Adverbial phrases for emphasis

Adverbial phrases for emphasis

When we start a sentence with an adverbial phrase of position, direction etc., the subject-verb word order is inverted:

• A man in a white coat stood near the door. > Near the window stood a man in a white coat.

We usually do this with verbs of place and movement. (climb, come, fly, go, hang, lie, run, sit, stand etc.)

• Dozens of Knicks fans sat in the front row. > In the front row sat dozens of Knicks fans.

• Two men were chatting by the window. > NOT: By the window were chatting two men.

When the subject is a pronoun, we DO NOT invert:

• They drove away. > Away they drove. NOT: Away drove they.

• He climbed through the window. > Through the window he climbed. NOT: Through the window climbed he.

With the there is/are structure, we miss out there instead of inverting:

• There were two bags on the floor. > On the floor were two bags.

Multiple Choice

His aunt sat at one end of the sofa.

• At one end of the sofa sat his aunt.

• At one end of the sofa his aunt sat.

• At one end of the sofa was his aunt sat.

• His aunt at one end of the sofa sat.

Multiple Select

My sister is asleep in the bedroom.

• In the bedroom is my sister asleep.

• Asleep in the bedroom is my sister.

• Asleep in the bedroom she was.

• Asleep she is in the bedroom.

Multiple Choice

An empty wine bottle lay on the grass.

• On the grass an empty wine bottle lay.

• On the grass lay an empty wine bottle.

• On the grass lay a wine bottle empty.

• An empty wine bottle on the grass lay.

Multiple Choice

There are three cinemas in the town centre.

• In the town centre are three cinemas.

• In the town centre are there three cinemas.

• In the town centre there are two cinemas.

• Three cinemas there are in the town centre.

Multiple Choice

She ran out of the room, screaming.

• Out of the room she ran, screaming.

• Out of the room ran she, screaming.

• Out of the room did she ran, screaming.

• Screaming ran she out of the room, .

Multiple Select

The door slammed and away ...

• she went for the last time.

• went she for the last time.

• walked my cousin Sam.

• he walked for the last time.

Multiple Choice

At the end of the hall ...

• there were two rooms more.

• were two more rooms.

• were there two more rooms.

• are there two more rooms.

Multiple Select

Into the station ...

• comes the train.

• the train come.

• came the train.

• did the train come into.

Multiple Choice

Under the stairs ...

• was a place to hang coats.

• was there a place to hang coats.

• was a place to hung coats.

• a place was to hang coats.