Exercise 1. Comment on the word order and explain the cases of inversion

1. Martin Eden had been mastered by curiosity all his days. (London) 2. "What did the-master say exactly?" "Well, of course, I wasn't supposed to hear." (Christie) 3. Well, come on, shall I go, or shan't I? Half past three—it's quite a good time. (Christie) 4 "Is Mrs Oliver at home?" asked Rhoda. (Christie) 5. There was a curious expression on her face—a mingling of grim determination and of strange indecision. (Christie) 6. Yes, here he was, without Savina, on his way to total disillusion about the biggest research development of his time. (Wilson) 7. Suddenly the door opened and admitted the Baron. Followed a complete and deathlike silence. (Mansfield) 8. But never, never could he have anticipated that evening, some months after the birth of their child. (Cronin) 9. However, not for the world would he be different from the others. (Cronin) 10. Not often did he unbend to his servants, but as the butler tucked the rug round his knees he spoke to him. (Cronin) 11. This morning, however, he was scarcely in the mood for one of those long conversations which so often beguiled the tedious hours. Nor could he bring himself to glance at the lesson books. (Cronin), 12. Jose did not answer. Fretfully the Consul shifted his position. (Cronin) 13. So immersed was the little boy that he did not hear the car. (Cronin) 14. No sooner had they disappeared than Nicholas heard the sound of clattering footsteps. (Cronin) 15. Not for an instant did he believe that Nicholas spoke the truth. (Cronin) 16. On they went. Once Alvin let out a sharp exclamation. (Cronin) 17. He'd been one of those fair babies that everybody took for a girl. Silvery fair curls he had, blue eyes and a little freckle like a diamond on one side of his nose. (Mansfield) 18. Outside, waiting at the back entrance, was a tall, well-proportioned youth of 19 years old. (Cronin) 19. Up the staircase he went, falling down, picking himself up again, feeling no hurt. (Cronin) 20. Yet not for the world would he have revealed the strange inexplicable bitterness which rankled within his breast. (Cronin) 21. So positive was his belief that he would never see his son alive that the shock almost deprived him of his reason. (Cronin) 22. Tall and graceful she was, in a well-made dress of dark blue silk, almost the colour of her eyes. (Prichard) 23. Were I less attached to you, I might pretend to gloss it over. Had I a slighter regard for your intelligence, I should perhaps withhold from you. (Cronin) 24. In front of the candles as at an altar stood one of my presents to her, a pair of Chinese incense holders in the form of little bronze warriors, who held aloft as spears the glowing sticks of incense. (Murdoch) 25. So it's you that have disgraced the family, (Voynich) 26. At the sides of the house were bushes of lilac entirely hiding the farm buildings behind. (Lawrence) 27. A fresh wrong did these words inflict. (Ch. Bronte) 28. Marble was the hero of his life and his fate. Not until this very moment with his hands tenderly, lovingly on the marble had he come fully alive. (Stone) 29. Hardly had we been in our cell half an hour, when a convict sauntered down the gallery and looked in. (London) 30. He did not speak: nor did I. (Maltz) 31. Happy she never seemed, but quick, sharp, absorbed, full of imagination and changeability. (Lawrence) 32. At this period came the young Skrebensky. (Lawrence) 33. Only once did Michelangelo go to the master of the studio for help. (Stone) 34. Alany a tear did I shed at night. (Ch. Bronte) 35. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. (Twain) 36. Little did my poor aunt imagine what a gush of devout thankfulness thrilled through me... (Collins) 37. "I hate to leave our fine house." "So do I." (Hemingway) 38. A snowy white silk blouse, falling well open, showed off her long neck. (Murdoch) 39. Directly in front of her window was a stone parapet... (Murdoch) 40. Never, indeed, would he forgive her that episode. (Cronin)