8 Word order

8.2 Inversion

The alternative to normal word order is the inversion construction. In sentences with inversion, the verb (o) comes before the subject (x).

Inversion is used in questions, and in sentences which begin with an element other than the subject, for example a phrase to indicate time or place relations (see 8.4, 8.5 and 8.7).

Question:

Sover	manden?		Is	the man	sleeping?
o	x		o	x	o

Spiser	han?		Is	he	eating?
o	x		o	x	o

Time with normal word order:

Jeg	besøgte	min tante	i	går.		I	visited	my aunt	yesterday.
x	o	∆				x	o	∆

Time with inversion:

I	går	besøgte	jeg	min tante.		Yesterday	I	visited	my aunt.
		o	x	∆			x	o	∆

Place with normal word order:

Jens	bor	i	Sverige.		Jens	lives	in	Sweden.
x	o				x	o

Place with inversion:

I	Sverige	bor	Jens.		Jens	lives	in	Sweden.
		o	x		x	o

When we use interrogative pronouns, they are always placed at the beginning of the sentence, and the verb (o) is placed at the end.

Interrogative pronouns are: hvem, hvad, hvor, hvornår, hvilken/hvilket/hvilke, hvor længe, hvorfor, hvis.

Hanne	bor	i	København.		Hanne	lives	in	Copenhagen.
x	o				x	o

Hvor	bor	Hanne?		Where	does	Hanne	live?
	o	x			o	x	o

Peter	spiser	kage.		Peter	is	eating	cake.
x	o	∆		x	o	o	∆

Hvem	spiser	kage?		Who	is	eating	cake?
x	o	∆		x	o	o	∆

Peter	spiser	kage.		Peter	is	eating	cake.
x	o	∆		x	o	o	∆

Hvad	spiser	Peter?		What	is	Peter	eating?
	o	x			o	x	o

In sentences where inversion is used and where there are two verbs in the sentence, the subject must be placed between the two verbs.

På	torsdag	skal	jeg	rejse	til	København.
		o1	x	o2

On	Thursday	I	am	travelling	to	Copenhagen.
		x	o1	o2

Comparison:
In questions a form of the verb to do and inversion is used. This is one important example of the use of inversion in English, another is inversion appearing after expressions such as: hardly, scarcely, not only, no sooner, not until and little.

Not until later did I realize what had happened.