The order of clauses

The position of a dependant consecutive clause in relation to the main clause, or in other words, the possibility of their inversion, is one of those frequently asked questions in Croatian linguistics that is considered answered, although nobody has ever studied it properly and systematically. It is unanimously and without exception considered that the order of clauses in some complex sentences (as in those expressing consequence) main clause – subordinate clause is fixed and non-invertible. However, the claim that complex sentences unlike coordinated sentences can inverse the order of clauses and that the exceptions are only consecutive clauses and some other sentences is not true. This paper shows that in some types of complex sentences expressing consequence and some other sentences, the subordinate clause can precede the main clause, or in other words, that they can switch positions.