Adverbs and
adverb phrases of place (location) can be put at the beginning of a clause IF
the verb is a verb of motion. The correct order is this: adverb/adverb phrase of place; verb of motion; subject.Inverted Word Order
Adverbs and
adverb phrases of place (location) can be put at the beginning of a clause IF
the verb is a verb of motion. The correct order is this: adverb/adverb phrase of place; verb of motion; subject.
Around the corner ran the thief. (around the corner is an adverb phrase of place, ran is a verb of motion, the thief is the subject.)
There comes the train. (there is an adverb of place/location, comes is a verb of motion, the train is the subject.)
Be
careful! If the subject is a personal pronoun, that pronoun must come
before the verb.
Around the corner he ran. (he is a personal pronoun, so comes before the verb of motion.)
There it comes. (it is a personal pronoun, so comes before the verb of motion.)
What personal pronoun can replace the subject in the following sentences? Remember, the word order will change.
1. Down the steps ran the police officer.
2. Up the ladder climbed the robber.
3. There goes the fire truck!
4. Here's Johnny!
5. Back and forth rocked the boat.
6. Out of the volcano billowed smoke.
7. Overhead shone the sun.
8. Through the door hopped the kangaroo.
9. Into the mud crawled the baby.
10. Here comes your mother.
11. Under the bed hid the milkman.
12. There goes the Smith family.
When a negative adverb
is first in a clause, inverted word order should generally be used. The
subject comes after the simple present or simple past of forms of the verb to
be, or after the first auxiliary. If a verb other than to be is
used--in the simple present or simple past tenses--, a form of the auxiliary
verb to do MUST BE USED.
Nowhere was the sky so blue as in Hawaii. (Nowhere is an negative adverb, was is a form of "to be", the sky is the subject)
Rarely did they leave the house. (Rarely is a negative adverb, did is an auxiliary verb, they is the subject)
Hardly ever had we found a more lovely vacation spot. (Hardly ever is a negative adverb, had (the auxiliary verb) found is the verb (note that had found is past perfect tense, not simple past), we is the subject)
Rewrite the sentences below to include the negative adverb, making any other changes needed.
EXAMPLES:
She had arrived at the concert before she remembered that she hadn't changed her shoes. (scarcely)
Scarcely had she arrived at the concert before she remembered that she hadn't changed her shoes.
They had the chance to see the Governor in person. (seldom)
Seldom did they have the chance to see the Governor in person.
He was so anxious to open his gifts. (never before)
Never before was he so anxious to open his gifts.
1. Winnie had seen a more lovely dress. (nowhere)
2. The girls knew what was waiting for them in the basement. (little)
3. He got into the shower when the doorbell rang. (scarcely)
4. Arthur has studied all night for his examinations. (never)
5. Lila misspelled a word. (seldom)
6. We remember being babies. (hardly ever)
7. We are in our right minds when in love. (rarely)
8. Gus understood advanced calculus. (barely)
9. Carrie leaves her dogs alone in the house. (never)
10. I can find a better job than this one! (Nowhere)
When there
is used as an introductory word, it follows the simple present or simple past of
a form of the verb to be or the first auxiliary verb.
Barely was there enough food for one, let alone two people. (there follows was, a form of to be)
Scarcely had there been a sound since the speaker began. (there follows had, an auxiliary verb)
So . . . .that
may also be used in inverted word order.
So hungry were the boys that they ate everything in sight. (the boys is the subject which follows were, a form of to be)
Regular word order would be: "The boys were so hungry that they ate everything in sight.