英語句子的基本語序是“主語＋謂語＋其它成分”，即主語在前，謂語在後。但有時出於修辭上的需要，我們將句子的整個謂語或者謂語的一部分放在主語前面，這就構成了倒裝。倒裝通常分部分倒裝和完全倒裝兩種。
一、部分倒裝
將謂語中的助動詞或情態動詞置於主語之前，就是部分倒裝。部分倒裝通常出現在以下場合：
1. 陳述句變為疑問句時，主語和謂語要部分倒裝。例如：
They are talking about the new film. → Are they talking about the new film？
They are talking about the new film. → What are they doing？
2. “ only ＋ 狀語 / 狀語從句”位於句首時，句子的主語或主句中的主語和謂語要部分倒裝。例如：
Only yesterday afternoon did I finish my experiment.
Only in this way can you catch up with your classmates.
Only when you get to the top of the mountain can you see the tower.
3. 表示否定意義的副詞或連詞放在句首時，主語和謂語要部分倒裝。例如：
Never shall I do the same thing again.
Not until all the fish died in the river did the villagers realize how serious the pollution was.
Hardly had we finished our dinner when the electricity was cut off.
4. 在含有 had ， were ， should 的虛擬條件句中，可以省略 if ，將 had ， were ， should 放在主語之前，構成部分倒裝。例如：
Had you come here， you would have met the film star.
Were I you， I would take the money.
Should any one come to set me free， I would make him very rich.
5. 在 so … that …句式中，如果 so 引導的部分前置，主句中的主語和謂語需用部分倒裝。例如：
So carelessly did he drive that he almost killed himself.
6. 當 so， neither， nor 位於句首時，可將其後與上面重複的謂語的一部分置於主語之前，構成部分倒裝。例如：
— He has been to Beijing.
— So have I.
— Liu Jia can’t answer the question.
— Neither/Nor can Lai Fan.
說明：
1 ） so 位於句首時，具備三個條件才可以將主語和謂語部分倒裝：① so 表示“也”的意思；②上句是簡單句的肯定句；③上句的主語和 so 引導的`句子主語不同。如果 so 所在的分句的主語與上句的主語相同，這時 so 的意思是“的確”， so 分句中的主、謂語無須倒裝。例如：
— Jenny has decided to turn in the wallet.
— So she has.
2 ）上面的句子有兩個或兩個以上的分句，而且這些分句中的謂語動詞又不屬於同一型別，但它們所陳述的情況也適合另一個人或物時，常用的結構為： So it is/was with … 例如：
— Li Juan is a pretty girl and she studies in No.1 Middle School of Enshi.
— So it is with Meng Lu.
二、完全倒裝
將整個謂語部分置於主語之前即為完全倒裝。這種完全倒裝的語序出現在下列場合：
1. away ， down ， up ， in ， out 等副詞位於句首且主語為名詞時，可將 come ， go 等表示位置轉移的動詞放在主語之前；但主語為代詞時，主語和謂語不倒裝。例如：
The door opened and in came the teacher.
Down he sat by the table.
2. here 和 there 位於句首，且主語為名詞時，可將主語和謂語全部倒裝。例如：
Here is your rice.
There goes the bell.
3. 當句首的表語或狀語是表示地點的介詞短語時，句子中的主語和謂語要全部倒裝。例如：
On the front wall is a blackboard. On the back wall hangs a map of China.
4. 有時為了使上下文緊密銜接，也要用完全倒裝。例如：
They arrived at a farmhouse， in front of which sat a small boy.
5. 直接引語前置，引導語中的主語是名詞時，主語、謂語通常要完全倒裝。例如：
“ Something is wrong with the machine， ” said Xiao Dan.
［鞏固練習］
1. Look， ___________.
A. here the bus comes B. here is the bus coming
C. here comes the bus D. here the bus is coming
2. Out ___________， with a stick in his hand.
A. did Mike rush B. rushed Mike
C. Mike rushed D. Mike did rush
3. ___________， you can’t lift yourself up.
A. Even you’re strong B. In spite you’re strong
C. How strong you are D. Strong as you are
4. Only when you realize the importance of foreign languages ___________ them well.
A. you can learn B. can you learn
C. you learned D. did you learn
5. Never before ___________ seen such a wonderful film.
A. am I B. was I C. have I D. shall I
6. Not only ___________ to stay at home， but he was also forbidden to telephone his friends.
A. he was forcing B. he was forced
C. was he forcing D. was he forced
7. No sooner ___________ asleep than she heard a knock at the door.
A. she had fallen B. had she fallen
C. she had fell D. had she fell
8. Hardly ___________ down ___________ he stepped in.
A. had I sat； when B. I had sat； when
C. had I sat； when D. had I sat； than
9. — She has passed the exam.
— ___________.
A. So am I B. So have I
C. So I have D. So I am
10. — He didn’t meet Mr Smith.
— ___________.
A. Neither did she B. Nor didn’t she
C. Neither she did D. So didn’t she
Key ：
1. C 2. B 3. D 4. B 5. C
6. D 7. B 8. A 9. B 10. A
