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Joy English · Level C1 · Inversionjoy-english.com

Inversion after negative and restrictive adverbials

Name:Date:

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

Choose the correct form

Choose the option that completes each sentence correctly.

  1. Not only ___ the deadline, but she also exceeded every target.
    • a) she met
    • b) did she meet
    • c) she did meet
    • d) met she
  2. Rarely ___ such a thoughtful reply to harsh criticism.
    • a) I have seen
    • b) I saw
    • c) have I seen
    • d) I did see
  3. No sooner had the lecture begun ___ the projector stopped working.
    • a) than
    • b) that
    • c) when
    • d) as
  4. Hardly had we sat down ___ the waiter brought the menus.
    • a) when
    • b) while
    • c) until
    • d) after
  5. Only after the results were published ___ the scale of the problem.
    • a) the team realised
    • b) realised the team
    • c) the team did realise
    • d) did the team realise
  6. Under no circumstances ___ the storage room be left unlocked.
    • a) is
    • b) does
    • c) should
    • d) has
  7. Little ___ that the decision would change her career for ever.
    • a) she knew
    • b) did she know
    • c) knew she
    • d) she did know
  8. Nowhere in the whole document ___ any mention of the budget overrun.
    • a) there is
    • b) does there
    • c) there does
    • d) is there

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.

Answer key

Choose the correct form

  1. b) did she meetAfter Not only at the start of a sentence, the auxiliary comes before the subject: did she meet.
  2. c) have I seenRarely at the start triggers inversion, so the auxiliary have comes before I.
  3. a) thanThe fixed pattern is No sooner ... than. Hardly and scarcely are followed by when.
  4. a) whenHardly had ... is followed by when. The other linkers do not belong to this pattern.
  5. d) did the team realiseOnly after introduces the clause, so the main clause is inverted: did the team realise. The first clause keeps normal order.
  6. c) shouldA modal is needed before the subject and the passive be: should the storage room be left. The other auxiliaries cannot be followed by be left.
  7. b) did she knowLittle at the start means not at all and triggers inversion with did: Little did she know.
  8. d) is thereNowhere triggers inversion, and the verb be simply moves in front of there: is there.

Complete the sentences

  1. didNot until needs inversion in the main clause, and the past simple needs did: did the engineers notice.
  2. thanNo sooner is always followed by than.
  3. have / hadSeldom triggers inversion, so the auxiliary comes before I: have I seen (present perfect) or had I seen (past perfect) are both correct.
  4. didOnly when begins the sentence, so the main clause is inverted with did.
  5. should / may / must / can / will / shallA modal comes before the subject after On no account. Should, may, must, can, will and shall all fit before the passive be touched.
  6. hadHardly is followed by the past perfect with inversion: had the film begun.
  7. didNot only at the start requires an auxiliary before the subject; the past simple uses did.
  8. HadConditional inversion replaces If I had known with Had I known.

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