英语的正常语序是主语在前谓语在后，但有时处于语法或达到某种修辞目的如强调、承上启下、平衡等需要，要把谓语动词放在主语的前面，这种语序称作倒装（Invered Order）。可分为完全倒装和部分倒装。完全倒装是指将整个的谓语动词提到主语之前。而部分倒装是指将部分的谓语动词即助动词、情态动词和be动词提到主语的前面，而谓语动词的其他部分任置于主语之后。
一、使用完全倒装的情况
1．There be / come / live / stand /exist / lie / go /等结构中。
如：Then there came a knock at the door.
There stands a temple on the top of the mountain.
There lies a lake near my village.
2．表示地点、方向、时间的副词如here / out / in / up / down / back / off / away / now / then谓语动词多用表示运动的不及物动词如go / come / leave / move / rust / jump等
如：There goes the bell.
Look! Here come his parents.
Now comes your turn.
Then came the news that we won the game.
Out rushed the students. 但 Out they rushed.
注意：（1）主语为人称代词时不倒装。
（2）注意主谓一致。（使用还原法将倒装句还原）
（3）Here / there / now这三个副词引起的句子中谓语动词必须用一般现在时。
3．表地点的介词短语位于句首时
如：Along the road came a great many tourist.
On the top of the mountain stands a temple.
On the wall are two pictures.
4．为了保持句子平衡、衔接得当或强调表语，而把介词短语或形容词置于句首。
如：Present at the party were some stars who wanted to raise money for disaster zones.
Gone are the days when the Chinese people used foreign oil.
5．在表祝愿的句子中。
如：Long live our friendship.
二、使用部分倒装的情况。
1．only + 状语置于句首时。
如：Only in this way can you learn English well.
Only then did he realize his mistake.
Only after they discussed the matter for hours did they reach a decision.
注意：（1）only + 主语时不倒装。 如： Only he knows the answer.
（2）only + 状语从句时，主句倒装从句不倒装。
（3）在强调句型中不用倒装。
如：It was only after they discussed the matter for hours that they reached a decision.
2．具有否定意义的副词或短语置于句首作状语时。如never / seldom / little / few / not / nowhere / hardly / rarely / scarcely / not until / not since / hardly … when / no sooner … than / by no means / in no time / at no time / under no circumstances等。
如：Not a single word did he say at the meeting.
Nowhere else in the world can you find a better man than Tom.
Seldom have I heard from him recently.
注意：（1）Not until放在句首时要部分倒装（在复合句中主句倒装，而until引导的从句不倒装），放在强调句型中不用倒装。
如：Not until he came to Beijing did he begin to learn English.
--It was not until he came to Beijing that he began to learn English.
（2）将hardly / no sooner置于句首时①要部分倒装；②注意搭配；③注意时态。
Hardly had sb. done sth. when sb. did sth. /
No sooner had sb. done sth. than sb. did sth.
（3）not only…but(also)…位于句首引导两个分句时，not only引导的句子要部分倒装，but(also)引导的句子不倒装。
如：Not only was the wallet found, but also the thief was caught.
3．以so / neither / nor 开头的句子说明前面的内容也适用于后者时“…也/不是这样/如此”
肯定句：so + 助动词/情态动词/be动词 + 主语
否定句：neither + 助动词/情态动词/be 动词 + 主语
如：He didn’t attend the meeting, neither did Tom.
I wonder if she will go to the ball. If she does, so will I.
注意：（1）so + 主语 + 助动词 / 情态动词 / be 动词，表示“…的确如此”，表赞同对方的观点和看法。--Tom works hard. –So he does, and so do you.
（2）但当前面的两个句子一肯一否或一个主语是人一个是物或两个句子谓语动词不一致时，不能用so / neither / nor + 助动词/ 情态动词 / be动词 + 主语的结构来表达，但可以用It is the same with sb. 或So it is with sb.来表达。
如：--Tom likes singing, but he doesn’t like dancing. –So it is with Mary.
4．So / such… that 引导的结果状语从句表示“如此…以致于”时，如果将so/ such及其所修饰部分提到句首时。
如：So difficult did I find it to work out the problem that I decided to ask him for advice.
Such a good one was his idea that we all agree to use it.
5．在if引导的条件状语从句表非真实语气时，如果从句中使用了had / should / were可将if省略并将助动词提到句首。
如：Should you be fired, your health care and other benefit will not be immediately cut off.
Were it not for the fact that he can’t sing, I would invite him to the party.
6．as引导的让步状语从句表“尽管”时，要将表语、状语和动词原形提到句首。
如：Child as he is, he knows a lot.
Strange as it might sound, it is true.
Try as he might, he couldn’t reach his goal.
Much as I like it, I won’t buy it.
注意：表“尽管”时：as必倒；though可倒可不倒；although / while必不倒
7．在表祝愿的句子中。May sb. do sth.
May you be in good health.
May our country go richer and stronger.