INVERSIONS
1) Many adverbs and adverbial expressions with negative meanings can be put
at the beginning of the sentence. When this happens we use inversion after:
not only …,but also
Not only did we lose all our money, but we also came close to losing our lives.
2) Inversion is used when adverbial expressions which include the word only
come at the beginning of the sentence.
Only after a year did I begin to see the results of my work.
hardly, scarcely ……when
no sooner …… than
Hardly had I arrived when I had a new problem to cope with.
Scarcely had we started lunch when the doorbell rang.
No sooner had we started lunch than the doorbell rang.
No sooner was she back at home than she realized her mistake.
3) Seldom, rarely, never (in comparisons) – literary structures
Rarely had his father been more helpful.
Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.
Seldom did they have time to discuss the matter.
More examples, structures and phrases:
Never have I encountered such rudeness! (extract from a letter of complaint
about the service in a restaurant)
Not only is Amanda Swift a gifted musician, but she is also good-natured and
responsible. (extract from a covering letter)
No sooner had he locked the door than the phone started ringing.
Only when the last person had left did she sit down and try to relax.
Under no circumstances can you inform the staff about the imminent changes.
Not a sound could be heard in the church. (not + noun)
Little does Michael suspect that his daughter has been failing all her subjects at
school! (little with a negative meaning)
Change the normal sentence into one with inversion.
For example: "We had hardly arrived when Julie burst into the house".
"Hardly had we arrived when Julie burst into the house".
1) John had never been to such a fantastic restaurant.
2) I, in no way, want to be associated with this project.
3) They had no sooner eaten dinner than the ceiling crashed onto the dining
table.
4) I had scarcely finished writing my essay when the examiner announced the
end of the exam.
5) I seldom leave my house so early.
6) People rarely appreciate this musician's talent.
7) We would understand what had happened that night only later.
8) They had met such rude people nowhere before.
9) He understood little about the situation.
10) The children should on no account go on their own.
11. (Never/I/meet) such well-behaved children before.
They are as good as gold.
12. (No sooner/my father/sit down) to dinner than there
was a knock on the door.
13. (Little/he/know) that his culinary skills are quite
substandard.
14. (At no time/ I/ mean) to hurt your feelings. It was all
a big misunderstanding.
15. (Seldom/we/ have) friends over for a drink. We
prefer to meet them at pubs or restaurants.
16. (Not only/he/make) a mean cheesecake, but he also
prepares homemade jam.
17. Only when the situation gets out of hand (the
government/ begin) to act.
18. Not until June (you/can /get) all the swimming gear
out of the drawers.
19. (Only once/ I/climb) such a high mountain before.
20. Her eyes were very red. (only later/I/find out) that
her fiancé had broken up with her.
21. She has no idea what a surprise she's going to get. (Little ... know)
22. The bell had barely started to ring when the children rushed out of the
classroom. (Scarcely)
23. He didn't start his speech until there was absolute silence in the hall (Not ...)
24. We will only be able to accept your offer if we are offered free delivery
(Only ...)
25. It is with good reason that Edinburgh is known as the Athens of the North.
(Not for ...)
26. We have never been so well wined and dined in our lives (Never ...)
27. She didn't break the news of her engagement until after dinner (Only ...)
28. We weren't told that we would need our passports. (At no time ...)
29. They don't charge you as much for water anywhere else. (Nowhere else ...)
30. I wouldn't fly with them again even if they offered me a free flight. (Not
even ...)
31. We had barely entered the shop when an assistant jumped on us. (Hardly ...
when ...)
32. He is both charming and very rich. (Not only ..., but ... also ...)
