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Postmodernbliss Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Verbs after prepositional phrase
Many kind thanks in advance to anyone who can answer why the following sentence has the verb 'stood' before the subject 'child':
On the sidewalk near the patrol car stood the child, waiting to be
taken away by the police.
One person told me the reason why it's not 'the child stood' is because the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase. Under that condition, the verb must precede the subject. Is that in fact correct?
Thank you for your time.
On the sidewalk near the patrol car stood the child, waiting to be
taken away by the police.
One person told me the reason why it's not 'the child stood' is because the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase. Under that condition, the verb must precede the subject. Is that in fact correct?
Thank you for your time.
Top answer
This is a good example of an inverted sentence. Inverted sentences are used when the emphasis is not on the subject, but another phrase. It is used stylistically to create suspense or tension, or to emphasize the predicate.
- This is a good example of an inverted sentence.
- Inverted sentences are used when the emphasis is not on the subject, but another phrase.
- It is used stylistically to create suspense or tension, or to emphasize the predicate.
- Here are some resources.
- com/writing/2005/subjects-and-verbs-and-sentence-order /
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2 Answers
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This is a good example of an inverted sentence. Inverted sentences are used when the emphasis is not on the subject, but another phrase. It is used stylistically to create suspense or tension, or to emphasize the predicate.
Here are some resources.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_sentence
Here are some resources.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_sentence
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Hi,
That kind of word order is a standard literary device. It adds drama and elegance to the writing.
It is not common in speech.
I wouldn't say eg On the bridge Mary stood is wrong, but On the bridge stood Mary is much better.
Clive
That kind of word order is a standard literary device. It adds drama and elegance to the writing.
It is not common in speech.
I wouldn't say eg On the bridge Mary stood is wrong, but On the bridge stood Mary is much better.
Clive
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