Setting the Scene
To describe a vivid scene, you can move the location to the very beginning of a sentence for dramatic effect. When you do this, the verb and the subject swap places.
Instead of the standard Subject + Verb + Location, this Location + Verb + Subject structure builds suspense by establishing where to look before revealing who or what is there.
| In the dense jungle lives the tiger. | Na selva densa vive o tigre. |
| Behind the foliage sleeps the tiger. | Atrás da folhagem dorme o tigre. |
Bringing the Jungle to Life
This inversion is a fantastic storytelling tool to paint a picture of an environment, like a dense jungle. Notice how the verb immediately follows the location phrase.
| Under the leaves crawls the dangerous snake. | Debaixo das folhas rasteja a cobra perigosa. |
| Near the river jumps the green frog. | Perto do rio salta a rã verde. |
| On the vine swings the monkey. | Na liana balança o macaco. |
Movement and Discovery
Use this structure with almost any preposition of place—such as pela (through) or em frente de (in front of)—to create a sense of movement and discovery as a story unfolds.
| In the dark jungle peeks the hunter. | Na selva escura espreita o caçador. |
| Through the jungle walks the silent hunter. | Pela selva caminha o caçador silencioso. |
| In front of the hunter falls a very long vine. | Em frente do caçador cai uma liana muito comprida. |
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