Subject–verb inversion in English

Subject–verb inversion in English is a type of inversion marked by a predicate verb that precedes a corresponding subject, e.g., "Beside the bed stood a lamp". Subject–verb inversion is distinct from subject–auxiliary inversion because the verb involved is not an auxiliary verb. The following sentences illustrate subject–verb inversion. They compare canonical order with the non-standard inversion order, and they demonstrate that subject–verb inversion is unlikely if the subject is a weak (non-stressed) definite pronoun: a. Jim sat under the tree. b. Under the tree sat Jim. - Subject–verb inversion c. *Under the tree sat he. - Subject–verb inversion unlikely with weak definite subject pronoun a. The dog came down the stairs. b. Down the stairs came the dog. - Subject–verb inversion c. *Down the stairs came it. - Subject–verb inversion unlikely with weak definite subject pronoun a. Some flowers are in the vase. b. In the vase are some flowers. - Subject–verb inversion with the copula c. *In the vase are they. - Subject–verb inversion unlikely with weak definite subject pronoun a. Bill said, "I am hungry." b. "I am hungry," said Bill. - Subject–verb–object inversion c. "I am hungry," said he. - Subject–verb–object inversion here possible, but less likely, with weak definite subject pronoun Subject–verb inversion has occurred in the b-sentences to emphasize the post-verb subject. The emphasis may occur, for instance, to establish a contrast of the subject with another entity in the discourse context. A number of types of subject–verb inversion can be acknowledged based upon the nature of phrase that precede the verb and the nature of the verb(s) involved. The following subsections enumerate four distinct types of subject–verb inversion: locative inversion, directive inversion, copular inversion, and quotative inversion. Locative inversion also occurs in many languages, including Brazilian Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Otjiherero, Chichewa, and a number of Germanic and Bantu languages.