Study materials
Neither sentence starts with its subject. The first fronts the object to contrast it, the second fronts an adjective to make a concession.
That book I have never read.
Tired as she was, she finished the report.
After such fronting the rest of the sentence keeps its usual order. This article explains how to front the object, when fronting changes the order, and how to build a concession with as: Tired as she was, Much as I like him, Strange as it may seem.
Fronting without inversion
An object, the thing an action is aimed at, can also be moved to the front. But then the rest of the sentence keeps its usual order, and no helping verb moves forward.
That book I have never read.
His first novel nobody remembers.
People front what they contrast with something else or what picks up the previous sentence. The first part I liked. The second I found dull. This order sounds emphatic, so a calm text does not overuse it.
When the order changes
Whether the subject and verb swap depends on what has moved to the front.
| What moves | Why | Do subject and verb swap |
|---|---|---|
| the object | contrast, often in a pair | no: That book I have never read |
| a place with a verb of motion or position | to introduce something new | yes, without an auxiliary: On the wall hung a portrait |
| a negative or limiting word | emphasis | yes, with an auxiliary: Never have I seen |
| an adjective or adverb with as | concession | no: Tired as she was |
A concession with as
A concession with as is built like this. First comes an adjective, an adverb or a verb, then as, and then the subject and verb in their usual order.
Tired as she was, she finished the report.
Although she was tired.
Much as I like him, I can't lend him more money.
Although I like him.
A concession with as means the same as although. The main clause after it takes no but. The fixed phrases Strange as it may seem and Try as he might, meaning however hard he tried, follow the same pattern.
There is no inversion after as: Young as he was, not Young as was he.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is inversion after a fronted object.
That book have I never read. → That book I have never read.
A fronted object needs no inversion.
The second mistake is but after a concession with as.
Much as I like him, but I can't lend him money. → Much as I like him, I can't lend him money.
The concession already means although.
The third mistake is inversion after as.
Young as was he, he led the team. → Young as he was, he led the team.
After as the order is the usual one.
The first and third mistakes show after the fronted part. After an object and after as the usual order follows, subject first, then the verb. The second shows at the start of the main clause. After Much as or Tired as there is never a but.