On how and when to use inversion in English

1. Inversion
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2. What is inversion?
Inversion means putting the verb before the subject. It is a literary technique in which
the normal order of words is reversed, generally for emphasis or special effect. It
makes a sentence sound striking or unusual. It also sounds quite formal.
BUT: Sentences with inversion are less common in everyday
English.

3. – In a sentence with no special effect or emphasis, the
normal order of words is retained.
Example 1 : I have never seen such a beautiful rose.
Example 2 : Never have I seen such a beautiful rose.
In example 2 inversion is used to emphasize the fact that
in your whole lifetime you have not seen such a beautiful
rose.

4. – In normal everyday English, inversion is used :
 To make questions: Does he? Can you?
 After 'so' 'neither', 'nor' : So do I, neither do I, nor do I.
It is sometimes difficult to
remember when inversion is or
can be used. Here are some
guidelines and examples to help
you.

5. So, when do we use inversion?

6. After place adverbials
When an adverb or an adverbial
expression of place comes in the
initial position (at the beginning of
the sentence)
o Down the hill rolled the
children.
o Round the corner was a nice
café.
the subject and
verb are inverted:

7. After place adverbials
This is a rhetorical device used
mainly in formal and literary
styles; however, it may also occur
in everyday conversation:
o Here comes the bus.
o There goes Sally.
o Here's my number.
But! If the subject is a
personal pronoun, there is no
inversion:
o Here it comes.
o There she goes.
o Here it is.

8. In direct speech
In direct speech, if the quotation precedes the reporting verb, the
subject and the reporting verb can be inverted:
o “I’m sorry”, Maria Said
o “I’m sorry”, said Maria.

9. In direct speech
– If the subject is long, usually there is inversion:
o "Good morning," said the stranger in the black jacket.
– But if the subject is a personal pronoun, there is no inversion:
o "Good morning," he said.

10. In news headlines
– In news headlines, if the reporting verb is in the final position, the
subject and the reporting verb may be inverted:
AROMATHERAPY HAS NO THERAPEUTIC EFFECT, SAY
BRITISH SCIENTISTS

11. After negative adverbials
– In formal and literary styles, the subject and auxiliary are inverted when
negative adverbials are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical
effect.
 HARDLY … WHEN
 SCARCELY … WHEN
 BARELY ... WHEN
 NO SOONER ... THAN

12. After negative adverbials
When a story is told in the past tense, the adverbials hardly, scarcely, barely and no
sooner are often used to emphasize that one event quickly followed another. The verb
describing the earlier event is usually in the past perfect tense.
If these adverbials are in the initial position, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:
Hardly had I arrived home when my phone rang.
I had hardly arrived home when my phone rang.

13. Scarcely had she finished
reading when she fell asleep.
She had scarcely finished reading when
she fell asleep.

14. 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.

15. No sooner had the company
launched its new product than it went
bankrupt.
Note that hardly,
scarcely and barely are
followed by when, while no
sooner is followed by than.
(Sooner is the comparative
form of soon.)
The company had no sooner launched its
new product than it went bankrupt.

16. After negative adverbial
expressions
Rarely On no condition
Little In no way
Not only … but (also) At no time
Not until Nowhere (else)
Not (even) once On no account
Never Under no circumstances

17. Never (before) have we achieved such a
challenge!
We have never achieved such a
challenge!

18. Rarely has there been so much
speculation about the future of the
company.
There has rarely been so much speculation about
the future of the company.

19. Little did he understand what
the conversation was about.
He didn't really understand what the
conversation was about.

20. Under no circumstances are you
allowed to disturb the pilots.
You are not allowed to disturb the
pilots under any circumstances.

21. On no condition will the
company bear responsibility for
lost property.
The company will not bear responsibility
for lost property on any condition.

22. In no way am I related to the
suspect.
I am in no way related to the suspect.

23. 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.

24. Not only were you late, but (also)
you didn't even have a good excuse.
You were not only late, but you didn't
have a good excuse either.

25. With only after, only by, only if,
only when and not until
– When these expressions come at the beginning of the sentence,
the inversion does not come right after, but in the main clause.
Only after he updated his skills was he able to get a job.
Only if I see it with my own eyes will I believe something like that.

26. Only after lunch can you play.
You can only play after lunch.

27. Only by guessing can you
solve this puzzle.
You can only solve this puzzle by
guessing.

28. Only if everybody agreed would I
accept this position.
I would only accept this position if
everybody agreed.

29. Only then did they
discover his secret.
They only discovered his secret
then.

30. Only when he needed some
help did he call me.
He only called me when he needed
some help.

31. But!
– If only is followed by the subject at the beginning of the
sentence, there is no inversion:
Only you can understand.

32. So + adverb/adjective and such
When adverbial or adjectival phrases starting with so are placed at the
beginning of the sentence for emphatic effect, the subject and auxiliary
are inverted:
So quickly did he run that the others couldn't catch up with
him. (He ran so quickly that the others couldn't catch up with him.)
So strong was the wind that we couldn't open the window.
(The wind was so strong that we couldn't open the window.)

33. So + adverb/adjective and such
So + adjective can be replaced with such:
Such was the wind that we couldn't open the window.
(The wind was such that we couldn't open the window.)

34. So and neither/nor to express
agreement
So + auxiliary + subject is added to a positive statement to express
agreement.
I suggested that he should take the job, and so did all his
friends. (his friends also suggested that he should take the job)
Everybody knows that, and so should you. (you should know
that, too)
"I love South Korean films." "Really? So do I." (I also love South
Korean films)

35. I love Conan
Doyle’s
books.
Really? So
do I!

36. So and neither/nor to express
agreement
Neither/nor + auxiliary + subject is added to a negative
statement for the same purpose:
"I am not going to Andy's party tonight." "Neither/nor is
Susan." (Susan isn't going either)
"My family have never been on a holiday abroad."
"Neither/nor have mine." (my family haven't been either)

40. Remember!
– If we don’t have an auxiliary in the sentence, we need to add one.
Not only you forgot to shut the
window, but you also forgot to
lock the door!
Not only did you forget to shut the
window, but you also forgot to lock
the door!

41. Remember!
– Some negative adverbial expressions do the inversion in the
second clause.
Not until you can behave like an
adult will we treat you like one.
Only when you leave home do
you realize how expensive
everything is.
Not until…
Only when…

42. With conditionals
With should, were, had when they come at the beginning of an if-clause instead
of if.
Should Margaret arrive before I come, tell her to wait. (= if
she should arrive)
Were I you, I would not move to a new flat. (= if I were you)
Had I known that’s what he had intended, I would have left
months ago. (= if I had known)
NOTE that the
particle IF
disappears to
make place to the
inversion.