謂語動詞放在主語之前的這種語法現象稱為倒裝。倒裝句可分為全部倒裝(full inversion)和部分倒裝(partial inversion)兩種。前者是指整個謂語置於主語之前，而後者僅是指助動詞、情態動詞或be 動詞等功能置於主語這前。
引起倒裝的情況多種多樣，倒裝的表現形式大體有下列幾種：
1.在there be 及其類似結構中
例1：There are forty students in our class.
例2：There seem to be still some elements undiscovered yet.
例3：There stands a bridge across the river.
2.在表示祝願的句子中
例1：Long live the People’s Republic of China!
例2：May you succeed!
例3：Dog-tired though they were, they continued to march on.
3.在疑問句中
例1：How are you getting along with your work?
例2：Is this report written in detail?
註：如疑問詞作主語或者作定語修飾主語時，不發生倒裝。
4.在省略if 的虛擬語氣條件狀語從句中
這類句子中有were, had, should等詞時，把were, had或should置於句首。
例1：Were there no air or water, there would be no life in the world.
例2：Had you been more careful, such spelling mistakes might have been avoided.
5.在so, nor, neither或no more開頭的句子中
此類句子通常表示前面一句話中的謂語所說明的情況，也適用於另一句中的主語。例如：
1)This problem is not difficult and neither is that one.
2)Coal is under the ground in some places, and so is oil.
6.在以具有否定意義的副詞、連詞及詞組開頭的句子中
這些詞和詞組通常有：rarely, never, scarcely, no sooner, little, few, hardly, seldom, at no time, in no way,
on no account, nowhere, nobody, not only等。例如：
1)Visit our stores. Nowhere else will you find such magnificent bargains.
2)Hardly had he finished his work when the telephone rang.
3)Not only did he complain about the food, he also refused to pay for it.
4)Little did we think his speech had made so deep an impression on his audience.
7.在強調表語時
例1：Worst of all were the humiliations.
例2：Such is the case.
8.在強調賓語時
例1：Still greater contributions should we make to our socialist construction.
例2：Useful chemical fertilizer can we make from the waste liquid.
註：當前置賓語由「not a +名詞」或者「not a single +名詞」構成時，也會引起倒裝。例如：
Alice had a terrible time touring that country. Not a day did she spend without having some unpleasantness
with waiters in the hotel.
9.在強調狀語時
(1)當句首狀語為方位詞或擬聲詞，謂語動詞為go, come等表示位置轉移的動詞時句子須倒裝。例如：
1)Up went the plane.
2)In came the chairman and the meeting began.
註：如果主語是代詞則不發生倒裝。例如：
1)Out they rushed!
2)Lower and lower he bent.
(2) 當句首狀語為表示地點的介詞詞組時，句子須倒裝。例如：
1)Round the corner walked a large policeman.
2)Under the table was lying a half-conscious young man.
(3)當句首狀語由「only +副詞」，「only +介詞詞組」，「only +狀語從句」構成時，句子須倒裝。例如：
1)Only yesterday did he find out that his watch was missing.
2)Only because there were some cancelled bookings did he get some tickets in the end.
(4)當句首狀語為here, there, now, then等時，句子須倒裝，主語是代詞時，句子不用倒裝。例如：
1)Here is a ticket for you.
2)Now comes your turn.
3)Here he comes.
(5)以關聯詞so (…that)開頭的句子中，句子須倒裝。例如：
1)So small was the mark that I could hardly see it.
2)So quickly did the workmen finish their work that they were given a bonus.
3)So much does he worry about his financial position that he can’t sleep at night.
註：在該結構中，「so +形容詞」是表語的前置;「so +副詞」是狀語的前置。
10.在直接引語之後
在敘事性書面語中，直接引語後常跟asked Mary, answered John, said the old lady, grunted Peter之類的詞語。在這些
詞語中，動詞常的主語之前，主語是代詞時，不用倒裝。例如：
1)「What do you mean?」 asked Henry.
2)「What do you mean?」 he asked.
11. often, many a time等表示頻度的狀語置於句首時
例如：Often did they think of going there, but they never had a chance.
12.在as, though引導的讓步狀語從句中
在as, though引導的讓步狀語從句中，一般將形容詞、副詞或名詞等置於句首。例如：
1)Small as the atom is, we can smash it.
2)Big as the workpiece is, it is turned out with