The word order in a sentence in German is direct and reverse word order. Direct and reverse order of words in a sentence

The order of words in a sentence is the arrangement of its members in it. It is believed that word order in Russian is free. However, it is not. It is relatively free due to the structural coherence of the components of the sentence and their semantic significance. Those. Russian is a language with flexible word order.

The order of words is determined by the structure and semantics of preceding sentences, the communicative task, etc. Thus, word order depends on the context. It plays an important role in actual division. Actual division is the adaptation of the grammatical structure of a sentence to the tasks of communication.

The word order, depending on the actual division, is

1. direct (Mathesius - objective) - rhema theme

Father will come / tomorrow.

2. inverse = inversion (Mathesius – subjective) – rheme theme

Tomorrow / father will arrive.

Without a rheme, a sentence does not exist.

Direct word order is called neutral, and as a result of inversion, meaningful word order arises. The function is to put emphasis. Inversion is emphasized by intonation - logical stress emphasizes the rheme.

Word order can also have a purely grammatical meaning. Then it serves to formalize the syntactic relationships between the members of the sentence. Moscow is the capital of our country. The capital of our country is Moscow. The role of subject and predicate is determined only by word order. Changing the order of words does not lead to stylistic changes in the sentence.

This is broken when qualitative adjectives appear. A wonderful city - Moscow.

The word order in sentences like June is sultry has grammatical significance. Sultry June is already a nominative sentence. Place determines the function of the adjective or participle. The reassured friend left or the friend left reassured.

Word order determines the grammatical significance of homonymous forms of nouns. Day follows night. Mother loves daughter.

The order of the members of the sentence.

§ theme = mean, rheme = tale => mean tale, otherwise – inversion

§ theme = skaz, rheme = mean => skaz is mean, otherwise – inversion

§ indivisible sentences => skaz vile

§ interrogative sentences => tale mean

§ direct word order: determiner skaz mean, if the subject is first – inversion

§ compatible terms before the words being defined, otherwise – inversion

§ managed – after managers, otherwise – inversion

§ adjacent – ​​before and after the dominant word, depending on the method of expression and the conveyed meaning

§ first indirect object, then direct, otherwise inversion

§ dependent infinitive after the word it refers to, otherwise – inversion

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Question No. 54 Word order in Russian and its functions

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In Russian, the order of words (more precisely, members of a sentence) is considered free. That is, in the sentence there is no strictly assigned place for one or another member of the sentence. For example, a sentence: The editor carefully read the manuscript yesterday– allows 120 construction options.
They are distinguished depending on the type, structure of the sentence, ways of expressing its members, style and context of speech forward and reverse word order . The reverse order most often serves to specially highlight certain words by rearranging them, which is inversion, a special artistic device. The direct order is characteristic, first of all, of scientific and business speech, the reverse - for journalistic and artistic speech; in colloquial speech, a sentence is constructed according to special laws.

Place of the main members, subject and predicate

In narrative In sentences, the subject usually precedes the predicate: Some left the village to earn money.
The reverse order of the main members of a sentence (first the predicate, then the subject) is common in the following cases:
1) in the author’s words that break direct speech or come after it, for example: “I’m not strange,” the boy answered sadly;
2) 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 becoming, being, the course of an action, etc., for example: A hundred years have passed; Spring came; It was a moonlit night;
3) in descriptions, in stories: The sea sings, the city hums, the sun sparkles brightly;
4) as an inversion: Bear hunting is dangerous, a wounded animal is scary;
5) often when placing adverbial words at the beginning of a sentence: There was noise coming from the street.
In interrogative In sentences, the predicate often precedes the subject, for example: Will bookmakers deceive me?
In incentives In sentences, subject pronouns often precede the predicate, which enhances the categorical nature of the order and advice. And when they follow the predicate, they soften the tone. Compare: You finish this work today. - Finish this work today.
Compound predicate. In colloquial speech, the connective of the nominal predicate is often put in first place: I was young, hot, sincere. Placing the nominal part of the predicate in front of the subject and the nominal part serves the purpose of inversion: The dark thickets of forests and the depths of the seas are mysterious and therefore beautiful, the cry of a bird and the crack of a tree bud bursting from the warmth are mysterious (Paustovsky); Both remained hungry.

Place of definition in a sentence

1. Agreed Definition usually placed before the noun being defined, for example: interesting story; verified quotes; our publishing house.
Setting an agreed definition after the word being defined serves the purpose of inversion: The mountains are inaccessible on all sides (Lermontov).
Postpositive definitions referring to a noun repeated in a given sentence are common: This idea of ​​inflation is, of course, quite naive; Such plans, bold and original plans, could only arise in our conditions.
The means of semantic definition are:
- its isolation: The people, amazed, stopped.
- separating it from the defined noun: Rare stars shone in the ashen sky.
A detached definition (that is, separated by commas) is usually postpositive: publication of letters received at the company’s office; exhibition of paintings nominated for the prize.

2. If there are several agreed upon definitions, their order depends on their morphological arrangement.
- Definitions expressed by pronouns are placed ahead of definitions expressed by other parts of speech: on this solemn day, our future plans.
- Determinative pronouns precede other pronouns: all these amendments, every comment you make. But the pronoun MOST is placed after the demonstrative: these same opportunities, the same case.
- Definitions expressed by qualitative adjectives are placed ahead of definitions expressed by relative ones: new historical novel; light leather binding; late autumn time.
- If heterogeneous definitions are expressed by qualitative adjectives, then the one that denotes a more stable attribute is placed closer to the word being defined: huge black eyes; interesting new story.
- If heterogeneous definitions are expressed by relative adjectives, then they are usually arranged in order of ascending semantic gradation: daily stock reports, specialized haberdashery store.

3. Inconsistent definition is placed after the word being defined: expert opinion; leather bound book; novel with sequel. BUT definitions expressed by personal pronouns as possessives come before the word being defined: his objections, their statements.
Consensus definitions usually precede discordant ones: high mahogany bed. BUT inconsistent definitions, expressed by personal pronouns with a possessive meaning, usually precede the agreed one: his last performance, their increased demands.

Place of an object in a sentence

The complement usually follows the control word (the word it depends on): read the manuscript, sign the contract, ready for the meeting.
Often the object expressed by a pronoun may precede the control word: I liked the work; This sight amazed him; The mother noticed something in her daughter's expression.
It is common to place an addition with the meaning of person before the control word in impersonal sentences: He needs to talk to you; My sister is not feeling well.
If there are several additions related to one control word, different word orders are possible:
1) usually a direct object precedes others: Take the documents from the secretary; Discuss the issue with your employees;
2) the indirect object of the person in the dative case usually precedes the direct object of the subject: Tell us your legal address; This woman saved Bekoev’s life. In the same way, the genitive case with the meaning of the agent (inconsistent definition) precedes the other case (as a complement): The director's visit to his subordinates.
The direct object, which matches the form of the subject, is usually placed after the predicate: Mother loves daughter; Laziness breeds carelessness. When the subject and object are rearranged, the meaning of the sentence changes or ambiguity arises: The daughter loves the mother; Laws are protected by the courts.

Place of circumstance in a sentence

1. Circumstances of the course of action, expressed by adverbs ending in –о, -е, are usually placed in front of the predicate: The translation accurately reflects the content of the original; The pavement glistened smoothly.
Some adverbs that combine with a few verbs are placed after them: walk, lie prone, walk barefoot, walk.
The place of the adverbial manner of action may depend on the presence of other minor members of the sentence: The climbers walked slowly. – The climbers walked slowly along a steep path.
A means of semantically highlighting circumstances is their placement at the beginning of a sentence or separation from the words to which they are adjacent: In vain he tried to make out people on the horizon; We were very friendly.
2. Circumstances of measure and degree stand before the word on which they depend: The director is very busy; I won't repeat it twice.
3. Circumstances of the time usually precede the predicate verb: There was little conversation at dinner; In a month we plan to achieve success.
4. Circumstances of the place usually precede the predicate, and often appear at the beginning of a sentence: The factory was restless; A cloud was coming from the west.
If the adverbial adverbial place is at the beginning of a sentence, it is often followed by the predicate, and then the subject: To the right rose the white hospital building.
If a sentence contains adverbials of both place and time, then they are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence, with the adverbial adverbial of time placed in the first place, and the adverbial adverbial of place in the second place: Warm weather is expected in Moscow tomorrow. Another order is possible - a circumstance of time, subject, predicate, and finally, a circumstance of place: Yesterday I met a friend of mine on the street.
5. Circumstances of reason and purpose often come before the predicate: Two girls were crying in fear; Some delegation deliberately entered the square.

Location of introductory words, addresses, particles, prepositions

1. Not being members of a sentence, introductory words are freely located in it if they relate to the sentence as a whole: Unfortunately, he fell ill. - Unfortunately, he fell ill. - Unfortunately, he got sick.
If the introductory word is connected in meaning to one member of the sentence, then it is placed next to it: Our dilapidated boat sank, fortunately, in a shallow place.
2. The appeal is also freely placed in the sentence, but most often it is placed at the beginning, which is logically emphasized. Compare: Doctor, tell me what’s wrong with my child. - Tell me, doctor, what’s wrong with my child. – Tell me what’s wrong with my child, doctor.
Moreover, in calls, slogans, orders, oratory speeches, official and personal letters, the appeal is placed at the beginning of the sentence.
3. Particles stand in front of the word they refer to. Compare: This book is difficult even for him. - This book even difficult for him. - Even this book is difficult for him.
4. Separating the preposition from the controlled noun is undesirable: I'll come with a few more comrades.(I will come with a few more comrades). You should also not put two prepositions in a row: Pay attention to outstanding work in all respects(Note the work, which is outstanding in all respects).

Direct, reverse (inverted) types of word order

The problem of direct and reverse types of word order inevitably affects the opposition of objectivity/subjectivity that is organically connected with it, which leads to the need for their parallel consideration.

The identification of these oppositions in the category of word order is based on two common traditions of studying word order - “Greenberg” and “Prague”. The first is based on the assumption that every language has a neutral, basic, unmarked word order. Another tradition is associated with the work of Czech linguists and explains word order by “pragmatic” statuses “theme/rheme”

According to V. Mathesius, the objective word order is one in which the initial part of the sentence is taken as the starting point (the topic of the sentence), and its end is taken as the core of the statement (rheme), in this case the thought moves from the known to the unknown. In subjective word order, the core comes first, and then the starting point of the sentence.

The definition that LES gives to these oppositions is as follows:

With an objective word order, the arrangement of sentence members corresponds to the movement of thought, the subjective word order expresses the emotions and intentions of the speaker.[Mathesius 1967: 239-246]

Direct word order is such an arrangement of the components of a sentence that is generally accepted, the most widely accepted in speech in a given language, in relation to which any other order is perceived as a permutation. With the reverse order of words (inversion), there is a violation of the usual arrangement of words or phrases that make up a sentence, as a result of which the rearranged component of the sentence becomes highlighted and attracts attention (LES 1990: 388).

Both oppositions resonate with each other: if a certain arrangement of words in a sentence corresponds to the movement of thought, then it is generally accepted, and the component that attracts attention as a result of inversion clearly expresses the emotions and intentions of the speaker - inversion is always subjective. The formal expression of these oppositions is also the same: Sie hat keine Tranen (direct objective word order). - Tranen hat sie keine (Bredel) (reverse subjective word order).

Grammarists postulate the SVO order for the modern German language: the predicate has a strictly fixed position, and this feature is one of the main features of the structure of the German sentence (Deutsche Satzstruktur...) Since some members of the sentence (namely the subject and objects) have a similar character in terms of valence , theoretically, any of them can be in the first place in a sentence. Such possibilities for the syntactic organization of sentences give rise to the problem of direct and reverse word order.

How can we call word order basic if it does not satisfy the needs of speech? After all, in almost every sentence a condition is fulfilled, which W. Engel calls consistency with the previous sentence (Anschlu? an den vorhergehenden Text):

Bettina ist gestern in Stuttgart gewesen. Dort hat sie die Staatsgalerie besucht.

Ich komme aus einer gro?en Stadt. In dieser Stadt kenne ich mich aus.

The same problem is indicated by W. Jung: “It is a mistake to define the arrangement “subject - finite form of the verb” as “normal” as opposed to the inversion, the arrangement “finitive form of the verb - subject.” The place of the nucleus (Kernstellung) in a declarative sentence is normal, i.e. finding a finite verb in second place. It is preceded by a component, which can be either the subject or another member of the sentence."

The current state of linguistics, which has significantly expanded its area of ​​interest, is directing the problem of direct, basic word order in a new direction. To be basic means to be natural. Of particular importance for choosing the sequence of words in a sentence are the cognitive processes occurring in the human mind, and therefore its cognitive aspect.

Thus, relying on the spatio-temporal order of the external world and taking into account the universal strategy of discourse explains the existence of several natural word orders that can claim the status of basic.

Excessive emphasis on only one typology of word order - based on the concepts of subject and object - is not entirely justified. So a very witty remark about the languages ​​of the Uto-Aztecan family, where word order follows the model “indefinite - verb - definite”: “if the first linguists had been native speakers of the O'odham language (Uto-Aztecan family), and if they had been inclined to count that all possible languages ​​operate on the basis of the same correspondences between functions and structures as their native language, then English would be regarded as a language with “free” word order." Indeed, definite and indefinite noun phrases in German can be found in different parts of the sentence:

Der Duden ist ein Nachschlagewerk. - Einem Zigeuner liegt die Musik im

However, it is incorrect to say that the use of the definite and indefinite article in German has nothing to do with word order. Thus, G. Helbig classifies definite and indefinite articles as morphological indicators that determine word order in the German language:

Ich schenke dem Kind ein Buch.

Ich schenke das Buch einem Kind.

Er borgt den Studenten Bucher.

Er borgt die Bucher Studenten.

In the examples, a noun with a definite article precedes a noun with an indefinite article. It seems that the certainty/uncertainty expressed by the article echoes the opposition known/unknown expressed by the pragmatic categories theme and rheme. Thus, in the sentence Kinder sind die Menschen, it is the presence of the definite article that makes it possible to recognize the known, that is, the topic of this statement, which in this particular case coincides with the subject, as a result of which the emotionally uncolored version of the sentence is defined as Die Menschen sind Kinder. Thanks to this, it is possible to recognize true subject-object relationships and translate the sentence as follows: What kind of children are these people, and not Children are people.

The fact that deviation from the prescribed word order can give the displaced element markedness (the more pronounced the deviation, the stronger the markedness), has been noted in some German grammars.

W. Engel calls such situations separation (Hervorhebung):

Er meldete seinen Freund Dumitru in der Botschaft an.

Er meldete in der Botschaft seinen Freund Dumitru an.

Ich habe das gerne nicht gehabt.

Gerne habe ich das nicht gehabt.

The reverse process is also noted: an initially rhematic element can be “thematized” due to a shift to the beginning of the sentence (ibid.):

Die Regierung kann mit finanziellen Zuschlussen die Machtverhaltnisse in jedem Land beeinflussen.

Die Regierung kann die Machtverhaltnisse in jedem Land mit finanziellen Zuschlussen beeinflussen.

The displacement of any element in the foreground of the sentence determines its strongest emphasis:

Die Drogenkriminalitat konnte man mit der kostenlosen Angabe von Drogen an einen ausgewahlten Personenkreis eindammen.

The following laws can be traced in the arrangement of the main members of the proposal:

1) In an independent sentence, the predicate can be divided into 2 parts, which will stand separately in different parts of the sentence and form a frame structure (brackets in the sentence). In a subordinate clause, both parts of the predicate will stand next to each other.

2) In an independent sentence, the subject and predicate stand next to each other; in a subordinate clause, on the contrary, where the verbale Rahmen is absent, it will be replaced through the separation of the subject from the predicate.

According to the location of the final verb, there are 3 forms of the sentence: Second place of the verb (Kernform), First place of the verb (Stirnform), Last place of the verb (Spannform).

The second place of the verb in a sentence can be found in declarative sentences, in questions, in open subordinate clauses: Er behauptet, der Zug kommt um 8.

The first place in a verb sentence (Spitzenstellung). The subject follows the predicate.

The first place of the verb in a sentence can be found in interrogative, imperative, exclamatory (Ist das Wetter aber herrlich!), some types of subordinate clauses (in (open subordinate clauses, concessive subordinate clauses, subordinate clauses, in den Satzen der Redeeinkleidung, which follow direct speech (Entschuldige! Sagte er), in the main clause that follows the subordinate clause (Als ich auf die Stra?e trat, war es schon dunkel.)

The final position of a verb is expressed by placing the verb at the end.

Er fragte, ob der Zug um 8 kommt.

The last place of a verb in a sentence is used in subordinate clauses and in "pseudo-clauses" which, due to their form, function as exclamatory clauses. The subject and predicate are separated from each other.

The use of unusual verb positions for the sentence form is acceptable only from a stylistic point of view. In addition to the cases discussed above, there are others.

In prose, instead of placing the verb in second place, in the next sentence the same verb will appear in first place.

Denn es regnete. Regnete unterbrochen. (W. Bochert, Preu?ens Gloria)

For some writers (z. B. L. Feuchtwagner, W. Bochert) this will be a distinctive feature of their style.

As an exception, the initial position of a verb with a separable prefix comes across. The prefix can stand either separately with the verb or together.

Auf tut sich der weite Zwinger (F. Schiller)

Auf steiget der Mond und wieder sinkt die Sonne. (W. Raabel)

Damage to the position of the subject in a sentence construction occurs if the subject is moved from the usual position of 1 or 3 members in a sentence to the end. The emphasis is on the subject, which is in final position as a result of tension building at the end of the sentence, which begins to weaken towards the end. This is typical only for prose:

Auf dem Pferde dort unter dem Tor der siegreichen Einmarsche und mit Zugen steinern und blitzend ritt die Macht. (H. Mann, der Untertan)

Da fielen auf seine Hande Blumen. (H. Mann, Die kleine Stadt)

compared to simple inversion: Da fielen Blumen auf seine Hande.

Selbst zart, selbst bla?, geduldig, immer lachelnd, immer etwas zerstreut mitten in diesem Wirbel von Kopfen und den Wolken von Kohldampf stand sie, seine Tochter; die Tochter des Generals. (B. Kellermann, Der 9. November)

Gegenuber, auf dem Dache gegenuber, wehte im frischen Wind lustig, wie die selbstverstandlichste Sache der Welt; hoch oben - eine blutrote, blutrot leuchtende Flagge! (ebd.)

WORD ORDER a linear sequence of words and phrases in the expression of natural language, as well as patterns characterizing such a sequence in any particular language. Most often they talk about the order of words in a sentence, but the order of words within phrases and coordinating structures also has its own patterns. The arrangement of words related to each other grammatically or meaningfully in the form of a chain is a necessary consequence of the linear nature of human speech. However, the grammatical structure is very complex and cannot be entirely expressed by the relation of linear succession. Therefore, word order expresses only part of the grammatical meanings; others are expressed using morphological categories, function words or intonation. Violation of the rules of word order leads either to a change in meaning or to grammatical incorrectness of a linguistic expression.

The same basic meaning can be expressed using different word orders, and a change in order can express actualization, i.e. indicate those components of meaning that are most closely related to the relationship between speaker and listener. In English, for example, rearranging the personal form of the predicate to the left of the subject conveys the meaning of the question: He is intelligent"He's smart" but Is he intelligent? "Is he smart?" In Russian, word order is one of the means of expressing the so-called actual division of a sentence, i.e. its division into theme (the starting point of the message) and rheme (the communicated), cf. [ Father has come] subject [at five o'clock] rhema and [ At five o'clock] subject [father came] rhema. In relation to a sentence, a distinction is often made between direct word order and reverse (or inverted) word order, which arises under special conditions, usually when expressing actualization.

A language is said to have a rigid or fixed word order if the linear arrangement of words expresses the syntactic relationships between the members of a sentence. For example, in a simple affirmative sentence in Romance and Germanic languages, the subject necessarily precedes the predicate, and in literary Russian, the definition expressed by a relative clause must directly follow the defined noun. If linear order is not used in such a function, then the language is said to have a free (or non-rigid) word order. In such languages, linear order usually expresses categories of actual division or similar communicative meanings (given and new, contrastiveness, etc., cf. And Ivanov is with the boss And And the boss Ivanov). The order of words can be free for syntactic groups of words, but rigid for words within groups (for example, the Russian language approaches this type); Examples of languages ​​that have a rigid order for both words within groups and groups within sentences are English, French and Chinese. In languages ​​with free word order, it is not uncommon for components of syntactic groups to be separated by other words (for example, drinks warm milk). In languages ​​with a rigid order, this is possible only in special cases, for example when expressing a question, cf. English Who is he speaking to? "Who is he talking to?" when the expansion group disconnects.

In reality, both absolutely rigid and absolutely free word order are rare (among well-known languages, word order in Latin is often considered as an example of the latter). Even in languages ​​with free word order, the existence of some neutral (objective) word order and deviations from it are usually postulated; on the other hand, and in, for example, a language with a rigid word order like English, there are quite a lot of cases of inversion caused by non-grammatical factors (for example, the optional placement of the subject after the predicate in narratives and reports or after sentence-opening adverbs of time: “ Let's go», suggested John“Let's go,” John suggested.” On a hill stood a great castle. “There was a majestic castle on the hill.”

Rigid word order directly reflects the syntactic structure of the sentence (subject - object - predicate; definition - defined; preposition - noun group controlled by it, etc.). Therefore, languages ​​with a free order of both syntactic groups and words, for example some Australian ones, are considered not to have a syntactic structure in the traditional sense of the word. Violations of strict word order are, as a rule, unacceptable to native speakers, since they form grammatically incorrect sequences; Violations of the rules of free word order tend to give the impression of “inappropriateness,” i.e. inconsistency of a given word order with the accepted order of presentation or speech situation.

As M. Dreyer and J. Hawkins showed, with regard to word order, the languages ​​of the world are divided into two types, approximately equal in the number of languages ​​they are represented by: left-branching and right-branching. In right-branching languages, the dependent group of words usually follows the main word (vertex): the complement - after the predicate verb ( writes a letter), group of inconsistent definition – after the defined noun ( my father's house); the subordinating conjunction comes at the beginning of the subordinate clause ( that he came); the nominal part of the predicate usually follows the copula ( was a good son); subordinate clause - after the main verb ( Want,for him to leave); syntactically complex circumstance - behind the predicate verb ( returned at seven o'clock); standard of comparison - behind the adjective in the comparative degree ( stronger,than he); the auxiliary verb precedes the full verb ( was destroyed); prepositional constructions are used ( in the picture). Right-branching languages ​​include, for example, Slavic, Germanic, Romance, Semitic, Austronesian, etc. In left-branching languages, the dependent group precedes the main word: there are postpositional constructions (such as rare expressions in Russian for selfish reasons) and the order of words opposite to right-branching is usually observed in all of the listed types of groups, for example. writes a letter,my father's house,he came what,he was a good son etc. Left-branching languages ​​include Altaic, many Indo-Iranian, Caucasian, etc. In both types of languages, the order of the adjective, numeral or demonstrative pronoun relative to the noun being defined does not matter. There are also some languages ​​that cannot be defined in these terms, for example Chinese.

J. Greenberg's classification is also widely known, which includes the division of languages ​​according to the following parameters: 1) position of the predicate verb - at the beginning, middle or end of the sentence; 2) the position of the adjective before or after the noun; and 3) the predominance of prepositions or postpositions in the language. These features are not completely independent: thus, the initial position of the verb entails the predominance of prepositions in the language, and the final position of the verb - postpositions. The short formulas proposed by Greenberg for describing the order of words in a sentence (such as SOV, SVO, etc.) are actively used in the linguistic literature; in Russian, sometimes in translation, i.e. P (subject) – D (objective) – S (presumable), etc.

There are also other patterns of word order that can be traced in all or most languages. In coordinating constructions, word order reflects the sequence of events ( chopped and fried it; fried and chopped) or any hierarchy of objects ( men and women,president and prime minister); The topic of the message is usually located at the beginning of the sentence (at the end it usually appears under special conditions, for example in Russian with special intonation in sentences with the so-called “expressive inversion”, cf. It was scary in the forest And It was scary in the forest); expressions of condition also gravitate towards the beginning of the sentence ( Come on time...). In many languages, the inseparability of the predicate verb and its object is observed (cf. in English He studies physics in Cambridge"He's studying physics at Cambridge" when grammatically incorrect * He studies in Cambridge physics); Most languages ​​tend to have the subject precede the object; clitics (i.e. words without their own stress) are often located either after the first stressed word or with the predicate verb.

In Russian, word order (more precisely, the order of sentence members) is considered free. This means that in the sentence there is no strictly assigned 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 rearrangement of sentence members.

There is a difference in the direct order of words, determined by the type and structure of the sentence, the method of syntactic expression of a given member of the sentence, its place among other words that are directly related to it, as well as the style of speech and context, and brother
order, which is a deviation from the usual order and most often performs the function
and n e r s i i , 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 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 utterance, its communicative task. Associated with it is the so-called actual division of a statement, which involves the movement of thought from the known, familiar to the unknown, new: the first (the basis of the statement) is usually contained in the initial part of the sentence, the second (the core of the statement) is in its final part. Wed:

1) On April 12, 1961, the Yu flight took place. A. Gagarin into space, the first in human history(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 emphasized);

2) Flight Yu. A. Gagarin into space, the first in the history of mankind, took place on April 12, 1961(the basis of the statement is a 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 people left the village to earn money...(Gladkov); The earth revolves around the sun.

    The relative position of the subject and predicate may depend on whether the subject denotes a definite, known object or, conversely, an indefinite, unknown object. Wed: The train has arrived(definite). – The train has arrived(undefined, some).

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

    Placing the subject ahead 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 when he met her(Krylov); – Do you know grandpa, mom? - the son says to the 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 sparkles brightly, creating fairy tales(Bitter);

    5) as a stylistically specified device and inversion, with the aim of logically highlighting one of the main members of the sentence, for example: Bear hunting is dangerous, a wounded animal is terrible, but the soul of a hunter, accustomed to dangers since childhood, is brave.(A. Koptyaeva).

    When placing adverbial words at the beginning of a sentence, the subject often comes after the predicate, for example: There was noise coming from the street...(Chekhov). However, in these conditions there is also a direct order of the main members of the sentence, 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: Won't my grandfather or aunt stand up for me?(Pushkin); So will I give you this short, dear little wish?(A. N. Ostrovsky).
  3. In imperative sentences, subject pronouns preceding the predicate verb strengthen the categorical nature of the order, advice, motivation, and following the predicate, they soften the tone of the order. Wed: Just give me a peep(A. N. Ostrovsky). – Don't crush me, old woman(Turgenev).
  4. In colloquial speech, the copula is often placed first, for example: I was young, ardent, sincere, intelligent...(Chekhov).
  5. Placing the nominal part of the predicate in front of the subject serves the purpose of inversion, for example: The dark thickets of forests and the depths of the seas are mysterious and therefore beautiful; the mysterious cry of a bird and the crack of a tree bud bursting from the warmth(Paustovsky).

    A means of highlighting the predicate is also the placement of the nominal part before the copula, for example: ...Both remained hungry(L. Tolstoy); Bor became deaf and gloomy(Seifullina). The same in a compound verbal predicate when placing an infinitive before an auxiliary verb, for example: So, why didn’t you even think about sowing?(Sholokhov).

§ 179. Place of definition in a sentence

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

    Placing an agreed definition after the qualified noun serves the purpose of inversion, for example: The mountains are inaccessible on all sides(Lermontov).

    Postpositive definition (i.e., a definition that comes 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); A lonely sail whitens in the blue sea fog(Lermontov); There is a short but wonderful time in the original autumn...(Tyutchev).

    Postpositive definitions are common, referring to the noun repeated in a given sentence, for example: This idea of ​​a reflex is, of course, an old idea...(Academician I.P. Pavlov); Voropaev remembered his first meeting with Goreva - a meeting amazing and rare in its unique front-line beauty(Pavlenko). Wed. in journalistic and business speech: Such plans, bold and original plans, could arise only in our conditions; This decision is certainly a wrong decision and must be reversed.

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

    Definitions expressed by possessive pronouns, being in a position after the defined noun, can give an expressive color to the statement, for example: I remember your hands from the moment I began to recognize myself in the world.

    In neutral styles, postpositive definitions expressed by demonstrative pronouns are not uncommon, for example: This stop... was surrounded by a double rampart made of thick pine logs(Kazakevich).

    The means of semantically highlighting the definition are:

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

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

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

  2. If there are several agreed upon 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 typos noted, every fourth Tuesday. Placing pronoun-qualifiers after adjective-qualifiers is an inversion, for example: At this silver-opal hour in the morning the whole house slept(Fedin); The tankman struggled with his slow and long pain(L. Sobolev);

    2) attributive pronouns precede other pronouns, for example: all these amendments, every comment you make. But the pronoun most is 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 qualitative adjectives alone, then the one that denotes a more stable attribute is placed closer to the defined noun, for example: huge black eyes, a pleasant light breeze, an interesting new story;

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

  3. An inconsistent definition is placed after the noun being defined, for example: expert's conclusion, leather-bound book, novel with a sequel. But definitions expressed by personal pronouns as possessives come before the word being defined, for example: his objections, their statements.

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

    Prepositive inconsistent definitions, i.e. those standing in front of the word being defined, have become entrenched in some stable expressions, for example: watchmaker, guard senior lieutenant, kind-hearted man.

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

§ 180. Place of addition in a sentence

  1. The complement usually follows the control word, for example: proofread manuscript, correct typos, 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 amazed him; The mother noticed something in her daughter's expression; I'm glad to see you.

    Placing an object in front of a control word usually has the character of inversion, for example: Maybe we'll see the pharmacist(Chekhov); The soul reaches for something high(V. Panova). Wed. in lively conversational speech: Someone is asking you; They forgot all their friends; Can you fix the TV?

    Preposition of an object with the meaning of person is common in impersonal sentences, for example: He needs to talk to you; My sister is not feeling well; Everyone wanted to relax.

  2. If there are several additions related to one control word, different word orders are possible:

    1) usually a direct object precedes other objects, for example: Take the manuscript from the proofreader; Discuss the issue with your employees; The newcomer extended his hand to everyone present.;

    2) the indirect complement of the person, standing in the dative case, usually precedes the direct complement 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 agent (inconsistent definition) precedes the other case (as a complement), for example: son’s arrival to his parents, author’s memo to the editor.

  3. The direct object, which matches the form of the subject, is usually placed after the predicate, for example: Mother loves daughter; The oar touched the dress; Laziness breeds carelessness; Courts protect laws. When the subject and object are rearranged, the meaning of the sentence changes ( The daughter loves the mother; The dress hit the paddle) or ambiguity arises ( Carelessness breeds laziness; Laws are protected by the courts). Sometimes in such cases of inversion the necessary meaning is retained, resulting from the lexical meaning of the named members of the sentence ( The bicycle crashed into the tram; The sun was covered by a cloud), but the correct understanding of such sentences is somewhat difficult, therefore it is recommended either to maintain the direct word order, or to replace the actual phrase with the passive ( The bicycle is broken by a tram; The sun is covered by a cloud).

§ 181. Place of circumstances in a sentence

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

    Some adverbs that combine with few verbs are placed after them, for example: walk, lie prone, walk barefoot, fall backward, walk.

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

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

    A means of semantically highlighting the circumstances of the manner of action or measure and degree is to place them at the beginning of a sentence or to separate them from the words to which they are adjacent, for example: In vain Gregory tried to see Cossack lava on the horizon.(Sholokhov); Nikita experienced this feeling twice(Fedin); Yes, we were very friendly(L. Tolstoy).

  2. Circumstances of measure and degree are prepositive, for example: The announcer repeated the numbers given in the text twice; The director is very busy; The manuscript is fully prepared for typesetting.
  3. The adverbial circumstance usually precedes the predicate verb, for example: There was little conversation at dinner(Turgenev); A month later, Belikov died(Chekhov); In the evenings the doctor was alone(V. Panova).

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

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

    If the adverbial adverbial place is at the beginning of a sentence, then it is often immediately followed by the predicate, and then the subject, for example: To the right rose the white hospital building...(Garshin); Unfamiliar smells of herbs and flowers were coming 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 adverbial place after the predicate is the norm in those combinations in which the presence of the adverbial 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 a sentence contains an adverb of time and an adverbial place, then they are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence, with the adverbial of time in the first place and the adverbial of place in the second, for example: Tomorrow in our city the weather is expected to be warm and without precipitation; By evening everything calmed down in the house. Placing two circumstances side by side emphasizes their semantic role in the sentence. Their other placement is also possible: the adverbial of time is placed first, then the subject, followed by the predicate and, finally, the adverbial of place and other members of the sentence, for example: At the beginning of April, the river opened up along its entire length; Yesterday I met my old friend on the street.

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

    Placing these circumstances after the predicate verb usually leads to their semantic emphasis, for example: She woke up in fear; He does not go to work, allegedly due to illness; The train was sent to the depot for annual repairs..

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

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

    At the same time, it should be noted that the semantic load of the introductory word in the given options 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 it seemed in meaning it approaches a simple sentence as part of a non-union complex sentence; the last two options are equivalent.

    If the introductory word is connected 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, as the hunters put it(Aksakov); Our dilapidated boat bent over, scooped up and solemnly sank 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 seemingly right hands” (instead of: The matter seemed to be in the right hands).

  2. Addresses are also freely located in a sentence, however, for their semantic and intonation highlighting, the place they occupy in the sentence is not indifferent: the address at the beginning or end of the sentence is logically emphasized. Wed: Doctor, tell me what's wrong with my child. – Tell me, doctor, what's wrong with my child?. – Tell me what's wrong with my child, doctor.

    In appeals, slogans, appeals, orders, oratory, official and personal letters, the appeal is usually placed at the beginning of the sentence.

    The same is true in poetic speech, and the appeal is often isolated into an independent sentence, for example: A pale young man with a burning gaze! Now I give you three covenants(Bryusov); My dear mother earth, my forest side, a land suffering in captivity! I will come - I just don’t know the day, but I will come, I will bring you back(Tvardovsky). Wed. broken treatment with the main part at the end of the sentence: For blood and tears, thirsty for retribution, we see you, forty-one(Shchipachev).

  3. Particles, as a rule, appear 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);

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

    Particle -yes postpositive ( quite, insisted), but to emphasize the meaning, sometimes in colloquial speech it is placed before the verb, for example: Although the State Councilor disappeared himself, he still killed his comrade(Gogol); Elena remained silent, and I finally locked her this time too.(Dostoevsky).

  4. The separation of the preposition from the controlled noun is unsuccessful in constructions like: “I will come with a few more comrades” (instead of: I'll come with a few more friends); “The volume of exports has decreased from approximately...; increased to approximately..." (instead of: ...decreased by approximately...; increased to approximately...).

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

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