Inversion

Dalam Bahasa Inggris, suatu kalimat subjek dan kata kerjanya dapat dibalik untuk tujuan tertentu. Namun pembalikan pola kalimat ini tidaklah merubah arti dan makna kalimat tersebut. Pembalikan tersebut disebut dengan Inversion, sepertinya dalam:

   1. Kalimat Pertanyaan
   2. Kalimat Negatif
   3. Frasa Kata Depan yang menerangkan tempat
   4. Kalimat Conditionals
   5. Kalimat Elipsis
1.  Pertanyaan

• He is a doctor. Is he a doctor? (inversion langsung)
• He ate an apple. Did he eat an apple? (inversion dengan do)

2. Negatif

• He is a doctor. Not only is he a doctor, (but) he is also a millionaire.

·         He ate an apple. Not only did he eat an apple, (but) he also ate an orange.

3. Frasa kata depan yang menerangkan tempat (Diperlukan)

• On the table is a book. On the table (there) is a book.

Frasa kata depan dibutuhkan disini, karena tanpanya, kalimat ini tidak akan lengkap (... is a book ... bukan kalimat lengkap dan tidak dapat dipahami sampai disitu). Jadi Inversion dibutuhkan.

• At the restaurant, the food was too spicy.

(pada kalimat di atas, inversion tidak dibutuhkan), sebab tanpa frasa kata depan pun, kalimat ... the food was too spicy ... sudah dapat dipahami dengan baik.

4. Kalimat Conditionals

• If you had listened to me, you wouldn't have lost your job (= had you listened to me, you...)
• If I were you, I wouldn't do that. (= were I you,...  )

5. Kalimat Elipsis

• Henry will not go to the theater and so won't her.
• You are so busy and so are they.

Catatan:
Bila suatu kalimat diawali dengan kata-kata/frasa berikut ini, maka susunan subjek dan kata kerjanya boleh dibalik.

• Never, hardly, scarcely, seldom, dll sejenis (ekspresi negatif).
• Few, such, so, little, great
• Only, not only

Contoh:

• I had never been asked to do the job. (= Never had I been asked to do the job)
• This letter must not be opened on any account. (= On any account must this letter not be opened)
• The coffee is so hot that I can't drink it. (= So hot is the coffee that I can't drink it)
• She is not only beautiful, but she is also intelligent. (= Not only is she beautiful, but she is also intelligent)