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Why isn't 'born' placed at the ending of the inverted sentence below? So was born the echo-sounding apparatus. - I guess the original sentence might have been 'The echo-sounding apparatus was so born'.

Answers · 10

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So the echo-sounding apparatus was born. (no emphasis) So WAS BORN the echo-sounding apparatus. (emphasizes the action of being BORN by moving it earlier in the sentence) (research topic: cleft sentences)
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David Both are correct (see my amendment to the second sentence below) and this is a style question. In my opinion, "So was born the echo-sounding apparatus." sounds more poetic, rather than "'The echo-sounding apparatus was born" which is more factual. As a further clarification, you would probably see the second sentence in a scientific or technical publication, whereas the first would written in something less factual, and possibly at the end of a paragraph for effect. Hope that helps Paul
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It is inversion for emphasis.

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