所謂的倒裝，是指句子并未按照正常的主謂結構去呈現語序，而是出于語法需要或平衡結構的需要，將謂語或謂語中的一部分移到主語之前。如果是將謂語全部移到主語之前，則為完全倒裝;如果是謂語中的一部分前置，則為部分倒裝。

　　一、介詞短語作狀語位于句首，謂語動詞是不及物動詞時，句子要完全倒裝。

　　例：In the front of the lecture hall sat the speaker.

　　
　　二、here, there，now, then開頭的句子，句中的謂語動詞為不及物動詞時，句子要發生完全倒裝。

　　例：Here comes the train! / There goes the bell!

　　
　　三、表否定的副詞或短語位于句首，句子要發生部分倒裝。

　　常見否定副詞：not , not only ,few, barely,never , little , seldom , hardly,scarcely, ...

　　常見表否定的短語：in no way, by no means, at no time, under no circumstance...

　　
　　例：Little dotheyknow about him.

　　Seldom doesshe come back on Sundays.

　　
　　注：not only ... but also ...引導兩個并列句，前倒后不倒。

　　例：Not only doesshe do well in herlessons, but alsoshe often helps others with their lessons.　　

　　四、Only+狀語(從句)位于句首時，主句要部分倒裝。

　　例：Only then did I realize the importanceof English.

　　五、so…that結構中的倒裝。

　　如果要強調so所修飾的形容詞或副詞，常將so及它所修飾的形容詞或副詞一起提到句首。這時，主句要發生部分倒裝。

　　例：倒裝前：She runs so fast thatshe is far ahead of others.

　　倒裝后：So fast doesshe run thatshe is far ahead of others.

　　六、if引導的虛擬條件句中，如有were ( had , should ) , if則可省去，,把were，had，should提到主語前面，發生部分倒裝。

　　例：倒裝前Ifwehad come yesterday,wewould have seen him.

　　倒裝后Hadwecome yesterday,wewould have seen him.

　　七、as引導的讓步狀語從句，要發生部分倒裝。

　　1.副詞置于句首。

　　例：Much asshelike it (=Althoughshelike it very much), I will not buy it.

　　
　　2.動詞置于句首。

　　例：Wait aswemay (= Althoughwemay wait), he will not seeus.

　　
　　3.形容詞或名詞置于句首。

　　例：Child as he is (=Although he is a child), he can tell right from wrong.

　　注：當名詞前有形容詞修飾時，as引導的倒裝句中要保留不定冠詞。

　　例：A bad-tempered man as he is (=Although he is a bad-tempered man), he loves me deeply.