INVERSION CONCEPTS

Inversion happens when we reverse (invert) the normal word order of a structure, most commonly
the subject-verb word order. .
In case of inversion we invert the subject and auxiliary verb or main verb in the sentence to give
emphasis. This happens:
After certain expressions when they are at the beginning of a sentence.
Seldom In / Under no circumstances
Not Until Never/Rarely/Little
Scarcely/Hardly/Barely Nowhere
Hardly (ever)... when Never before
No sooner... than Not only... but also
On no occasion In no way / On no condition
Nor / Neither Not even once/Not for a moment
On no account Only in this way/Onlyafter/Only if
So +Adverb/adjective Such+Adverb/Adjective
After negative adverbs:-
Rarely do we see him these days.
No sooner had we got into the house than he phoned us.
Hardly had I arrived home when my phone rang. (I had hardly arrived home when my phone
rang.)
Scarcely had she finished reading when she fell asleep. (She had scarcely finished reading
when she fell asleep.)
Barely had they won the match when the coach had a heart attack. (They had barely won
the match when the coach had a heart attack.)
No sooner had the company launched its new product than it went bankrupt. (The company
had no sooner launched its new product than it went bankrupt.
Never (before) have we faced such a challenge! (We have never faced such a challenge!)
Little did she understand what the conversation was about. (She didn't really understand
what the conversation was about.)
Under no circumstances are you allowed to disturb the pilots. (You are not allowed to
disturb the pilots under any circumstances.).
On no condition will the company bear responsibility for lost property. (The company will
not bear responsibility for lost property on any condition.)
In no way am I related to the suspect. (I am in no way related to the suspect. )
Not only did he exceed the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol. (He not only
exceeded the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol.)
Not only were you late, but you didn't even have a good excuse. (You were not only late, but
you didn't have a good excuse either.)
Not till I got home did I realise my wallet was missing.
Not for a moment did I think I would be offered the job, so I was amazed when I got it.
NOTE:-We use inversion when the adverb modifies the verb, and not when it modifies the
noun:
Rarely seen during the day, the badger is a famously shy animal. (= inversion)
Hardly anyone knows about it. (= no inversion)
When the following expressions begin a sentence, we use inversion in the main
clause. Only after, only by, only if, only when, not till / until, not since.
Only after he had graduated, did he start looking for a job.
Only if you invite her, will she come to your party.
Not until all tests had been completed, were we told the results.
Only after lunch can you play. (You can only play after lunch.)
Only after finishing your homework can you play. (You can only play after you finish your
homework.)
Only after you have finished your homework can you play. (You can only play after you have
finished your homework.)
Only by guessing can you solve this puzzle. (You can only solve this puzzle by guessing.)
Only if everybody agreed would I accept this position. (I would only accept this position if
everybody agreed.)
Only in this way does this machine work. (This machine only works in this way.)
Only then did they discover his secret. (They only discovered his secret then.)
Only when he needed some help did he call me. (He only called me when he needed some
help.)
Only when I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I only noticed that my glass
was broken when I filled it.)
The last sentence can be rephrased as:
Not until I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I didn't notice that my glass
was broken until I filled it.)
NOTE :- If only is followed by the subject at the beginning of the sentence, there is no
inversion:
Only you can understand. (No one else can understand.)
Only Fiona knew the answer to the question.
After so, such, to such a degree (in result clauses) when they are at the beginning of a
sentence.
So careful is he that he never makes any mistakes.
Such a brilliant student was he that he was offered a scholarship.
So excited were they that they couldn't sit still.
Such was their excitement that they began to jump up and down.
To such a degree has Frank analysed the system that no problem is left.
Note that "So" is followed by an adjective and "Such" can be replaced by "So great" (So great was
their excitement that...)
With should, were, had in conditionals at the beginning of the sentence when if is omitted.
Type 1: Should you see him, tell him to call me. (= If you should see him...)
Type 2: Were I you, I would cancel my trip. (= If I were you...)
Type 3: Had he known, he would have made arrangements. (= If he had known...)
Note :- "should", "were" and "had" are the only verbs that can be inverted in this way.
After so, neither / nor, as when expressing agreement.
I hate horror films. So do I. (So is used to agree with an affirmative statement.)
Jane hasnt returned our calls. Neither / Nor has her husband. (Neither / Nor are
used to agree with a negative statement,though use Nor in formal English).
His colleagues respected him as did his boss.
The subject and the main verb are also usually inverted in the following structures:
Down the hill rolled the children.
Round the corner was a nice caf.
Here comes the bride!
Away ran the thief!
There goes Tom!
but: There he goes!
Ive just finished,said Tom.
but: Ive just finished,he said.
This is a rhetorical device used mainly in formal and literary styles; however, it may also occur in
everyday conversation:
Here comes the bus.
There goes Sally.
Here's my number.
But if the subject is a personal pronoun, there is no inversion:
Here it comes.
There she goes.
Here it is.
Compiled by:Nitin Gupta
CHEERS !!
Neither I nor my friend lives here.(wrong)
Neither do I nor does my fiend live here.(correct)
Neithr he smokes nor he drinks(wrong)
Neither does he smoke nor does he drink.(right)