Subject–auxiliary Inversion

Subject–auxiliary inversion involves placing the subject after a finite auxiliary verb, rather than before it as is the case in typical declarative sentences (the canonical word order of English being subject–verb–object).

Note that forms of the verb be are included regardless of whether or not they function as auxiliaries in the sense of governing another verb form.

A typical example of subject–auxiliary inversion is given below.

• Sam has read the paper. - Statement
• Has Sam read the paper? - Yes–no question formed using inversion

Here the subject is Sam, and the verb has is an auxiliary. In the question, these two elements change places (invert). If the sentence does not have an auxiliary verb, this type of simple inversion is not possible. Instead, an auxiliary must be introduced into the sentence in order to allow inversion:

• Sam enjoys the paper. - Statement with the non-auxiliary verb enjoys
• *Enjoys Sam the paper? - This is idiomatically incorrect; simple inversion with this type of verb is considered archaic
• Does Sam enjoy the paper? - The sentence formulated with the auxiliary does now allows inversion. For details of the use of do, did and does for this and similar purposes.

For exceptions to the principle that the inverted verb must be an auxiliary, see below.

It is also possible for the subject to invert with a negative contraction (can't, isn't, etc.). For example:

• He isn't nice.
• Isn't he nice? - The subject he inverts with the negated auxiliary contraction isn't.

Compare this with the uncontracted form Is he not nice? and the archaic Is not he nice?.

Subject–verb Inversion in English

Subject–verb inversion in English is a type of inversion where the subject and verb (or chain of verbs, verb catena) switch their canonical order of appearance, so that the subject follows the verb(s), e.. A lamp stood beside the bed → Beside the bed stood a lamp. Subject–verb inversion is distinct from subject–auxiliary inversion because the verb involved is not an auxiliary verb.

Complement

In grammar, a complement is a word, phrase or clause that is necessary to complete the meaning of a given expression. Complements are often also arguments (expressions that help complete the meaning of a predicate.

There are indicative as well as non-indicative complements in languages. Non-indicative complements follow the appropriate complementizers. Indicative complements do not follow complementizers but instead are included with special markers and clauses.

In many non-theoretical grammars, the terms subject complement and object complement are employed to denote the predicative expressions that serve to assign a property to a subject or an object:

• Ryan is upset. – Predicative adjective as subject complement
• Rachelle is the boss. – Predicative nominal as subject complement
• That made Michael lazy. – Predicative adjective as object complement
• We call Rachelle the boss. – Predicative nominal as object complement

The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language assigns the term "predicative complement" to both uses and shifts the terminological distinction to the verb:

• Ed seemed quite competent: — complex-intransitive verb + predicative complement
• She considered Ed quite competent : — complex-transitive verb + predicative complement

In many modern grammars, the object argument of a verbal predicate is called a complement. In fact, this use of the term is the one that currently dominates in linguistics. A main aspect of this understanding of complements is that the subject is usually not a complement of the predicate:

• He *wiped the counter*. – the counter is the object complement of the verb wiped.
• She *scoured the tub*. – the tub is the object complement of the verb scoured.

Subject

The subject is the part of a sentence or clause that tells you who or what the sentence is about. It typically comes before the verb and controls the verb's form — meaning the verb must agree with the subject in number and person.

How to identify the subject

The subject is usually a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that performs the action or is described by the predicate.

• She works at a hospital.
• The old bridge collapsed during the storm.
• Running every morning keeps me healthy.

The verb agrees with the subject: She works (singular) vs. They work (plural). This subject-verb agreement is one of the most reliable ways to find the subject.

Self-check trick: Ask "Who or what + verb?" to locate the subject. "Who works at a hospital?" → She. That's your subject.

Types of subjects

• Simple subject — the core noun or pronoun alone: Dogs bark.
• Complete subject — the simple subject plus all its modifiers: The two large dogs next door bark every night.
• Compound subject — two or more subjects joined by a conjunction: Coffee and tea are available.

Tricky cases

Sometimes the grammatical subject isn't the "doer." In passive sentences, the subject receives the action:

• ❌ Thinking the subject must be the doer: "The window" broke itself?
• ✅ The window was broken by a ball. (The window is the subject, but the ball did the breaking.)

English also uses dummy subjects — words like it or there that fill the subject position without carrying real meaning:

• It is difficult to learn French.
• There are three problems with this plan.

In the first example, the "real" subject (the thing that is difficult) is to learn French, but grammatically it holds the subject slot. These are sometimes called expletive subjects.

Why it matters

Getting the subject right is essential for subject-verb agreement, choosing correct pronoun forms (he vs. him), and building clear sentences. Misidentifying the subject is one of the most common sources of grammar errors, especially with longer or inverted sentences.

Practice identifying subjects and building correct sentences with challenges like Basics. Common Questions. and Basics. Pronouns and Possessives..

C1 | Advanced

C1 is the fifth of six levels in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), sitting between B2 (Upper-Intermediate) and C2 (Proficiency). It's classified as Advanced — the stage where you stop translating in your head and start thinking in English.

What a C1 user can do

At this level, you're expected to handle complex, demanding language across a wide range of situations:

• Reading — You can understand long, complex texts, including specialized articles and technical instructions outside your own field. You pick up on implicit meaning, not just what's stated directly.
• Speaking — You express yourself fluently and spontaneously with minimal searching for words. You use language flexibly for social, academic, and professional purposes.
• Writing — You produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, with controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices.
• Listening — You follow extended speech even when it isn't clearly structured or when relationships between ideas are only implied.

What C1 grammar looks like

C1-level grammar goes well beyond accuracy with tenses and articles. You're expected to use advanced structures naturally, including:

• Inversion for emphasis (Rarely have I seen such dedication.)
• Mixed and advanced conditionals (Had she known, she would never have agreed.)
• Subjunctive forms in formal contexts (It's essential that he be informed.)
• Cleft sentences for focus (What concerns me is the timeline.)
• Complex noun phrases and nominalization (The government's repeated failure to act…)

The difference between B2 and C1 isn't just knowing these structures exist — it's using them appropriately and with control across different registers.

Self-check: If you can read an opinion piece in The Guardian or The Economist and follow the argument without a dictionary, and if you can write a structured response disagreeing with it, you're likely operating at C1.

How C1 fits in the CEFR scale

The CEFR has six levels: A1 → A2 → B1 → B2 → C1 → C2. C1 is where most universities and professional bodies set their language requirements for non-native speakers.

Ready to test yourself? Try Pass the Test to Determine Your English CEFR Level or go straight to the C1/C2-level test. You can also practice key C1 structures like Inversion and Conditional Subjunctive.

Difficulty: Hard

Hard difficulty. Difficulty levels represent author's opinion about how hard a question or challenge is.