On the hill a big tree stood.

Hi, GBLSU,

@GBLSU posted:

1) On the hill a big tree stood.

2)  On the hill, a big tree stood.

3) On the hill, stood a big tree.

In my opinion, (1) and (2) are acceptable but awkward. They could indeed be improved if another adverbial were included at the end for the sake of textual balance:

1/2a) On the hill(,) a big tree stood among a thicket of bushes.

Sentence (3) is outright wrong to me because the fronted adverbial attracts the verb, and the comma disrupts that effect.

@Gustavo, Co-Moderator posted:

Hi, GBLSU,

1/2a) On the hill(,) a big tree stood among a thicket of bushes.

Thanks for your clear explanation.

Hello, GBSLU,

Forgive me for cutting across what others have said, but I think it should be "A big tree stood on the hill."

@EdwinJ posted:

Hello, GBSLU,

Forgive me for cutting across what others have said, but I think it should be "A big tree stood on the hill."

Hello, EdwinJ, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange.

I believe GBLSU is aware that the most straightforward order of the words of this sentence is "A big tree stood on the hill." No one would dispute the grammatical soundness of that sentence. GBLSU is experimenting with alternate word orders, such as topicalization with inversion ("On the hill stood a big tree").

@David, Moderator posted:

Hello, EdwinJ, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange.

I believe GBLSU is aware that the most straightforward order of the words of this sentence is "A big tree stood on the hill." No one would dispute the grammatical soundness of that sentence. GBLSU is experimenting with alternate word orders, such as topicalization with inversion ("On the hill stood a big tree").

Exactly, thanks. what about our opinion on this thread?

@EdwinJ posted:

Hello, GBSLU,

Forgive me for cutting across what others have said, but I think it should be "A big tree stood on the hill."

Thank you.