - sense of immediacy>

;-)



Using "than" also makes more sense because "sooner" is a comparative form. "sooner than"

But TDOL already said that.

 

[Anonymous]

Here's a link that might get this disussion about inversions moving.

We could post more examples of inverted word order.

I would never have thought of this had I not seen it.

Never would I have thought of this had I not seen it. - if I had not seen it.

http://forums.about.com/UsingEnglish/messages?msg=3234.6

 

[Tdol]

To be honest, inversion strikes me as a lot of work for a learner with little genuine benefit. It helps with exams, but is, by and large, avoided like the plague. :shock:

 

[Lib]

Probably a bit late to add to the topic. But anyway, here goes.
It's true that we don't use inversions very often, but sometimes they are necessary (like when you need to use them in exams).
About the 'no sooner' sentence ... 'than' is grammatically more correct than 'when'. You could also use the past perfect: No sooner HAD Emily put the phone down than it rang again. (should there be a comma after 'down'?)
Inversions are used basically when there is a negative word or idea at the beginning of the sentence. A few more examples:
Not until I got home DID I REALISE I'd fogotten to buy some bread.
Never HAVE I HEARD such rubbish.
We also invert the verb in some type of conditional ideas without using 'if', as 'cityspeak' pointed out.
I could go on, but doing a search in 'google' would probably give you better results that I can.

 

[RonBee]

Probably a bit late to add to the topic. But anyway, here goes.

It's never too late.

It's true that we don't use inversions very often, but sometimes they are necessary (like when you need to use them in exams).

About the 'no sooner' sentence ... 'than' is grammatically more correct than 'when'. You could also use the past perfect: No sooner HAD Emily put the phone down than it rang again. (should there be a comma after 'down'?)

Nope. No comma after down.

Inversions are used basically when there is a negative word or idea at the beginning of the sentence. A few more examples:
Not until I got home DID I REALISE I'd fogotten to buy some bread.
Never HAVE I HEARD such rubbish.
We also invert the verb in some type of conditional ideas without using 'if', as 'cityspeak' pointed out.
I could go on, but doing a search in 'google' would probably give you better results that I can.

Good examples! Thanks.

8)

 

[Anonymous]

To be honest, inversion strikes me as a lot of work for a learner with little genuine benefit. It helps with exams, but is, by and large, avoided like the plague. :shock:

Even at an advanced level?

I think after someone has attained fluency, it is simply something to add on to fluency. - part of knowing the language as completely as possible.

We use inversions, but don't think about it. It's not conscious. It may not occur often, but I would still think of it as part of learning the language entirely.

 

[Tdol]

I meant that students avoid them like the plague. How often have you heard a student say 'no sooner had I...' in genuine speech?

 

[Anonymous]

I meant that students avoid them like the plague. How often have you heard a student say 'no sooner had I...' in genuine speech?

I see. I didn't realize you had meant the students.