...Inversion...

Inversion involves putting an auxiliary verb before the subject of a clause or inverting the
order of certain verbs, like the verb to be, creating a question format. We do this in a number of different situations. It is used to give emphasis or to be rhetorical in more formal situations, like in political speeches, on the ne s, and also in literature. !ome native speakers may also use them occasionally in day"to"day conversation.
Negative and restrictive adverbs In formal English, it is quite common to use inversion after negative adverbial expressions and restrictive words such as only, never, hardly and little. At no time e.g. At no time did I say I would accept late homework. ardly.... when !his is used to refer to an event that quickly follows another. It is usually used with the past perfect. e.g. ardly had I got into bed, when there was a knock at the door. "ess used is e.g. ardly.... before.

ardly had I left before the trouble started. "ittle

e.g.

"ittle did I know that he was a compulsive liar. "ittle does she know what surprises we have in store for her. No sooner..... than !his is used to refer to an event that quickly follows another. It is usually used with the past perfect, but sometimes with the simple past.

e.g.

No sooner had I reached the door than I realised it was locked. No sooner did I reach the door than I realised it was locked.

Not # ob$ect e.g. Not a single word did she say. Not only..... but also %Not only has &c'onald(s, which employs over ) million people worldwide, played a huge role in pioneering low standards now equated with the word %&c *obs%, but it has also decided to restrict our ability to have a public discussion about the impact of the &c *obs phenomenon%, Naomi +lein, %No "ogo, !aking Aim at -rand -ullies% .!oronto, /intage 0anada, 12223 Note, 4hen we have two clauses, the inversion is only used in the first clause #$ot only has %c &onald's () !he other clause remains with the 5statement format6 #but it has also decided to restrict()

e.g.

Not until e.g. Not until *anuary will I have a holiday.

Nowhere e.g. Nowhere had 7usan seen a more beautifully decorated room. 8nly after !his is usually used with the simple past. e.g. 8nly after the film started did I realise that I9d seen it before. 8n no account : under no circumstances e.g. 8n no account should you be absent from your seminars. 8nly then : if: when : later !his is usually used with the simple past. e.g. 8nly then did I know what I had got myself into. ;arely : seldom : never !hese are most commonly used with the present perfect or past perfect, < with modals such as can and could. !he present simple can also be used.

e.g.

7eldom have I seen him looking so miserable. %;arely does a movie make you feel so warm and so uneasy at the same time.% = ;eview of > earts in Atlantis> in the 0anadian ?rovince, 1@:2A:2) Never in her life had she experienced this exhilarating emotion. 7carcely : barely.... when !his is used to refer to an event that quickly follows another. It is usually used with the past perfect.

e.g.

7carcely had I arrived home when there was a knock on the door. 7o...... that !his is a common inversion, usually used with an ad$ective < the verb >be>.

e.g.

7o exciting was the soap opera, that I forgot to do my English homework. It can also be used with much.

e.g.

7o much did she adore *ohn, that she would not give him up.

7uch.... that Bsed with the verb >be> and a noun, it means so much or so great. e.g. 7uch was the popularity of the soap opera, that the streets were deserted whenever it was on.

0onditional clauses In formal English, the if clause in conditional sentences can be rephrased through inversion, e.g. 4ere you to win the election, what9s the first thing you9d doC D If you won the election E

e.g. ad we known what the weather would be like, we wouldn9t have come D If we had known what E

&ay 4hen we are making wishes, we can use inversion,

e.g.

&ay you both live happily ever afterF