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What Are Inversion and Fronting?
Inversion and fronting are both processes that change the normal word order of the sentence. Inversion involves switching the position of two elements and fronting involves bringing one element to the beginning of the sentence. Sometimes, both these processes might happen in the same sentence.
Inversion
Inversion is a grammatical structure in which the usual word order in a sentence is reversed. Inversion mainly involves changing the place of the subject and the verb. This is the opposite of the typical word order in English sentences, which is subject-verb-object.
The most common use of subject-verb inversion is in formation of questions. However, it might happen in other situations, for example in conditional sentences, and when showing agreement or coordinating two clauses using "neither" and "so".
Questions
The word order of a statement is normally subject (s) + verb (v), but to form a question, *the subject and the auxiliary or modal verb are inverted so that the verb comes before* the subject. Inversion of subject and verb is necessary in formation of both yes-no questions and wh- questions. However, keep in mind that inversion does not normally happen in embedded questions. Take a look at the examples below:
They are dancing. → Are they dancing?
He swims. → Does he swim?
Mathew can sing. → Can Mathew sing?
Sara is watching tv. → What is sara watching?
Conditional Sentences
Inversion can also happen in first, second, and third conditional sentences. First conditional sentences can be formed using inversion of the modal verb "should", while in second conditional sentences the auxiliary 'were' comes before the subject, and in the third conditional, the auxiliary 'had' comes before the subject. When forming a conditional sentence using inversion of auxiliary and modal verbs, there is no need for condition markers:
If you see him, tell him to come home. → Should you see him, tell him to come home.
If it were easy, everybody would do it. → Were it easy, everybody would do it.
If we had known this, we would have been more prepared. → Had we known this, we would have been more prepared.
third conditional with inversion
Agreement of Coordinated Clauses
When showing agreement between two clauses coordinated with "and", "so" can be used to express agreement between two positive clauses and "neither" can be used to express agreement between two negative clauses. Keep in mind that the clause introduced by "neither" cannot take another negative marker since "neither" has already marked it as negative.
Both "neither" and "so" cause inversion in the following subject and auxiliary. Look at the examples:
He likes action movies and so do I.
Since the first clause does not have any modal or auxiliary verb, the inversion after "so" uses the supporting auxiliary "do".
I can't run very fast and neither can my friend.
"Neither" shows negative agreement, but the verb that follows it must be affirmative since "neither" marks negation.
Fronting
Normally, the word order in an affirmative sentence is subject + verb + object or complement. However, sometimes, especially in spoken English, to put emphasis on something, it comes at the beginning of the sentence. This is called 'fronting' (also called front-focus or preposing). Fronting usually brings familiar or inferable information to the beginning rather than completely new information. Pay attention to the examples:
She wanted to stay inside, but outside, they played all day.
"Outside" is familiar in contrast to "inside", so it is inferrable.
A new book, I just bought.
In this sentence, " a new book" is not an already introduced and familiar concept, so fronting it sounds strange.
Fronting can bring different elements to the beginning of the sentence: objects, complements, and adverbials. Keep in mind that unlike inversion which is obligatory in most cases, fronting is optional and only used for emphasis.
Fronting Objects and Complements
Objects and subject complements normally appear after the verb. However, if the speaker wishes to emphasize these elements, they might move to the beginning of the sentence, before the subject. Here are some examples:
He keeps saying hurtful things. This type of behavior I can't stand anymore.
Here, "this type of behavior" is the object which should normally come after the verb, but has moved to the front.
You asked for fresh coffee and fresh it is.
In this sentence, 'fresh' is the subject complement which normally comes after a linking verb but has been moved to the front for emphasis.
Fronting Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases
Adverbs and adverbial phrases can come at different positions in the sentence, but their natural position is not typically at the beginning of the sentence. When they come at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis, fronting happens. For example:
Deliberately, she tried to mislead them.
The normal sentence would be "She deliberately tried to mislead them."
On the floor the cat was playing with a ball.
Dislocation of Subject and Object
Sometimes, especially in informal contexts, the subject or object is taken out of the clause and put at the beginning of the sentence. This is often done when the noun phrase is too long and usually a pronoun replaces it within the clause. This is sometimes called dislocation. Look at the examples:
That old man over there with the hat and the stick, he works in the pharmacy.
That restaurant I told you about, it has added new items to its menu.
Fronting + Inversion
As mentioned earlier in the lesson, sometimes a sentence might include inversion and fronting at the same time. This is mostly the case when certain adverbs or complements are brought to the front.
Fronted Negative Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases
When adverbs and adverbial phrases with a negative meaning are used in the initial position in a sentence for emphasis, the subject and auxiliary or modal verb must be inverted. Some of the common negative adverbs and adverbial phrases are:
never
seldom
hardly
barely
under no circumstances
at no time
in no way
no sooner
not for one moment
Never had she been so confused.
On no account must we turn against each other.
Under no circumstances would we sign that contract.
Not for one moment did I think he would leave me like that.
Tip!
"Not" can come before some adverbs like "only", "until", and "since" to negate their meaning, but it does not negate the whole sentence and the main verb can still be negative. When these adverbs negated with "not" come at the beginning of the sentence, inversion is needed.
Not only is he a talented musician, but he is also an excellent writer.
Not since the war ended has the country faced such a crisis.
Fronted Adverbs of Place and Direction
When adverbs of place and adverbs of movement and direction come at the beginning of a sentence, inversion of subject and verb is necessary. Unlike negative adverbs, these adverbs can be directly followed by the main verb without an auxiliary verb or modal verb. For example:
Here comes the bride.
Around the corner stood a little shop.
In front of me was the famous actor Johnny Depp.
Fronted Restrictive Adverbs
Restrictive adverbs formed with "only" and "little" also trigger inversion of the subject and verb. Some of these adverbs are "only when", "only if", "only after", "only then", "only then", etc. Some of these adverbs cause inversion in the same clause while others necessitate inversion in the following clause. Look at the examples:
Little did we know that we had just started the journey of our life.
Only then did they know this was a big mistake.
"only with", "only now", "only later", and "only then" cause inversion in the same clause
Only if I study very hard will I get good grades.
"only when", "only once", "only if", and "only after" cause inversion in the following clause.
Only after finishing my work did I go to bed.
Fronted Adjectives
When an adjective comes at the beginning of the sentence, the subject and the verb have to switch places. This holds true for adjectives, participial adjectives, comparative, and superlative adjectives, and adjective phrases modified by "so". Look at the examples:
Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Gone was all hope.
a participial adjective
Even more interesting was her reaction.
a comparative adjective
So happy was the boy that he was jumping up and down.
an adjective modified by "so"
Fronted "Such"
When "such" comes at the beginning of the sentence, the subject and the verb must be inverted. For example:
Such were the difficulties that many gave up halfway.
Such was the wind that we couldn't open the window.
Quiz:
Rewrite the sentences using "so" and "neither" to show agreement between clauses.
They enjoy playing basketball, and I enjoy playing basketball too. → They enjoy playing basketball, and
.
I don't like horror films, and my brother doesn't like them either. → I don't like horror films, and
.
Which sentence correctly demonstrates fronting of object?
The violin she can play masterfully, the piano not so much.
She can play the violin masterfully, the piano not so much.
Masterfully she can play the violin, the piano not so much.
The violin can she play masterfully, not so much the piano.
Match each sentence with the correct description.
Sort the following words to form a correct sentence with a fronted restrictive adverb.
Which sentence demonstrates correct fronting with "such"?
Such the problem was that we left.
Such was the problem that we left.
Such problem was that we left.
A and B
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