Position of the Adverbial Modifiers in the Sentence
An adverbial modifier hardly ever separates the direct object from the predicate. It stands either before the predicate or after the direct object. Helen heard me patiently to the end. (Ch. Bronte) We could also very well say: “Helen patiently heard me to the end,” but no other position of the adverbial modifier is possible here, unless it is meant to be emphatic; in this case it is placed at the beginning of the sentence. However, an adverbial modifier separates the direct object from its verb when the object has an attribute. He knew instinctively the principles of “pyramiding” [...]
Position of the Attribute in the Sentence
Pre-position of the Attribute The usual place of the attribute expressed by an adjective, noun, pronoun, or participle is before the word it modifies. What extraordinary ideas you have about the way to behave to a woman! (Wilde) With most of such attributes the order in which they follow each other is generally free, i. e. it can be easily changed. Amelia Sedley had such a kindly, smiling, tender, generous heart of her own as won the love of everybody who came near her. (Thackeray) However, with some attributes the order in which they follow each other is more [...]
Position of the Object in the Sentence
The usual position of the object in declarative sentences is after the predicate, however, in exclamatory sentences the direct object may occupy the first place. What wonderfully blue eyes you have, Ernest! (Wilde) This position of the object generally does not cause inversion, except in poetry, high prose, and negative exclamatory sentences. Thee would I spare — nay more — would save thee now! (Byron) Passage after passage did he explore, room after room did he peep into!(Dickens) In declarative sentences the front position of the object serves the purpose of emphasis. A fearful voyage I had with such [...]
Inverted order of words in the sentence
The order of words in which the subject is placed after the predicate is called inverted order or inversion.Haven’t you any family? (Du Maurier) Types of Sentences that require the Inverted order of words Certain types of sentences require the inverted order of words. These are:Interrogative SentencesSentences introduced by there.Compound sentences, their second part beginning with so or neither.Simple exclamatory sentences expressing wish.#1. Interrogative sentences. In most of them the inversion is partial as only part of the predicate is placed before the subject, viz. the auxiliary or modal verb.Where did they find her? (Du Maurier)Can I show you my library? (Greene)The whole predicate is placed before the subject when [...]
Direct Word Order
Word order in English is of great importance than in other languages. As English words have hardly any inflexions and their relation to each other is shown by their place in the sentence and not by their form, word order in English is fixed. We cannot change the position of different parts of the sentence at will, especially that of the subject and the object. To illustrate this we Shall try to change the order of words in the following sentence. Mrs. Winter sent the little boy with a message to the next village one December day. (Hardy) If we [...]