Reverse word order in Russian. Direct and reverse word order in a sentence (inversion). Addition to the offer

In order to build even the simplest sentence in English, you need to know the word order in the language. This seemingly simple but very important topic is the starting point in learning English grammar.

Subject + predicate + direct object

In an ordinary affirmative sentence, the subject is placed immediately before the predicate (verb). The direct object, when present, comes immediately after the verb. For example:

  • They bought a car. — They bought a car.
  • We can't do that. - We can't do that.
  • The girl in a blue dress was playing the piano. — The girl in the blue dress was playing the piano.

Predicate

Note that by subject here we mean not only the main noun or pronoun, but also the adjectives or descriptive phrases that refer to it. The rest of the sentence, which does not refer to the subject, is called the predicate. For example:

  • The girl in a blue dress was playing the piano.

Indirect additions and circumstances

If there are any other parts in the sentence - indirect objects or circumstances - they usually occupy a strictly defined place.

Position of indirect object

after direct object if it contains the preposition to.

An indirect addition is put before by direct object when to is absent. For example:

  • The teacher gave dictionaries to the pupils. The teacher handed out dictionaries to the students.
  • The teacher gave them dictionaries. The teacher gave them dictionaries.

Position of circumstance

The circumstance can be placed in three places:

Before the subject (usually these are circumstances of time)

  • In the morning he was reading a book. — He was reading a book in the morning.

After the addition (here you can put almost any adverb or adverbial phrase):

  • He was reading a book at the library. — He was reading a book in the library.

Between the auxiliary and the main verb (as a rule, these are short adverbs):

  • He has already read this book. He has already read the book.

Normally, in standard English, no other words are placed between the subject and the predicate, or between the predicate and the object. But there are a few exceptions. Here are the most important ones:

Adverbs of frequency of action and indirect objects without the preposition to

  • I sometimes drink coffee in the morning. - I sometimes I drink coffee in the morning.
  • He showed the driver his bus pass. - He showed driver your bus pass.

If you follow these simple rules, you will be able to avoid misplaced words in an English sentence. The examples given are intentionally simple - but the same rules can be applied to more . For example:

  • The woman,, never went to sleep before - A woman [who often felt lonely] never went to bed [without calling her sister].

Stylistic change in word order

Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, and writers or speakers often use non-standard word order to achieve special effect. But if we now focus on exceptions, we digress from the main principles, and the problem of word order in a sentence can seem very complicated.

So here are a few more examples: you should be aware that such sentences exist, but don't try to use them unless absolutely necessary until you master the principles of normal word order (remember to learn how to walk first, and then run!):

  • Never before had he felt so miserable. He had never felt so miserable before.

If the sentence begins with never or never before, the subject and verb are often inverted, i.e. change places. Don't use inversion when never follows the subject!

  • Hardly had I finished cleaning the house, my friend called. I had hardly finished cleaning the house when my friend called.

(When a sentence begins with hardly, the subject and verb must always be inverted.)

  • Had they known, they "d never have done that." - If they knew this, they would never have done that.

(The inversion is used in hypothetical condition structures when the if is omitted.)

  • Whatever you can tell me, I know already. “Whatever you tell me, I already know it.

Here's the extended addendum, Whatever you can tell me, placed at the beginning of a sentence for artistic reasons: this sentence structure is not necessary, it's just .

Now, having mastered the rules for constructing simple sentences, you can move on to more complex sentences with subordinate structures.

How do you feel about non-standard word order in English? Difficult, don't you understand? Share in the comments!

Order of words in a sentence- this is the arrangement of the members of the sentence, depending on the meaning being conveyed. In Russian, unlike other languages, the word order in a sentence is relatively free and flexible. However, there is a generally accepted order of the members of the proposal (direct order). We'll say: It was a moonlit night but not It was a moonlit night. Departure from the general word order in a sentence is called inversion. Inversion quite often used in fiction to emphasize the action denoted by the predicate, often the predicate is placed before the subject. For example: "My troubles are over"(A. Kuprin).

Word order in a sentence plays a syntactic and stylistic role.

The syntactic role of word order in a sentence is expressed in the fact that with its change, the syntactic function of the sentence member changes: Moscowthe capital of our state. The capital of our state is Moscow.(In the first sentence Moscow- subject, and capital - predicate, and in the second - vice versa.)

The stylistic function of word order in a sentence is expressed in the fact that with the rearrangement of words, opportunities are created for the emergence of additional, additional semantic shades, the expressive function of one or another member of the sentence changes while maintaining its syntactic function.

The locations of the members of the proposal relative to each other are subject to a certain pattern. In a declarative sentence, the subject usually comes first and the verb comes second.

In interrogative sentences, the predicate often precedes the subject.

In incentive sentences, both direct and reverse order of the subject and predicate are found.

Reverse word order, unrelated to inversion, is common in the following cases:

ü in sentences that represent only new information: Once upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman;

ü when setting adverbial words at the beginning of a sentence: "The woodcutter's ax was heard in the forest"(N. Nekrasov).

In all other cases, putting the predicate in first place in relation to the subject is associated with inversion.

Object in a sentence is usually placed after the control word (watch the performance, check notebooks). In the first place in relation to the control word, the addition is placed in impersonal sentences (Cold during the day) and in cases where the object is expressed by a personal or indefinite pronoun ( The article intrigued me.

An agreed definition in Russian is usually placed before the word being defined: cheerful company, summer day.

Qualitative adjectives are placed before relative ones: print Machine dress.

Inconsistent definitions are usually placed after the word being defined: black suit.

Putting additions and definitions in a place that is not characteristic of them in a sentence is also an inversion.

From a communicative point of view, they try to place the most important information either at the absolute beginning of the sentence, or at the absolute end: It seems to you! It seems to you!

Skillful use of word order in a sentence is an important means of enhancing the expressiveness of speech, and unjustified inversion can lead to a stylistic error, a distortion of the meaning of a phrase, unnecessary irony or ambiguity.

Questions and tasks

1. What role does word order play in Russian?

2. What is inversion? What are the features of its use?

Find errors in the following sentences related to word order. Write down the correct option.

a) The boy ate a cutlet with his sheepdog.

b) Today my friend came to me in a new jacket.

c) I want to go to football with you only.

d) She put on a lilac dress for the holiday.

e) It is very hot today.

e) I was very interested in this film.

Order of words in a sentence

The mutual arrangement of the members of the sentence, which has a syntactic, semantic and stylistic meaning. The first is expressed in the fact that its syntactic function can be associated with the place occupied by a member of a sentence. So, in the sentence Sunny day, the adjective solar acts as a definition with the word day - the main member of the nominative sentence; with a different word order (Sunny Day), the same adjective plays the role of a predicate in a two-part sentence. In sentences like Mother loves daughter with homonymous nominative and accusative cases, the syntactic role of both nouns is determined by their place in the sentence: in direct word order ( cm. below) in the first place is the subject, in the second - the direct object. In the sentence Free brother returned, the adjective patient occupies the position of an agreed definition, and in the sentence Brother the patient returned - the position of the nominal part of the compound predicate. In sentences of identity like Moscow - the capital of the USSR, the subject is in the first place, the predicate is in the second; in a different word order (the capital of the USSR is Moscow), the former predicate becomes the subject, and the former subject becomes the predicate.

The grammatical-semantic meaning of word order finds its expression, for example, in combinations of a quantitative numeral with a noun. In the sentence Fifty people attended the meeting, the prepositive cardinal numeral indicates the exact number of persons; in the sentence At the meeting, fifty people were present;

Dictionary-reference book of linguistic terms. Ed. 2nd. - M.: Enlightenment. Rosenthal D. E., Telenkova M. A.. 1976 .

See what "word order in a sentence" is in other dictionaries:

    Typology of word order (in a sentence) is one of the possible systems of typological classification of languages ​​used in linguistic typology. It is based on the basic order in which the subject (English subject), predicate are in the sentence ... ... Wikipedia

    In phrases, it can have a formal meaning, i.e., indicate various relationships between parts of the phrase. In so-called. analytical languages ​​(see) PS, as a formal feature, has a predominant meaning, as, for example, in Chinese. or … Literary Encyclopedia

    Word order- WORD ORDER in phrases can have a formal meaning, i.e., indicate different relationships between parts of the phrase. In so-called. analytical languages ​​(see) PS, as a formal feature, has a predominant meaning, as, for example, in ... ... Dictionary of literary terms

    Word order- Word order is a certain arrangement of words in a sentence or syntactic group. Structural types P. s. differ in the following oppositions: progressive, or consistent (the defining word follows the defined: “read a book”), ... ... Linguistic Encyclopedic Dictionary

    word order in a simple sentence- Typical relative arrangement of word forms in their specific functions - subject, predicate, etc. The word order performs the corresponding functions, therefore it is not constant, fixed: 1) grammatical (neutral) order ... ...

    A multifunctional formal tool used in the construction of a sentence. In languages ​​of a synthetic type (for example, Russian), it mainly serves the contextual connections of the sentence and is a means of actual articulation ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

    word order- in phrases it can have a formal meaning, i.e., indicate different relationships between parts of the phrase. In so-called. analytical languages ​​(see) PS, as a formal feature, has a predominant meaning, as, for example, in Chinese. ... ... Grammar Dictionary: Grammar and linguistic terms

    reverse word order (inversion)- Word order in a sentence that does not match the word order in a phrase. O. p. s. used in different styles. So, in journalistic speech, it contributes to the creation of expressiveness, the fulfillment of the influencing function of the statement: ... ... Dictionary of linguistic terms T.V. Foal

    See reverse word order (in the article word order in a sentence) ... Dictionary of linguistic terms

In Russian, word order (more precisely, the order of sentence members) is considered free. This means that in the proposal there is no strictly fixed place for one or another of its members. For example, a sentence consisting of five significant words: The editor carefully read the manuscript yesterday- allows 120 options depending on the permutation of the members of the proposal.

They differ in the direct word order, determined by the type and structure of the sentence, the way the syntactic expression of this sentence member, its place among other words that are directly related to it, as well as the style of speech and context, and about br a t n y
order, which is a deviation from the usual order and most often performs the function
and n ver s and and, i.e., a stylistic device for highlighting individual members of a sentence by rearranging them. The direct order is typical for scientific and business speech, the reverse is widely used in journalistic and literary and artistic works; the reverse order plays a special role in colloquial speech, which has its own types of sentence construction.

The determining factor in the arrangement of words in a sentence is the purposefulness of the statement, its communicative task. Associated with it is the so-called actual articulation of the statement, which involves the movement of thought from the known, the familiar to the unknown, the new: the first (the basis of the statement) is usually enclosed in the initial part of the sentence, the second (the core of the utterance) is in its final part. Wed:

1) On April 12, 1961, Yu flew. BUT. Gagarin into space, the first in the history of mankind(the starting point, the basis of the statement is an indication of the date, i.e. the combination April 12, 1961, and the core of the statement is the rest of the sentence, which is logically underlined);

2) Flight Yu. BUT. Gagarin into space, the first in the history of mankind, took place on April 12, 1961(the basis of the statement is the message about the historical flight of Yu. A. Gagarin, and the core of the statement is an indication of the date, which is logically emphasized).

§ 178. Place of subject and predicate

  1. In declarative sentences, the subject usually precedes the predicate, for example: Wires stretched from tree to tree...(Azhaev); Some left the village to work...(Gladkov); The earth revolves around the sun.

    The mutual arrangement of the subject and the predicate may depend on whether the subject denotes a certain, known object or, conversely, an indefinite, unknown object. Wed: The train has come(definite). - The train came(indefinite, some).

    The reverse order of the main members of the sentence (first the predicate, then the subject) is common in the following cases:

    The setting of the subject in front of the predicate in such cases was found in old texts, for example: - Tell me, gossip, what is your passion for stealing chickens? - the peasant said to the fox, meeting with her(Krylov); - Do you know your grandfather, mother? son says to mother(Nekrasov); the rhythm of the verse is also taken into account;

    3) in sentences in which the subject denotes a period of time or a natural phenomenon, and the predicate is expressed by a verb with the meaning of being, becoming, the course of an action, etc., for example: A hundred years have passed...(Pushkin); Spring came(L. Tolstoy); It was a moonlit night(Chekhov);

    4) in descriptions, in a story, for example: The sea sings, the city hums, the sun shines brightly, creating fairy tales(Bitter);

    5) as a stylistically given technique and inversion, in order to logically highlight one of the main members of the sentence, for example: Bear hunting is dangerous, a wounded beast is terrible, but the soul of a hunter, accustomed to dangers from childhood, swept away(A. Koptyaeva).

    When setting adverbial words at the beginning of a sentence, the subject often comes after the predicate, for example: Noise came from the street...(Chekhov). However, under these conditions, the direct order of the main members of the sentence is also found, for example: Uvarov and Anna arrived at the base at the hottest time of the day.(A. Koptyaeva).

  2. In interrogative sentences, the predicate often precedes the subject, for example: Will my grandfather or aunt intercede for me?(Pushkin); So will I give you this will, dear, short?(A. N. Ostrovsky).
  3. In incentive sentences, pronouns-subjects preceding the verb-predicate strengthen the categorical nature of the command, advice, motivation, and following the predicate, they soften the tone of the command. Wed: You only pick me(A. N. Ostrovsky). - Do not crush me, old woman(Turgenev).
  4. In colloquial speech, the copula is often put in first place, for example: I was young, hot, sincere, not stupid ...(Chekhov).
  5. Putting the nominal part of the predicate before the subject serves the purpose of inversion, for example: Mysterious and therefore beautiful are the dark thickets of forests, the depths of the seas; the cry of a bird and the crackling of a tree bud bursting from the warmth are mysterious(Paustovsky).

    The means of highlighting the predicate is also the setting of the nominal part before the link, for example: ... Both were left hungry(L. Tolstoy); Bor became deaf, gloomy(Seifullin). The same in a compound verbal predicate when setting the infinitive before the auxiliary verb, for example: So you, well, didn’t even think about sowing?(Sholokhov).

§ 179 Place of determination in a sentence

  1. A concordant definition is usually placed in front of the noun being defined, for example: interesting plot, proofreading, verified quotes, third edition, our publishing house.

    Putting an agreed definition after the noun being defined serves the purpose of inversion, for example: On all sides the mountains are impregnable(Lermontov).

    A postpositive definition (that is, a definition after the word being defined) was often found in the works of writers and poets of the 19th century, for example: She had a strong influence on me.(Turgenev); Participation and unfeigned love were visible on Anna's face.(L. Tolstoy); The lonely sail turns white in the blue mist of the sea(Lermontov); There is a short, but marvelous time in the initial autumn ...(Tyutchev).

    Postpositive definitions are common, referring to a noun repeated in a given sentence, for example: This notion of a reflex is, of course, an old notion...(Academician I.P. Pavlov); Voropaev recalled his first meeting with Goreva - an amazing and rare meeting due to the peculiar front-line beauty(Pavlenko). Wed in journalistic and business speech: Such plans, bold and original plans, could only arise under our conditions; This decision is definitely the wrong decision, and is subject to reversal..

    In stylized speech, post-positive definitions give the story the character of a folk narrative; cf. at Neverov: The moon came out on a dark night, looking lonely from a black cloud at deserted fields, at distant villages, at nearby villages..

    Determinants expressed by possessive pronouns, being in a position after a definable noun, can give an expression an expressive coloring, for example: I remember your hands from the moment I became aware of myself in the world.

    In neutral styles, it is not uncommon to have postpositive adjectives expressed by demonstrative pronouns, for example: This half-station ... was surrounded by a double shaft of thick pine logs(Kazakevich).

    The means of semantic selection of the definition is:

    a) its isolation, for example: People, amazed, became like stones(Bitter);

    b) separating the definition from the noun being defined, for example: Rare in the ashen dawn sky swayed the stars(Sholokhov).

    A detached definition is usually postpositive, for example: publication of letters received by the editorial office; exhibition of paintings nominated for a prize. Putting such common definitions (without their isolation) in front of the word being defined is perceived as a kind of inversion; compare: publication of letters received by the editorial office; exhibition of nominated paintings.

  2. If there are several agreed definitions, the order of their arrangement depends on their morphological expression:

    1) definitions expressed by pronouns are placed ahead of definitions expressed by other parts of speech, for example: on this solemn day, our future plans, all the typos noticed, every fourth Tuesday. Putting pronouns after adjectives is an inversion, for example: In the morning this silver-opal hour slept the whole house(Fedin); The tanker struggled with his slow and long pain(L. Sobolev);

    2) attributive pronouns precede other pronouns, for example: all these amendments, each of your remarks. But the pronoun most placed after the demonstrative pronoun, for example: the same possibilities, the same case;

    3) definitions expressed by qualitative adjectives are placed ahead of definitions expressed by relative adjectives, for example: new historical novel, warm woolen linen, light leather binding, late autumn;

    4) if heterogeneous definitions are expressed by one qualitative adjectives, then one of them is placed closer to the noun being defined, which denotes a more stable feature, for example: huge black eyes, a pleasant light breeze, an interesting new story;

    5) if heterogeneous definitions are expressed by one relative adjectives, then, as a rule, they are arranged in ascending order of semantic gradation (from a narrower concept to a broader one), for example: daily weather reports, antique bronzes, specialist bookstore.

  3. An inconsistent definition is placed after the noun being defined, for example: expert opinion, leather-bound book, sequel novel. But definitions expressed by personal pronouns in the role of possessives come before the word being defined, for example: his objections, their statements.

    Putting an inconsistent definition expressed by a noun in front of the word being defined is an inversion, for example: medium sized bear(Gogol); general Zhukov yard(Chekhov).

    Prepositive inconsistent definitions, that is, those standing in front of the word being defined, were fixed in some stable turns, for example: watchmaker, senior lieutenant of the guard, kind-hearted person.

    Agreed definitions usually precede inconsistent ones, for example: high mahogany bed(L. Tolstoy); old tobacco eyes(Sergeev-Tsensky). But an inconsistent definition, expressed by a personal pronoun with a possessive meaning, usually precedes the agreed definition, for example: his last performance, their increased demands.

§ 180. Place of the complement in the sentence

  1. The complement usually follows the control word, for example: proofread the manuscript, correct typographical errors, ready to type.

    An object (most often direct) expressed by a pronoun (personal, indefinite) can precede the control word without creating an inversion, for example: I liked the book; This sight startled him; The mother noticed something in her daughter's expression; I am glad to see you.

    Putting the complement in front of the control word usually has the character of an inversion, for example: Apothecary, maybe we'll see(Chekhov); The soul reaches for the high(V. Panova). Wed in live conversation: Someone asks you; Forgotten all their friends; Can you fix a TV?

    It is common to preposition an object with the meaning of a person in impersonal sentences, for example: He needs to talk to you; Sister is unwell; Everyone wanted to relax.

  2. If there are several additions related to the same control word, a different word order is possible:

    1) usually a direct object precedes other additions, for example: Take the manuscript from the proofreader; Discuss the issue with your employees; The person who entered offered his hand to everyone present.;

    2) the indirect object of the person, standing in the dative case, usually precedes the direct object of the subject, for example: Tell us your address; The mother gave the child a beautiful toy; This woman saved Bekishev's life...(V. Panova).

    Similarly, the genitive case with the meaning of the actor (inconsistent definition) precedes the other case (in the role of an object), for example: visit of the son to his parents, memorandum of the author for the editor.

  3. A direct object, coinciding in form with the subject, is usually placed after the predicate, for example: Mother loves daughter; The oar touched the dress; Laziness breeds carelessness; Courts uphold laws. When the subject and object are interchanged, the meaning of the sentence changes ( Daughter loves mother; The dress hit the paddle) or there is an ambiguity ( Carelessness breeds laziness; Laws Protect the Courts). Sometimes in such cases of inversion, the desired meaning is preserved, which follows from the lexical meaning of the named members of the sentence ( The bicycle crashed the tram; The sun covered the cloud), but the correct understanding of such sentences is somewhat difficult, therefore it is recommended either to keep the direct word order, or to replace the actual turnover with a passive one ( The bike is broken by a tram; The sun is covered by a cloud).

§ 181. Place of circumstances in a sentence

  1. Circumstances about the training, expressed by adverbs in -o, -e , are usually placed in front of the verb-predicate, for example: The translation accurately reflects the content of the original; The boy looked defiantly at us; Gavryushka blushed deeply and protested violently...(Gladkov); The train station was moving faster and faster…(G. Nikolaeva); Pavement smoothly whitened(Antonov).

    Some adverbs that combine with few verbs are placed after them, for example: to walk, to lie prone, to walk barefoot, to fall on one's back, to walk.

    Usually, the circumstances of the course of action are postpositive, expressed by a noun in an adverbial sense, for example: to scatter in waves, to disperse in circles.

    The place of the circumstance of the mode of action may depend on the presence or absence of other secondary members in the sentence; compare: The climbers walked slowly. – Climbers slowly walked along a steep path.

    The means of semantic highlighting the circumstance of the mode of action or measure and degree is to put them at the beginning of a sentence or separate from the words to which they adjoin, for example: In vain Grigory tried to see Cossack lava on the horizon.(Sholokhov); Twice experienced this feeling Nikita(Fedin); Yes, we were very friendly.(L. Tolstoy).

  2. Prepositive circumstances of measure and degree, for example: The announcer repeated the figures given in the text twice; The director is very busy; The manuscript is well prepared for typesetting..
  3. The circumstance of tense usually precedes the verb-predicate, for example: We didn't talk much over dinner.(Turgenev); Belikov died a month later.(Chekhov); In the evenings the doctor was left alone(V. Panova).

    Often, however, the circumstance of time is postpositive, which contributes to its semantic separation, for example: My sister got up early; I came before dawn.

  4. The circumstance of place is usually prepositive, and often appears at the beginning of a sentence, for example: The factory was unsettled...(Bitter); A cloud came from the west(Sholokhov).

    If the adverb of place is at the beginning of a sentence, then the predicate often immediately follows it, and then the subject, for example: To the right was the white building of the hospital...(Garshin); Unfamiliar smells of herbs and flowers rushed from everywhere ...(Serafimovich). However, under these conditions, a direct order of the main members of the sentence is also possible, for example: Over the gray plain of the sea the wind gathers clouds(Bitter).

    Setting the circumstance of the place after the predicate is the norm in those combinations in which the presence of the circumstance is necessary for the completeness of the statement, for example: The house is located on the outskirts of the city; His parents live permanently in the south.

    If the sentence contains a time adverb and a place adverb, then they are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence, with the adverb of time in the first place, and the adverb of place in the second, for example: Tomorrow, warm weather without precipitation is expected in our city; By evening, everything calmed down in the house.. The statement of two circumstances side by side emphasizes their semantic role in the sentence. Their other placement is also possible: in the first place the adverb of time is put, then the subject, followed by the predicate and, finally, the adverb of place and other members of the sentence, for example: In early April, the river opened up along its entire length; Yesterday I met my old friend on the street.

  5. Circumstances of cause and purpose and more often come before the predicate, for example: Due to rough seas, the ship arrived late.(Chekhov); Two girls were crying in fear(V. Panova); A man with a bag on his back ... for a laugh, he pushed the other with his shoulder(Malyshkin).

    The statement of these circumstances after the verb-predicate usually leads to their semantic separation, for example: She woke up with fear; He does not go to work, allegedly due to illness; The train was sent to the depot for an annual repair.

§ 182. Location of introductory words, addresses, particles, prepositions

  1. Not being members of the sentence, introductory words are freely located in it if they refer to the sentence as a whole; compare: He seemed to be asleep. – He seemed to fall asleep. – He seemed to fall asleep.

    At the same time, it should be noted that the semantic load of the introductory word in the above variants is not the same: to a greater extent it is noted in the first of them, where at the beginning of the sentence the word seemed in value it approaches a simple sentence as part of a non-union complex sentence; the last two options are equivalent.

    If the introductory word is related in meaning to a separate member of the sentence, then it is placed next to it, for example: A real bird began to appear, game, according to the hunters(Aksakov); Our dilapidated boat bent over, scooped up and solemnly went to the bottom, fortunately, in a shallow place(Turgenev).

    You should not put an introductory word between the preposition and the word that the preposition controls, for example: “The matter was in apparently right hands” (instead of: The case seemed to be in the right hands.).

  2. Appeals are also freely located in the sentence, however, for their semantic and intonation allocation, the place they occupy in the sentence is not indifferent: the appeal at the beginning or at the end of the sentence is logically underlined. Wed: Doctor, tell me what's wrong with my baby. – Tell me doctor what's wrong with my baby. – Tell me what's up with my baby doctor.

    In appeals, slogans, appeals, orders, oratory speeches, official and personal letters, the appeal, as a rule, is placed at the beginning of the sentence.

    The same in poetic speech, and the appeal is often distinguished into an independent sentence, for example: A pale young man with burning eyes! Now I give you three testaments(Bryusov); My dear mother earth, my forest side, the land suffering in captivity! I will come - I just don’t know the day, but I will come, I will return you(Twardowski). Wed broken treatment with the main part at the end of the sentence: For blood and tears, thirsting for retribution, we see you, the forty-first year(Schipachev).

  3. Particles, as a rule, stand before the word to which they refer in meaning. Wed:

    a) This book is difficult even for him(we are talking about difficulties for a qualified person);

    b) This book even difficult for him(the unexpectedness of the difficulty is emphasized);

    in) Even this book is difficult for him(We are talking about an unprepared reader).

    Particle still postpositive ( pretty insisted), but to emphasize the meaning, sometimes in colloquial speech it is placed before the verb, for example: The state adviser, although he himself disappeared, but still killed his comrade(Gogol); Elena said nothing, and I did lock her up this time too.(Dostoevsky).

  4. The separation of the preposition from the controlled noun in constructions like: “I will come with a few more comrades” is unsuccessful (instead of: I will come with a few more friends); “Export volume has declined from about…; increased to about…” (instead of: … decreased from about …; increased to about...).

    You should not put two prepositions in a row, for example: “In one of the letters received from you ...” (instead of: In one of the letters I received from you...); "Pay attention to outstanding work in all respects" (instead of: Pay attention to outstanding work in all respects).

    In combinations of a noun with a numeral, denoting an approximate amount, the preposition is placed between the named parts of speech ( ten minutes later, twenty steps away), and not before the whole combination (“in ten minutes”, “in twenty steps”).

There is a strong idea that word order in Russian is free. If it were really free, there would be no question of errors in word order, nor of such a stylistic device as inversion. It would be more correct to say that the word order in the Russian language is flexible: not only grammatical, but also semantic. For example, the famous line from Nekrasov AT woodcutter's ax was heard in the forest possible with a different word order: The woodcutter's ax was distributed in the forest and others. The word order determines the meaning of these sentences: Nekrasov tells about what happened in the forest, in the second version - where the woodcutter's ax was distributed.

In each case, the word order depends both on the grammatical nature of the words in the sentence, and on the meaning of the whole sentence, which, in turn, is governed by the previous and subsequent sentences.

180. Grammar word order

Every sentence consists of phrases organized in one of the following ways: agreementdawn, controlread the letter contiguitylaughed merrily; within a phrase, the grammatical word order operates. It is predetermined by the grammatical nature of the words entering the phrase.

1. Coordination- a kind of connection in which the main word requires that the dependent take the same grammatical forms in which it is itself used. Such a connection arises between the defined and the definition, that is, between the noun and the adjective, as well as other parts of speech that can act in the function of the adjective; participle, ordinal number, pronoun-adjective. The dependent word in all these cases comes before the main one, the process that has begun, the first successes, our disappointments. If the main word includes several definitions consistent with it, then the order of arrangement depends on their morphological nature:

1) definitions expressed by pronouns are ahead of definitions expressed by other parts of speech, for example: on this solemn day, all the misprints noticed;

2) attributive pronouns precede all other pronouns, for example: all these amendments, each of your remarks. But the pronoun most placed after the demonstrative pronoun, for example: these same possibilities, the same case;

3) definitions expressed by qualitative adjectives are ahead of definitions expressed by relative adjectives (the latter, as expressing a more significant or permanent feature, are closer to the noun being defined), for example: new historical novel, late autumn;

4) if heterogeneous definitions are expressed only by qualitative adjectives, then one of them is placed closer to the noun being defined, which denotes a more stable feature, for example: huge black eyes, a pleasant light breeze;

5) if heterogeneous definitions are expressed only by relative adjectives, then they are usually arranged in ascending order of semantic gradation (from a narrower concept to a broader one), for example: daily meteorological reports, antique bronzes.

2. Control- this type of subordinating connection, in which the main word of the phrase requires the statement of the dependent word in a certain case. The dependent words are nouns and pronouns-nouns, and the main ones are verbs, nouns, adjectives, participles, gerunds: read a book, read it; reading a book, faithful to duty, reading a book, reading a book. In such combinations, where the main word precedes the dependent, complements and inconsistent definitions expressed by nouns or pronouns come after the words on which they depend. For example: be interested in history, the opinion of the reviewer.

The lexico-grammatical meaning of the main word predetermines the need for a controlled word (one or more) and their form. For example, the verb cut denotes an action that must be directed at something (the object of the action) and produced by something (the instrument of the action). The object to which the action extends has the form of the accusative case, and the instrument of the action has the creative case. Moreover, the obligatory nature of the object and the instrument with this verb is not the same: the object is obligatory (a class of transitive verbs), so the control between the verb and the noun is strong here; the instrument of action is less necessary, therefore the control is weak. If the main word has several dependents, as in the above example, then, naturally, the more obligatory word (strong control) comes first, and then the less obligatory one (weak control), so the following word order is assumed: cut (what?) paper (with what?) with scissors; the arrival (of whom?) of the son (to whom?) to his parents.

Departure from this order is due to the semantics of dependent words: if a word with a weak control designates a person, and with a strong one - an object, then the word denoting a person (despite the fact that this is a weak control) can be ahead of a word with a strong control denoting an object: write a letter to my brother - Write a letter to your brother. If a weakly controlled word is expressed by a personal pronoun, then it must be placed immediately after the word that controls it: write him a letter, give us a surprise.

3. adjoining- this kind of subordinating relationship, in which the semantic relationship between the main and dependent word is not formally expressed, since the dependent word does not have inflection forms. An adverb, an adjective in a comparative degree, a gerund, an infinitive, possessive pronouns of the 3rd person and other invariable words and forms adjoin. Adjoining qualitative adverbs in -about and -e and adverbs measures and degrees precede the main word: joyfully announced, defiantly looked, quite adult; the rest usually follow them: speak English, riding, come in the evening, uttered in the heat of the moment. The adjoining possessive pronoun of the 3rd person precedes the main word: his, her, their opinion.

The main requirement for word order in a sentence is expressed in the fact that do not destroy(without sufficient grounds for that) natural lexico-grammatical connections within the phrase. Destruction leads to error. Yes, in the proposal The public is widely preparing to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the artist word order is broken and needs editing: word wide attached to the verb Mark, but not is preparing. Should: getting ready to celebrate. The word order in the sentence needs to be corrected. P It is forbidden to drink water from the rivers and reservoirs of our region. Should: It is forbidden (what?) to drink (what?) water (what? from where?) from rivers and reservoirs (what? what?) of our region.

4. The subject and predicate form a predicative phrase built according to the type of agreement. But this phrase is of a special type: it does not name, but informs. The subject of speech is usually the subject (expressed by a noun or parts of speech that replace it), and the message about it is conveyed by a predicate, an expressed verb, or a combination of a verb with other parts of speech. Therefore, the strictly grammatically subject in the sentence precedes the predicate (first the subject of speech is called, then something is reported about it). For example: Life went on as usual; He walked through the living room to the library. In the author's remarks that break direct speech or follow it, a different order is needed: Do not rush, - said the father, - you will be in time; a different word order is also preferable with the semantic inseparability of the subject and predicate expressed by verbs being or course of action : it's raining, summer has flown by, lightning flashes.


§181. Semantic word order

Free-floating sentence components

Grammar word order does not have in the Russian language of rigid fixation. The structure of the sentence allows options for the location of some of its components. The choice of a specific option depends on the communicative task, that is, on the meaning of the sentence. These free-standing components include:

1) circumstances(except for the mode of action, as well as measures and degrees), which, as a rule, are weakly controlled members of phrases; their place, depending on the semantics of the entire sentence, may vary. Wed: The child could not speak for fear. The child could not speak from fear. The first sentence tells why the child could not speak, that is, the reason is indicated, the second - about what happened (feared), and the consequences;

2) adverbial phrases; compare: Referring to illness Petrov asked to postpone the exam– Petrov, referring to illness asked to reschedule the exam- Petrov asked to postpone the exam, referring to illness. The reason is expressed most strongly in the first sentence, weakest of all in the last;

3) particles; their place may change, but the more significant in each specific sentence, before which word the particle is placed. Wed: This the book is difficult even for him(we are talking about difficulties for the prepared reader); This the book is even difficult for him(the unexpectedness of the difficulty is emphasized); Even this the book is difficult for him(we are talking about a completely unprepared reader);

4) introductory words; their location is free, if they refer to the sentence as a whole, a change in the place of the introductory words leads to a change in the modality of the statement. Wed: It seemed he fell asleep; He, it seemed fell asleep; He fell asleep seemed (the degree of certainty that he is asleep decreases from the first sentence to the third). If the introductory word is related in meaning to a separate member of the sentence, then it is placed next to it, for example: A real bird began to appear, game, according to hunters (Aksakov); Our dilapidated boat bent over, scooped up and solemnly went to the bottom, Fortunately, in a shallow place(Turgenev). Do not put an introductory word between a preposition and a full-valued word. Instead of The case was in seemingly, faithful hands follows: The case was seemingly, in faithful hands;

5) appeals; their location is free, but the appeal at the beginning or at the end of the sentence is logically emphasized, while the appeal at the beginning of the sentence has the function of attracting attention, and at the end - of expressing a request or softening the statement. Wed: Doctor, tell me what's wrong with my child?; Tell, doctor, what about my child?; Tell me, what's wrong with my baby, doctor? Tanya you should know it; You should have known Tanya. In appeals, slogans, appeals, orders, oratory speeches, official and personal letters, the appeal, as a rule, is placed at the beginning of the sentence and is often separated into an independent statement: Judge Lord! Please pay attention...;

6) some parts of a complex sentence; in a complex sentence, some predicative parts are rigidly fixed (subordinate clauses always come after the word they define, for example: House, who stands on the corner was built...), other predicative parts have a free arrangement. Wed: Since you have not fulfilled your obligation, I terminate the contract; I terminate the contract because you have not fulfilled your obligation. The choice of option, as in a simple sentence, depends on the specific communicative situation;

7) author's words in sentences with direct speech. Wed: And I, waiting for the wind, say in an undertone:I love you, Nadia! (Chekhov); I love you, Nadia! I say... In the first case, the author's commentary is more important than someone else's speech, in the second case, someone else's speech itself. With a sufficiently detailed someone else's speech, it is possible to break it with the words of the author. In this case, the author's commentary itself is reduced to the role of almost introductory words, but on the other hand, that part of the statement that comes after the author's words is singled out. Wed: - Why don't we go - I say to Nadenka,home?

§182. Word order and complex syntactic whole

The order of words in a sentence depends not only on the grammatical relationships of words and the meaning of the whole sentence, but also on the complex syntactic whole (see Ch. XLIX) that the sentence is part of. Wed: Suddenly, someone in white separated from the wall and began to approach. From fright the child could not utter a word; Everything at school is so unusual, strict and solemn that when they asked the question: “How old are you?”, The child could not utter a word from fear.

In some cases, the nature of the development of thought in a complex syntactic whole not only determines the place of a freely located component, but also requires a departure from the strictly grammatical word order. Wed:

1) Everyone gathered at the table. Peter brought a book and there was silence;

2) There was a book on the table. Peter brought the book;

3) And here we have this book. Peter brought the book.

In the second and third variants, the logic of the development of thought subjugates grammar: in the second case, it is reported who brought the book, in the third, how it ended up with us. In the first case, successively developing events are reported.

The order of words in a sentence (and its meaning) depends not only on the previous context, but also on the subsequent one. Wed;

1) Autumn... Dry leaves slowly fall to the ground. Soon it will be covered with a continuous multi-colored carpet;

2) Autumn... Dry leaves slowly fall to the ground. They seem to not want to part with the tree;

3) Autumn... Dry leaves slowly fall to the ground and the smoke of fires rises to the sky.

The first sentence allows after itself all three options of the second sentence, and the second options are conditioned by their subsequent context.