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Mister Micawber Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Re: Question on Inversion

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Neither of those is possible in normal English. Emphasis comes at the end of English sentences.
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Top answer

xstephenx John is lying on the floor. "On the floor is John lying" or “On the floor is lying John”? Whenever it is possible, an adverb is more emphatic at the beginning of a clause: Now he is reading a book.

— Cool Breeze

  • xstephenx John is lying on the floor.
  • "On the floor is John lying" or “On the floor is lying John”?
  • Whenever it is possible, an adverb is more emphatic at the beginning of a clause: Now he is reading a book.
  • (emphatic) He is reading a book now .
  • (less emphatic) Because of the logic of English - or rather, lack of it - your sentences aren't correct, though.
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2 Answers
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xstephenxJohn is lying on the floor.

"On the floor is John lying" or “On the floor is lying John”?


Whenever it is possible, an adverb is more emphatic at the beginning of a clause:

Now he is reading a book. (emphatic)

He is reading a book now. (less emphatic)

Because of
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On a tombstone you might have

Here lies John.

Much less idiomatic,

?In this grave lies John.

But the progressive form is not seen:

*Here is lying John.
*In this grave is lying John.

Except for such poetic, fixed expressions, this sort of inversion is not often seen. There doesn't seem to be anything poetic about lying
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