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English Inversion

1. In formal speech and writing, certain sentences beginning with negative adverbs like "not only" or "no sooner" follow an inversion structure where the subject and verb are switched from the normal order to a question-like form. Other expressions that trigger inversion include "under no circumstances" and "seldom." 2. Some expressions allow the verb to come before the subject for emphasis when beginning with certain adverbs of place, such as exclamations starting with "here/there" using "come/go" or more formally with "live/stand." The adverb "now" can also trigger verb-before-subject inversion when used at the start of a sentence with "be."

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480 views1 page

English Inversion

1. In formal speech and writing, certain sentences beginning with negative adverbs like "not only" or "no sooner" follow an inversion structure where the subject and verb are switched from the normal order to a question-like form. Other expressions that trigger inversion include "under no circumstances" and "seldom." 2. Some expressions allow the verb to come before the subject for emphasis when beginning with certain adverbs of place, such as exclamations starting with "here/there" using "come/go" or more formally with "live/stand." The adverb "now" can also trigger verb-before-subject inversion when used at the start of a sentence with "be."

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Violetta Fedorak
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Inversion and question tags

1. Inversion after negative adverbs


In formal speech and writing there is a special construction when the sentence begins with a
negative adverb (or one with negative meaning). The subject and the verb are inverted from the
normal form to a question form.
Not only
e.g Harry not only missed the train, but also lost his case. (normal form)
Not only did Harry miss the train, but (he) also lost his case. (inversion)
No sooner
With no sooner the main verb is always in the past perfect.
e.g Tim had no sooner left, than the phone rang. (normal form)
No sooner had Tim left, than the phone rang. (inversion
Under no circumstances
e.g You shouldn't touch these wires under any circumstances. (normal form)
Under no circumstances should you touch these wires. (inversion)
Seldom
I have seldom watched a better match. (normal form)
Seldom have I watched a better match. (inversion)
Other expressions which are followed by an inversion are:
little, never, not once, only then, only after, rarely
2. Inversion to emphasize an
With some expressions we can begin the sentence with an adverb and then put the verb before
the subject
With come and go we can start the sentence with an adverb of place. This construction is
used with exclamations. It is an informal usage.
Here comes Jack! There goes my money!
Up went the plane into the clouds! Along the road came Jim.
With live and stand we can start the sentence with an adverb of place. This is a formal
usage.
In this house lived Charles Dickens.
On a hill outside the town stands the castle.
With be we can begin the sentence with now.
Now is the best time to visit the Channel Islands.

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