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Pructus Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Off John went VS off went John

Hello....

Below are excerpts from a novel that I found through Google.
In the same novel, the order of words seems to be different.

off John went VS off went John

How does this discrepancy register with natives?
Maybe this is what sounds best to the natives of English?

**********

a. So, off went John down to the local shop, leaving Miranda and his mother chatting away.

b. This was before John's time, but George, who had retired a couple of years ago, was a bit of a lad, a rebel, so off John went to find the toilet.

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If a. is written as "off John went down to the ~", is it awkward?

If b. is written as "off went John to find the toilet", is it awkward?
  

Top answer

They sound natural.

  • They sound natural.
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2 Answers
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I see.... I see....
Thanks so much, Englishmaven!!

By the way...
By "sound natural", do you mean the sentence a. and b.?

Or do you also include these two sentences below, too?

***********

c. If a. is written as "off John went down to the ~", is it awkward?

d. If b. is written as "off went John to find the toilet", is it awkward?

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