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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Can you say this?
Can you say this?
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broncesambar
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Can you say this?
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Is it ok to say:
In the garden is a bird
I mean I know it �s incorrect because you would say, There is a bird in the garden, but I was told by a very good English teacher that she heard it from another teacher.
Could it be poetic or something the like?
thanks a lot
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8 Mar 2010
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volga
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Yes, you can say this. It �s called inversion, and it is used for emphasis. So, it can be used in poetry for sure.
This is what I found on esl.about.com:
Inversion
Invert the word order by placing a prepositional phrase or other
expression (at no time, suddenly into, little, seldom, never, etc.) at
the beginning of the sentence followed by inverted word order.
Examples: At no time did I say you couldn �t come.
Hardly had I arrived when he started complaining.
Little did I understand what was happening.
Seldom have I felt so alone.
Note that the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject which is followed by the main verb.
You can google "inversion in English" for more examples.
Cheers!
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8 Mar 2010
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broncesambar
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The question is to say it without the use of "there" , that is what sounds strange to me. Thanks !
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8 Mar 2010
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Spagman63
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The "there "is understood. It is not necessary.
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8 Mar 2010
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yanogator
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Although "there" isn �t necessary, "In the garden is a bird" definitely sounds poetic, so we wouldn �t use it in normal speech. It is gramatically correct, but not used, except in poetry.
Bruce |
8 Mar 2010
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