Regel
Engelsk har ligefrem ordstilling
Ligefrem ordstilling betyder at man har subjekt (grundled) før verballed (udsagnsordsled).
Eksempel:
The crocodile ate the unfortunate turist
(subjekt) verballed)
Even in tough times, the couple held together
(subjekt) ( verballed)
Undtagelser
Omvendt ordstilling (verballed foran subjekt) skal kun bruges, når sætningen begynder med et nægtende eller indskrænkende adverbium/adverbialled:
Never, no sooner, not until, only, little, hardly, rarely, scarcely ...
Hardly had she begun her speech when he fell down, dead.
Never have I seen anything like this before
Only yesterday had she been in his arms. Only a few times had John stood up to her
Eller ved spørgsmål: Are you mad?
Omvendt ordstilling (verballed foran subjekt) kan forekomme i gamle teksterm eller når ordene "say" "was" angiver hvem der taler. "Yes", said Alison. "No,!" was the answer.
Omvendt ordstilling kan forekomme i formelt/gammelt sprog eller efter bestemte steds- eller tidsadverbier:
There goes my chance of becoming a super star.
Here is the problem we have to solve