Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
staying in a particular place; not migratory; intrinsic; existing
resident
sick
dotted
underway
TOEIC practice test: Online word games: Free Adjectives Verbs Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Word order (direct object before subject & verb)



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
"thank you" + infinitive | Phrasal verb "accounting for"
Message Author
Word order (direct object before subject & verb) Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:03 am  Word order (direct object before subject & verb)
 

Hi

Mrs Macatta was a woman of a great earnestness of purpose. Mrs Vanderlyn she dismisses immediately as a useless and parasitic type. (Smile) Lady Julia she tried to interest in…
© A. Christie

Could you say, where and with what wording an 'inversion' of such kind (a direct object before the subject + the verb) is acceptable?

How would it sound if I say (in the above context): 'Her she dismissed immediately…' ? Confused Confused
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Word order (direct object before subject & verb) Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:21 am  Word order (direct object before subject & verb)
 

.
It would sound fine if you were setting up the other half of a contrast, which is what is going on in your extract, and is one reason for fronting information: to give it prominence.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Mister Micawber

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 4633
Location: Yokohama, Japan

What do you know about the progressive forms?Learn how to explore English words! Subscribe to free email English courseAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skills
Word order (direct object before subject & verb) Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:58 am  Word order (direct object before subject & verb)
 

The full context:
Quote:
Mrs Vanderlyn was usually at a disadvantage when left alone with members of her own sex. …

Lady Julia was a woman whose manner were either very good or very bad. In this occasion she disliked Mrs Vanderlyn, and was bored by Mrs Macatte, and made no secret of her feeling. …

Mrs Macatta was a woman of a great earnestness of purpose. Mrs Vanderlyn she dismisses immediately as a useless and parasitic type. Lady Julia she tried to interest in a forthcoming charity entertainment which she was organizing. Lady Julia answered vaguely, stifled a yarn or two and retired into her own inner preoccupation. Why didn’t Charles and George come? How tiresome men were. Her comments became even more perfunctory as she became absorbed in her own thoughts and worries.
The three women were sitting in silence…

Mister Micawber, I know that the above is fine, as Christie’s texts have been time-tested Smile
And I understand the purpose of word inversion, as in Russian it is used much more wide and fluently.

My question was purely 'grammatical', as written English is usually quite strict about the word order
(in compare Smile ) and it’s extremely easy to mix up 'acceptable style' and just a grammatical error.

You have answered my question about 'acceptability', thank you.
But I am afraid, I won’t still dare to use the style (and do so fluent with grammar) by myself. Sad
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Word order (direct object before subject & verb) Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:22 am  Word order (direct object before subject & verb)
 

Hi Tamara

I'd say that you should look at this structure as a structure "for special occasions only". It can be used emphatically. In my example, I think you can also see the contrast that MM mentioned (and that your example also illustrates):

Mary: I've heard a few unusual things about some of the people who work here. Do you know anything about Jane Doe?

Janet: No, not much. She tends to keep to herself.

Mary: What about Sue Smith? Do you know anything about her?

Janet: Sue? Oh, yeah! Her I know plenty about! Just wait till you hear what Sue has done to me! You're not going to believe it!

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8257
Location: USA

Word order Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:31 am  Word order
 

Hi Tamara,

You say:

Quote:
as written English is usually quite strict about the word order

That I don't agree with. With that I don't agree. I don't agree with that. Agree with that I don't.

That's one of the beauties of the language, in my book. You can take liberties but as Amy hints, you have to make sure that what you write is appropriate, relevant and fits the occasion. And that's the problem.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Book Expressions
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 7566
Location: UK

Word order (direct object before subject & verb) Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:15 pm  Word order (direct object before subject & verb)
 

Alan wrote:
Agree with that I don't.

Thanks, Alan. It's amazing! Smile Very Happy
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Word order (direct object before subject & verb) Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:21 pm  Word order (direct object before subject & verb)
 

Quote:
Her I know plenty about!

Amy, it's the same as I would say it in Russian.
But it is still saying... speaking English.

But I meant not the direct speech (as in your and Alan examples), but narrative statements. In writing.
As in Christie's text.

When you describe something not from the first person and without obvious feelings.

But thanks, I seem to have understood the contrast-point... in general Smile
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Display posts from previous:   
"thank you" + infinitive | Phrasal verb "accounting for"
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Word order (direct object before subject & verb) All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Meaning of 'loose shunted'Put the verb at the end of the phraseMeaning of "at the paper"A lovely long cool drink vs. A lovely, long and cool drinkTense: As of now, what I do here, I won't do anywhere...No commas in between different types of adjectivesDifference between can and mayExpression: From Monday onwards...Writing: Do increase and grow in this paragraph have the...Can you check and edit this paragraph, please?Writing: Is make contributions the ellipsis of make some...Teacher in English VERSUS Teacher of English'I find improbable to begin with…'Ungradable adjectivesGradable adjectives'I have got a toothache' vs 'I have got toothache'Error Identification: The sun seems to have been formed...English Article UsageWord order (direct object before subject & verb)

Discover English-test.net
Admission based on - GRE SCORE ONLY... plase tell me...Meaning of slapmake an effort vs. make a startIs "would" a tentative use in this sentence?I'm Damoon, 24, an english teacher, intersted in cognitive linguisticsGRE test: Vocabulary Words: Adjective Verb Noun ListsGRE test: Word games: Free Online Adjective Verb Noun GameMeaning of wane, hermetic, lethal, posterityPimsleur German Swiss: Pimsleur German Swiss Language ProgramEnglish flashcards: Question WordsPower business words: Apple advertising philosophyTrue Stories I Made Up audiobook download

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail