謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞放在主語(yǔ)之前的這種語(yǔ)法現(xiàn)象稱為倒裝。從倒裝的形式來(lái)看，可分為全部倒裝(full inversion)和部分倒裝(partial inversion)兩種。前者是指整個(gè)謂語(yǔ)置于主語(yǔ)之前，而后者僅是指助動(dòng)詞、情態(tài)動(dòng)詞或be 動(dòng)詞等功能置于主語(yǔ)這前。
引起倒裝的情況多種多樣，倒裝的表現(xiàn)形式大體有下列幾種：
1.在疑問句中
例1：How are you getting along with your work?
例2：Is this report written in detail?
注：如疑問詞作主語(yǔ)或者作定語(yǔ)修飾主語(yǔ)時(shí)，不發(fā)生倒裝。
2.在there be 及其類似結(jié)構(gòu)中
例1：There are forty students in our class.
例2：There seem to be still some elements undiscovered yet.
例3：There stands a bridge across the river.
3.在表示祝愿的句子中
例1：Long live the People’s Republic of China!
例2：May you succeed!
例3：Dog-tired though they were, they continued to march on.
4.在省略if 的虛擬語(yǔ)氣條件狀語(yǔ)從句中
這類句子中有were, had, should等詞時(shí)，把were, had或should置于句首。
例1：Were there no air or water, there would be no life in the world.
例2：Had you been more careful, such spelling mistakes might have been avoided.
5.在so, nor, neither或no more開頭的句子中
此類句子通常表示前面一句話中的謂語(yǔ)所說(shuō)明的情況，也適用于另一句中的主語(yǔ)。例如：
1)This problem is not difficult and neither is that one.
2)Coal is under the ground in some places, and so is oil.
6.在以具有否定意義的副詞、連詞及詞組開頭的句子中
這些詞和詞組通常有：rarely, never, scarcely, no sooner, little, few, hardly, seldom, at no time, in no way, on no account, nowhere, nobody, not only等。例如：
1)Visit our stores. Nowhere else will you find such magnificent bargains.
2)Hardly had he finished his work when the telephone rang.
3)Not only did he complain about the food, he also refused to pay for it.
4)Little did we think his speech had made so deep an impression on his audience.
7.在強(qiáng)調(diào)表語(yǔ)時(shí)
例1：Worst of all were the humiliations.
例2：Such is the case.
8.在強(qiáng)調(diào)賓語(yǔ)時(shí)
例1：Still greater contributions should we make to our socialist construction.
例2：Useful chemical fertilizer can we make from the waste liquid.
注：當(dāng)前置賓語(yǔ)由“not a +名詞”或者“not a single +名詞”構(gòu)成時(shí)，也會(huì)引起倒裝。例如：
Alice had a terrible time touring that country. Not a day did she spend without having some unpleasantness with waiters in the hotel.
9.在強(qiáng)調(diào)狀語(yǔ)時(shí)
(1)當(dāng)句首狀語(yǔ)為方位詞或擬聲詞，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞為go, come等表示位置轉(zhuǎn)移的動(dòng)詞時(shí)句子須倒裝。例如：
1)Up went the plane.
2)In came the chairman and the meeting began.
注：如果主語(yǔ)是代詞則不發(fā)生倒裝。例如：
1)Out they rushed!
2)Lower and lower he bent.
(2) 當(dāng)句首狀語(yǔ)為表示地點(diǎn)的介詞詞組時(shí)，句子須倒裝。例如：
1)Round the corner walked a large policeman.
2)Under the table was lying a half-conscious young man.
(3)當(dāng)句首狀語(yǔ)由“only +副詞”，“only +介詞詞組”，“only +狀語(yǔ)從句”構(gòu)成時(shí)，句子須倒裝。例如：
1)Only yesterday did he find out that his watch was missing.
2)Only because there were some cancelled bookings did he get some tickets in the end.
(4)當(dāng)句首狀語(yǔ)為here, there, now, then等時(shí)，句子須倒裝，主語(yǔ)是代詞時(shí)，句子不用倒裝。例如：
1)Here is a ticket for you.
2)Now comes your turn.
3)Here he comes.
(5)以關(guān)聯(lián)詞so (…that)開頭的句子中，句子須倒裝。例如：
1)So small was the mark that I could hardly see it.
2)So quickly did the workmen finish their work that they were given a bonus.
3)So much does he worry about his financial position that he can’t sleep at night.
注：在該結(jié)構(gòu)中，“so +形容詞”是表語(yǔ)的前置;“so +副詞”是狀語(yǔ)的前置。
10.在直接引語(yǔ)之后
在敘事性書面語(yǔ)中，直接引語(yǔ)后常跟asked Mary, answered John, said the old lady, grunted Peter之類的詞語(yǔ)。在這些詞語(yǔ)中，動(dòng)詞常的主語(yǔ)之前，主語(yǔ)是代詞時(shí)，不用倒裝。例如：
1)“What do you mean?” asked Henry.
2)“What do you mean?” he asked.
11. often, many a time等表示頻度的狀語(yǔ)置于句首時(shí)
例如：Often did they think of going there, but they never had a chance.
12.在as, though引導(dǎo)的讓步狀語(yǔ)從句中
在as, though引導(dǎo)的讓步狀語(yǔ)從句中，一般將形容詞、副詞或名詞等置于句首。例如：
1)Small as the atom is, we can smash it.
2)Big as the workpiece is, it is turned out with
