English grammar

21. The sentences studied thus far have been arranged so that the subject comes first, then the predicate. This is called the natural order. Sometimes, for the sake of emphasis, we reverse this order, as in the sentence, “In a long shed behind the church stood a score of wagons and chaises and carryalls.” This is called the transposed order.

Sometimes, for the sake of a pleasing arrangement, we put only a portion of the predicate before the subject, as in the sentence, “Over the highest peaks a vulture sailed on broad wings into widening circles.” Here the subject is very short and the predicate very long. The sentence balances better with a portion of the predicate coming first. This also is a case of transposed order.

Summary.—The natural order in a sentence is first the subject and then the predicate.

When the words of a sentence are not in their natural order, we say that the sentence is transposed.

Exercise 1.—Rearrange the following sentences so that they will be in the natural order, then proceed as you did with the sentences in the exercise on p. 21. Tell in each case whether you like the natural or the transposed order better, and why.

1. Around him, within hand’s reach, lie osier boxes full of almonds, grapes, figs, and pomegranates.

2. This challenge Fortunatus accepted.

3. On traveled the lady and the bull through many dreadful forests and lonely wastes.

4. On that first Christmas morning in their own home, the children found their gifts in little piles on two of the parlor chairs.

5. Through the wide nostrils the camel drank the wind in great draughts.

6. Out of the wide hall could be heard in the stillness the old clock.

7. At full speed a genuine Syrian dromedary overtakes the ordinary winds.

8. Very hard Johnny worked on the house.

9. “Come in,” said a warm, comfortable voice on the other side of the door.

10.

Down will come Baby,

Bough, cradle, and all.

11. In the garret meet together all the broken-down chairs of the household, all the spavined tables, all the seedy hats, all the intoxicated-looking boots, all the split walking sticks that have retired from business, “weary with the march of life.”

Account for the commas in sentences 10 and 11.

Exercise 2.—Change the following sentences to the transposed order. Tell why you like them better so.

1. Pussy walked along with a slow and deliberate gait directly behind my sister and me.

2. A red rose, a yellow rose, a woodbine, and a clematis grew up the four walls.

3. The roll of the drum was hushed at the old man’s word and outstretched arm.

4. A mat of long, uncombed hair hangs over his eyes and face, and down his back.

5. The whole carpet came out right on my head.

6. A little rabbit sat on a bank one morning.

7. Daylight and safety were on the other side of that door.

8. The bird flew on and on, up the steep mountain.

9. A very amusing thing in this story comes now.

10. The remains of a great elephant have been found in the curious potholes near Cohoes, New York.