英语中，有时出于句子结构的需要或为了强调某一句子成分，通常把谓语或谓语的一部分放在主语之前，称为倒装。倒装分为完全倒装和部分倒装。
一、完全倒装
完全倒装通常是把句子的谓语全部置于主语之前。常见的完全倒装的情况有：
1. 表示地点的介词短语位于句首且主语为名词而谓语为不及物动词时。如：
From the window came the beautiful sound of music. 从窗户传来美妙的音乐。
On the table stood two glasses and an empty bottle. 桌子上放着两只杯子和一个空瓶子。
2. out, in, up, down, off, here, there, now, then等副词位于句首且主语为名词时。如：
Down fell half a dozen apples. 六个苹果掉了下来。
Here comes the bus. 公共汽车来了。
注意：主语为人称代词时，主语和谓语的语序不变。如：Here she comes! 她来了！
3. 在there be结构中。如：
There is a man at the door who wants to see you. 门口有个人想见你。
4. 作表语的形容词、过去分词等位于句首且主语为名词时。如：
Present at the meeting were Professor Smith, Professor Brown, Sir Hugh and many other famous people. 出席会议的有史密斯教授、布朗教授、休爵士和许多其他名人。
Gone are the days when they could do what they liked to the people in the country.
农村人自由自在的日子已经过去了。
二、部分倒装
部分倒装通常是把谓语的一部分（如助动词或情态动词）提到主语之前。常见的部分倒装的情况有：
1. 含有否定意义的副词或连词hardly, never, not, little, seldom, no longer, not only, not until等位于句首时。如：
Hardly had he finished his work when the telephone rang. 他刚完成工作，电话铃就响了。
Little did I realize I would one day be in charge of the office. 我几乎没想到有一天我会负责这个办公室。
注意：
①not only ... but (also) ... 连接两个并列分句时，如果not only位于句首，则前一分句倒装，后一分句仍然用陈述语序。如：
Not only did he complain about the food, but he (also) refused to pay for it. 他不当抱怨食物，而且拒绝付钱。
②not until后跟状语从句位于句首时，从句不倒装，后面的主句倒装。如：
Not until she spoke did I realize she wasn't English. 直到她说话我才意识到她不是英国人。
2. only所修饰的副词、介词短语或状语从句位于句首时。如：
Only then did she realize the stress he was under. 直到那时她才意识到他承受的压力。
Only in this house do I feel safe and secure. 只有在这所房子里，我才感到安全和有保障。
Only because there were some cancelled bookings did he get some tickets in the end.
只是因为取消了一些预订，他最后才得到一些票。
注意：如果only修饰主语位于句首时，句子不倒装。如：
Only a few students got the answer to this question right. 只有少数学生正确地回答了这个问题。
3. so, neither, nor引起的句子，表示前面的情况也适用于另一人（或物）时。如：
I like singing and so does Helen. 我喜欢唱歌，海伦也喜欢。
James didn't attend the meeting and neither did Jane. 詹姆斯没有出席会议，简也没有。
4. as引导让步状语从句时。此时常将表语、状语或动词提前，构成倒装。如：
Strange as it may seem, the tallest boy is the youngest. 看起来很奇怪，最高的男孩是最小的。
Hard as he tried, he was unable to make much progress. 尽管他很努力，他还是没能取得多大进步。
Try as he might, he couldn't open the box. 尽管他尽力了，还是打不开盒子。
5. 在so / such ... that结构中，so或such置于句首时。此时so或such所修饰的成分随之前移。如：
So much did he worry about his sister that he couldn't sleep at night.
他太担心他妹妹了，以至于晚上睡不着。
Such a loud voice did he speak in that even people in the next house could hear him.
他说话的声音这么大，连隔壁房子的人都听得见。
注意：如果谓语动词为be时，则为完全倒装。如：
So small was the mark that I could hardly see it. 标记太小了，我几乎看不见。
6. 虚拟条件句将if省略时。此时将were / had / should等提至主语前。如：
Were it not for their assistance, we wouldn't be able to do so well. 要不是他们的帮助，我们不可能做得这么好。
Had we got there earlier, we would have caught the train. 如果我们早点到那里，我们就会赶上火车了。
Should he fail in the experiment this time, he would try again. 如果这次实验失败，他会再试一次。
