Joy English
Joy English

C1 Grammar

C1Inversion22 min

Inversion after negative and restrictive adverbials

Put the auxiliary before the subject after expressions such as hardly, not until and under no circumstances.

When a sentence begins with a negative or restrictive adverbial, English often reverses the subject and the auxiliary verb. This inversion gives formal writing and speeches extra emphasis. Compare the neutral She had rarely seen such skill with the emphatic Rarely had she seen such skill.

Opening expressionPatternExample
Never, rarely, seldom, littleadverb + auxiliary + subjectSeldom do we get such honest feedback.
Hardly / scarcely ... whenhad + subject + past participleHardly had the talk begun when the lights failed.
No sooner ... thanhad + subject + past participleNo sooner had she left than the phone rang.
Not only ... but (also)auxiliary + subjectNot only did he apologise, but he also paid for the damage.
Only after / only when / not untilauxiliary + subject in the main clauseOnly after the storm did the villagers see the damage.
Under no circumstances, on no account, at no timeauxiliary or modal + subjectOn no account should the door be left open.
Nowhere, in no way, by no meansauxiliary + subjectNowhere in the report is the cost mentioned.

If the sentence has no auxiliary verb, add do, does or did, exactly as you would in a question: Little did they know that the contract was already void. With the verb be, move be itself: Never was the city so quiet.

Conditional inversion

In formal English you can drop if and invert instead. This works with had, were and should. The meaning does not change, but the register becomes more elevated.

  • Had I known the risks, I would have refused. (If I had known ...)
  • Were the funding to be cut, the project would collapse. (If the funding were cut ...)
  • Should you need further help, contact the office. (If you should need ...)
  • Not until the results arrived did anyone suspect an error.

Exercise 1 of 2

Choose the correct form

Choose the option that completes each sentence correctly.

  1. Not only _____ the deadline, but she also exceeded every target.

  2. Rarely _____ such a thoughtful reply to harsh criticism.

  3. No sooner had the lecture begun _____ the projector stopped working.

  4. Hardly had we sat down _____ the waiter brought the menus.

  5. Only after the results were published _____ the scale of the problem.

  6. Under no circumstances _____ the storage room be left unlocked.

  7. Little _____ that the decision would change her career for ever.

  8. Nowhere in the whole document _____ any mention of the budget overrun.

0 of 8 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Complete the sentences

Type one word in each gap to make the sentence correct and formal.

  1. Not until the sensors failed the engineers notice the fault.

  2. No sooner had she arrived the meeting started.

  3. Seldom I seen such careful craftsmanship.

  4. Only when the lights went out we realise how quiet the town was.

  5. On no account the exhibits be touched by visitors.

  6. Hardly the film begun when the power went off.

  7. Not only the manager apologise, but he also offered a full refund.

  8. I known the risks, I would have declined the offer.

0 of 8 answered

Source

Original lesson by Joy English.

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