Content Introduction Chapter Word order in english language usi tema finding the basic word order Functions of sentence word order Subject-auxiliary and subject-verb

Chapter 2. Inversion and the means of its translation

Inversion which was briefly mentioned in the definition of chiasmus is very often used as an independent SD in which the direct word order is changed either completely so that the predicate (predicative) precedes the subject, or partially so that the object precedes the subject-predicate pair. Correspondingly, we differentiate between a partial and a complete inversion. The stylistic device of inversion should not be confused with grammatical inversion which is a norm in interrogative constructions. Stylistic inversion deals with the rearrangement of the normative word order. Questions may also be rearranged: "Your mother is at home?" asks one of the characters of J. Baldwin's novel. The inverted 'question presupposes the answer with more certainty than the normative one. It is the assuredness of the speaker of the positive answer that constitutes additional information which is brought into the question by the inverted word order. Interrogative constructions with the direct word order may be viewed as cases of two-step (double) inversion: direct w / o ---> grammatical inversion ---> direct w / o.t

Word order and inversion
Inversion happens when we reverse (invert) the normal word order of a structure, most commonly the subject-verb word order. For example, a statement has the subject (s) before the verb (v), but to make question word order, we invert the subject and the verb, with an auxiliary (aux) or modal verb (m) before the subject (s):
[S] [V]
She sings.
[AUX] [S] [V]
Does she sing?
[S] [AUX] [V]
They are working.
[AUX] [S] [V]
Are they working?
[S] [M] [V]
Joe can swim.
[M] [S] [V]
Can Joe swim?
When does inversion happen? The most common type of inversion is question word order (see above). Inversion also happens in other situations.
Negative adverbs
In formal styles, when we use an adverb with negative meaning (e.g. never, seldom, rarely, scarcely, hardly) in front position for emphasis, we invert the subject (s) and auxiliary (aux)/modal verb:
[AUX] [S]
Never have we witnessed such cruel behavior by one child to another. (or We have never witnessed …)
Seldom does one hear a politician say sorry. (or One seldom hears …)
Examples:
Never before have I felt such fear. — I have never felt such fear before.
Никогда раньше я не испытывал такой страх. — Я никогда не испытывал такой страх раньше.
Never in his life had he seen a more repulsive creature. — He had never in his life seen a more repulsive creature.
Никогда в жизни он не видел более отвратительного создания. — Он никогда в жизни не видел более отвратительного создания.
Not only did he spill coffee everywhere, but he also broke my favorite vase. — He not only spilled coffee everywhere but also broke my favorite vase.
Он не только везде пролил кофе, но он также разбил мою любимую вазу. — Он не только везде пролил кофе, но также разбил мою любимую вазу.
Not only was the princess strikingly beautiful, but she was also extremely intelligent. — The princess was not only strikingly beautiful but also extremely intelligent.
Принцесса была не только поразительно красива, но она была также чрезвычайно умна. — Принцесса была не только поразительно красива, но и чрезвычайно умна.
Not until much later did I understand the significance of that event. — I understood the significance of that event much later.
Только гораздо позже я понял значение / значительность того события. — Я понял значение того события гораздо позже.
No sooner had she put down the phone than it started to ring again. — As soon as she put down the phone, it started to ring again. The phone started to ring again as soon as she put down the receiver.
Не успела она положить / Едва / Как только она положила трубку, телефон зазвонил снова. — Как только она положила трубку, телефон зазвонил снова. Телефон зазвонил снова, как только она положила трубку.
At no time should you let him out of your sight. — You should not let him out of your sight at any time. Don't let him out of your sight even for a second.
Никогда вам нельзя выпускать его из поля зрения. — Вам не следует никогда выпускать его из поля зрения. Не выпускайте его из поля зрения ни на секунду.
Under no circumstances can she be held responsible for his actions. — She cannot be held responsible for his actions.
Ни при каких обстоятельствах она не может считаться ответственной за его действия. — Её нельзя считать ответственной за его действия.
Rarely have I seen such a magnificent view. — I have rarely seen such a magnificent view.
Редко приходилось мне видеть такой великолепный вид. — Я редко видел такой великолепный вид.