倒置法

狭義には主語と動詞の順が逆になることを倒置というが、ここでは、語順が基本文形と異なるものすべてのことを指す。

1. 文法上、倒置する構文

• 疑問文
• There is ... 構文
• 直接話法の伝達部で: “Aren’t you feeling well?” asked the doctor. (ただし必ずしも倒置しなくてもよい)
• 否定語句 (neither, nor, hardlyなど)やso, only が文頭にくるとき: “I’m tired.” “So am I.”
• 仮定法の動詞が were, had, should であり if を省略する場合: Should the ice in Antractica melt completely, the word’s oceans could be expected to rise by about 60 meters.

2. 強調や文のバランスを整えるための倒置

SVC → CVS

• The children who managed to leave the country are lucky. → Lucky are the children who managed to leave the country.
  ただし、主語が代名詞の場合は CSV の順にすることが多い。
• They are luckey. → Lucky they are.

SVO → OSV

• I would never believe that sort of story. → That sort of story I would never believe.
  ただし、目的語に否定語がつくと、OVS の順になる。
• Not one of these paintings would I ever wish to buy.

進行形の倒置

• A stream whose water is so clear that one can see the shape and color of every stone on the bottom is running through the field. → Running through the field is a stream whose water is so clear that one can see the shape and color of every stone on the bottom.

受動態の倒置

• A new law that forbids employers to reduce their employees’ wages on the basis of their health problem is required. →Required is a new law that forbids employers to reduce their employees’ wages on the basis of their health problem.

SVOC → SVCO

• I’ve named the new machine developed by the group of scientist who have been trying to build a robot with artificial intelligence Betty. → I’ve named Betty the new machine developed by the group of scientist who have been trying to build a robot with artificial intelligence.

使役動詞 SVO+do → SV+do+O

-   I failed to make the new machine developed by the group of scientist who have been trying to build a robot with artificial intelligence run.  
    → I failed to make run the new machine developed by the group of scientist who have been trying to build a robot with artificial intelligence.