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As far as I know, this way of arranging a sentence is not present in common English, at least this particular example.

Then came they/them.

Are both sentences correct, considering that we are in a rather literary context? I wanted to give this statement a poetic/dramatic tone, so this turning of sentence elements came to my mind, instead of the flat "Then they came."

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    This particular "poetic inversion" isn't common with pronouns, but it's perfectly natural in many contexts with proper nouns. Especially with certain additional prepositions - for example, I waited two hours for the bus. Then along came three buses at once (as opposed to then three buses came along [all] at once - Subject+Verb rather than Verb+Subject).
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Oct 9, 2020 at 14:34

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That style of English immediately reminds me of JRR Tolkein, but he himself was harking back to earlier times - I believe it was outmoded usage even then.

So, if this is in a literary or poetic context, you will probably be fine - it's perfectly understandable to a native speaker.

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  • Thanks. I guess your answer refers to both cases, ie "they" and "them"?
    – Fra
    Commented Oct 9, 2020 at 14:01
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    Actually, no, 'them' would be a bit too unusual, in my opinion.
    – MikeB
    Commented Oct 9, 2020 at 14:02
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    Them is object case and cannot be used in this context. We wouldn't say Them came.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Oct 9, 2020 at 14:18

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