We heard the clatter of the horse's hoofs (subject) (predicate) (direct object) (attribute)
The following combinations are possible results of permutation:
We--heard--the clatter--of the horse's hoofs--on the pavement.
We--the clatter--heard--on the pavement--of the horse's hoofs.
We--of the horse's hoofs--on the pavement--the clatter--heard.
Of the horse's hoofs--on the pavement--heard--the clatter--we, etc., etc.
The effect of direct and inverted order can be shown in every sentence. But it is better to try examples of inversion from poetic language. In this series, all the sentences show inversion of one type or another:
--Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride, Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere.
--Upon the roof we sat that night! The noise of bells went sweeping by; Awesome bells they were to me.
--Still sits the school-house by the road.
--Before them under the garden-wall Forward and back Went drearily singing the chore-girl small.
--And day by day more holy grew Each spot of the sacred ground.
--There thronged the citizens with terror dumb.
Exercises on the putting together of sentence elements can lead to practise in the identification and use of grammatical forms as parts of speech, which the study of single words would not at first permit; as for instance, forms of the verbs used as nouns (infinitive and gerund as subject and object), the difference between personal pronouns used as direct or indirect objects, and so on.
The roll contains the two forms of the verb, active and passive, in sections. The analysis is conducted on the chart for the simple sentence:
(Action performed by (Action performed by (_Middle Voice_) subject) agent) (Subject is direct object)
Mary dresses the little The little girl is The little girl girl. dressed by Mary. dresses herself.
The teacher praised Charles was praised Charles praised Charles for the by the teacher for himself for the drawing. the drawing. drawing.
The little girl excused George was excused George excuses George for his for his roughness by himself for his roughness. the little girl. roughness.
The janitor accused The boy was accused The boy accused the boy. by the janitor. himself.