What is sentence inversion?

What is sentence inversion?

Simply put, sentence inversion is when the typical, traditional word order of a sentence is reversed. Instead of the usual structure of subject-verb-object, an inverted sentence places the verb before the subject and object.

This inversion of word order is a writing style that, when used creatively, can add emphasis, introduce a sense of urgency, or create a more formal tone. Perhaps there’s an adverb phrase that leads the sentence, a conditional, or even the word “so” to kick off a sentence. Here are some examples of sentence inversion:

• On the doorstep was a package that Steve didn’t remember ordering.
• Never had Rachel been to a football game as exciting as the one last week.
• So awful was the superhero movie that my friends and I walked out before it ended.

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These inverted sentences all begin with adverb phrases. When written traditionally, these sentences would place the subject of the sentence at the beginning, a verb in the middle, and then the object that the subject interacts with, like this:

• Steve didn’t remember ordering the package on the doorstep.
• Rachel had never been to a football game as exciting as the one last week.
• The superhero movie was so awful that my friends and I walked out before it ended.

In this version of the previous sentences, the subjects (Steve, Rachel, and the movie) are all at the beginning of the sentence. The inversion keeps the same phrases and grammatical elements and adds a twist to, otherwise, normal sentences.

Sentences can also be inverted with conditionals:

• Had I not eaten that second cheeseburger, I wouldn’t feel so bad.
• Should Michael phone this number, tell him that I’m out of town for the week.

These sentences omit the word “if” and instead uses words like “were” and “should.”

Why use sentence inversion?

Sentence inversion primarily applies to questions. When a sentence is rephrased as a question, it will naturally take on an inversion. Here are some examples:

• She is working.
• Is she working?

• I will be home for Christmas.
• Will you be home for Christmas?

However, from a stylistic standpoint, sentence inversion can come in handy if you’re looking to mix it up in your writing style—it interjects new stylistic forms in your work. See these examples:

• Never had she seen a movie as heartbreaking as The Notebook.
• Not since that summer in Italy had he felt so at peace.

By delaying the object of your sentence to its end, you can create a sense of anticipation and drama for the reader. You can emphasize the action or subject when you place the verb or adverb phrase at the beginning, making your point clearer and more compelling. They also lend a sense of formality to your text, which can be useful in an academic or literary context.

Understanding sentence inversion is just another tool in your writing and grammar skill set, and by familiarizing yourself with it, you can add beauty and a sense of drama to your work. Check out more writing tips that align themselves with this powerful tool like how to wield assonance and similar vowel sounds, what metonyms are, or even how to write in iambic pentameter.