INVERSION

We use inversion in several different situations in English. Inversion happens when we reverse (invert) the normal
word order of a structure, most commonly the subject-verb word order.

Inversion 1: In normal everyday English, inversion is used to make questions or in Tag questions:

Question form: Is he tired?

Normal sentence: He is tired.

Tag question: You are hungry, aren't you?

The verb and the subject have changed places. This is called inversion.

Inversion 2: Inversion is used after 'so', 'neither', 'nor':

A: I need more time to finish the assignment. B: So do I.

A: I´m not going to the party tonight. B: Neither / Nor am I.

Alex went to the club, and so did his brother. = Alex went to the club, and Jimmy did too (No inversion)

Robert hasn’t finished yet, neither has his companion. = Robert hasn’t finished yet; Robin hasn’t either (No
inversion)

However, we also sometimes use inversion in other cases. Inversion happens in English for emphasis, dramatic
purpose or formality. It is often a literary technique in which the normal order of words is reversed for emphasis or
special effect. It makes a sentence sound striking or unusual. It also sounds quite formal. Sentences with inversion are
less common in everyday English. In a sentence with no special effect or emphasis, the normal order of words is
retained.

Inversion 3: After Negative or Limiting Adverbs

This type of inversion uses negative and limiting adverbs - these are a group of adverbs which limit the meaning of a
verb or make it negative. Examples are never, rarely, seldom, hardly, scarcely, barely, little, no, no sooner...than, in
no way, at no time, at no point, under no circumstances, on no condition, on no account, nowhere, not (+time), only+
(time), only by, not only...but, . This is not a complete list.

NOTE: We only use inversion when the adverb modifies the whole phrase and not when it modifies the noun:

Hardly anyone passed the exam. (No inversion.)

Not only John but also Jenny lied to you. (No inversion)

CONFRONT WITH: Not only did the war cause destruction and death but also generations of hatred between
the two communities. Not only did she fail the course, but she also dropped out of college.

To invert a sentence, move the adverbial to the beginning of the sentence and invert the subject and auxiliary verb:

‘I had never met someone so interesting.’ becomes ‘Never had I met someone so interesting.’

'He won't often go to work.' becomes 'Not often will he go to work'

Notice that if the auxiliary verb is negative in the first sentence, it becomes affirmative in the inverted sentence and
the 'not' moves to the front.

In cases where the tense does not use an auxiliary verb in the affirmative, such as the present simple or the past
simple, one must be added.

E.g.: Present Simple: ‘I rarely go outside.’ becomes ‘Rarely do I go outside.’

Some negative or limiting adverbials require you to complete a whole clause before the inversion takes place.

 Not + until / before + clause, + inversion

‘I didn’t know what to do until I saw what had happened.’ becomes ‘Not until I saw what had happened did I
know what to do.’ In this case, ‘Not until I saw what happened’ is the adverbial clause. The inversion takes place
after this, in the main clause.

 Only + when / as / after / while / once / then /later / time expression + clause

Only here can you learn about Inversion. Watch Dan explain!

 'Hardly’, ‘Barely’, ‘Scarcely’ put the inversion in the adverbial clause. They use 'when' to connect with the
main clause:

‘Hardly had I got home when the dog started barking.’

'Scarcely had he got into the bath when the phone rang.’

 Little did (they) know/understand / imagine/realize means they didn't know/understand/imagine/realize. The
subject can be changed.

‘Little did they know that he had stolen all of their money.’ (They didn't know he had stolen all of their money).

'Little did he know that they would never meet again.' (He didn't know that they would never meet again.)

 Little can also be combined with nouns to show a lack of something, such as food or time.

'Little time did they have to explain.' (They didn't have time to explain)

'Little patience does she have on a good day!' (She doesn't have any patience on a good day!)

Inversion 4: In Conditionals

We can use inversion instead of 'if' in conditionals with 'had', 'should' and 'were'. This is quite formal:

 Had with inversion: In formal situations, we can use had + subject + verb instead of if in third conditional
sentences:

Had I known you were waiting outside, I would have invited you to come in. (If I had known you were waiting
outside …)

In negative clauses with inversion, we don't use contracted forms:

Had the people not been informed, the situation would have been much worse.

 Should with inversion: In formal situations, we can use should + subject (s) + verb (v) instead of if:

Should you wish to cancel your order, please contact our customer service department on 02317 6658932. (or If
you should wish to cancel your order …)
 Were with inversion: In formal situations, we can use were + subject (s) instead of if:
If I were you, I wouldn´t use that. Were I you, I wouldn´t use that.

If + were to: In formal situations, we can use if + were to when we talk about things that might happen but which
we think are unlikely:

If the Prime Minister were to resign, there would have to be a general election within 30 days.

In even more formal styles, we use were + subject-verb inversion + to-infinitive:

Were the negotiations to fall through, it would bring about unforeseen problems. (If the negotiations were to fall
through,...)

Inversion 5: after adverbials of place (in front position)

We can use inversion if we put an adverbial expression of place at the beginning on the sentence. This is also quite
formal or literary:

On the table was all the money we had lost.

Verb Subject
(Normal sentence: All the money we had lost was on the table.)
Round the corner came the knights.
Verb Subject
(Normal sentence: The knights came round the corner.)

Notice that you do not use auxiliary verb + subject + verb as in the previous cases of inversion but
Verb or verb phrase + subject.

Inversion 6: After so + adjective

We can use inversion after 'so + adjective...that':

So beautiful was the girl that nobody could talk of anything else.

(Normal sentence: the girl was so beautiful that nobody could talk of anything else.)

So delicious was the food that we ate every last bite.

(Normal sentence: the food was so delicious that we ate every last bite.)

Inversion 7: Here and there

Inversion can happen after here, and after there when it is as an adverb of place. After here and there, we can use a
main verb without an auxiliary verb or modal verb:

Here comes the bus!

Here’s your coffee.

I opened the door and there stood Michael, all covered in mud.

There is a lady standing in front of the club

Inversion 8: With verbs of reporting such as 'say' or 'ask' in direct speech:

"I love you", said Harry.

"How far is it?", asked the passenger.

Inversion 9: After some prepositional phrases at the beginning of a sentence: Adverbial + verb phrase + subject.

Into the room came she when I was sleeping.

Behind me cries a child.

Over the table hangs a painting.

PRACTICE EXERCISES:

EXERCISE 1: SAY WHETHER THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES ARE CORRECT OR INCORRECT. PLEASE
CORRECT THOSE WHICH ARE WRONG.

1. Never will I ever take up smoking. __C__

2. Should if your child become anxious or nervous about any activity, it is a good idea to inform the team-leader.
__c__
3. No sooner had they eaten dinner than the ceiling crashed onto the dining table. ____
4. I don´t want to be associated with this project in no way. ____
In no way do I want to be associated with this project
5. Hardly I had picked up my book than my daughter called me. ____
Hardly had I picked up my book when my daughter called me
6. Little did she know that she had already been offered the new job. _c___
7. Barely couldn't I understand what he was saying. ____
Barely could I understand what he was saying (Barely is negative)
8. Round the corner (adverbial of place) was a nice café. __c__
9. Seldom I leave my house so early. __
Seldom do I leave my house so early
10. Not before you send in your passport you can receive a visa. ____
Not before you send in your passport can you receive a visa
11. Not only did I arrived late but also the teacher did arrive late. ____
12. Scarcely had I finished writing my essay when the examiner announced the end of the exam. ___c_
13. Down the hill the children rolled. ____
Down the hill rolled the children
14. Little food did he had to share. __c__
15. Only could he see now what a terrible decision he had made. ____
Only now could he see…..
16. Rarely do people appreciate this musician's talent. ____
17. Only later would we understand what had happened that night. __c__
 18. In the doorway appeared two strangers. __c__
19. He understood little about the situation. ____
Little did he understand about the situation
20. On no account the children should go on their own. ____
On no account should the children go on their own

EXERCISE 2: MAKE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES MORE EMPHATIC BY USING INVERSION.

1- If Margaret had realized she would be travelling alone, she would never have agreed to go.
Had Margaret realized she would be travelling alone, she would never have agreed to go.
2- John had never been to such a fantastic restaurant.
Never had John been to such a fantastic restaurant.
3- A bunch of flowers was on the doorstep.
On the doorstep was a bunch of flowers.
4- He didn´t imagine how dangerous it would be.
Little did he imagine how dangerous it would be.
5- They had met such rude people nowhere before.
Nowhere before had they met such rude people.
6- She looked out and Pamela was there.
She looked out and there was Pamela
7- If I were the president, I would change many things.
Were I the president, I would change many things.
8- An old oak tree stood on the top of the hill.
On the top of the hill stood an old oak tree.
9- If he were my brother, I would support him to reach his dreams.
Were he my brother, I would support him to reach his dreams.
10- I had never before been asked to lie.
Never before had I been asked to lie.
11- They not only rob you, they smash everything too.
Not only do they rob you, they smash everything too.
12- She became so depressed that she couldn´t get out of bed.
So depressed did she became that she couldn’t get out of bed.
13- If you change your mind, please let me know.
Should you change your mind, please let me know
14- This switch must not be touched on any account.
On no account must this switch be touched.
15- Mike did not realize how difficult his situation was until he received the letter.
Not until he received the letter, did Mike realize how difficult his situation was.