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How did he know, thought Jack, miserably.
Direct word order can also be used here.
6. Inversion is used in statements showing that the remark applies equally to someone or something
else.
I am tired. - So am I.
He isn’t ready. - Neither is she.
Note:
If the sentence is a corroboration of a remark just made, direct word order is used.
You promised to come and see me. - So I did.
We may meet him later. - So we may.
The emphatic and communicative functions of word order
§ 121. The second function of word order is to make prominent or emphatic that part of
the sentence which is more important or informative in the speaker’s opinion. These two functions (to express
prominence or information focus, and emphasis) are different in their purpose, but in many cases they go
together or overlap, and are difficult to differentiate.
Prominence and emphasis are achieved by placing the word in an unusual position: words normally placed
at the beginning of the sentence (such as the subject) are placed towards the end, whereas words usually
occupying positions closer to the end of the sentence (such as objects and predicatives) are shifted to the
beginning.
End position is always emphatic for the subject. Very often this reordering results in the detachment of the
subject.
Must have cost a pretty penny, this dress of yours!
Fronting of an object or a predicative is also often accompanied by detachment.
Horrible these women are, ugly, dirty.
Many and long were the conversations they held through the prison wall.
For debt, drink, dancers he had a certain sympathy; but the pearls - no!
If the object is prepositional, the preposition may be put after the verb or verb-group, or else after the whole
sentence.
This nowadays one hears not of.
However, front position of an object does not always mean that this part is emphasized. In some cases this
sort of reordering is employed to get the predicate (or what is left of it) emphasized. Talent Mr. Macowber has,
capital Mr. Macowber has not.
Front position is emphatic for adverbials (of time, manner, degree) usually attached to the predicate. It is
often accompanied by inversion.
Well do I remember the day.
Many a time has he given me good advice.
With words functioning now as adverbs, now as postpositions, front position reveals their adverbial
nature most distinctly, as postpositions are never placed here. With this reordering the emphasis is thrown upon
the predicate.