INVERSION. Seldom Only in this way Rarely Only then . Little Hardy (ever) … when Barely No sooner … than. Nowhere (else) Not only … but (also) Never (b

INVERSION

No sooner had they arrived at the station than the train pulled in.

There are two ways to invert the subject and the verb.

be/have/modal/auxiliary verb + subject + main verb

1.-

a) In questions. Is Helen coming soon?

b) After following words or expressions, when they come at the beginning of a sentence.

Seldom Only in this way Rarely Only then

Little Hardy (ever) … when Barely No sooner … than

Nowhere (else) Not only … but (also) Never (before) Not until/till

Not (even) once In no way On no account In/Under no circumstances

Only by Not since, etc.

e.g. Never (before) have I seen her behave in such a silly way.

Not only did she do her homework but (also) prepared the meal.

Seldom do they carry out their promises.

BUT:They seldom carry out their promises. (There is no inversion because the world seldom does not

come at the beginning of a sentence)

NOTE:When the expressions only after, only by, only if, only when, not until/tillcome at the beginning of

a sentence the inversion is in the main clause.

e.g. Only aftershe went to sleep was she able to relax.

Only ifyou pay attention will you learn.

c) With so, neither, nor, as to express agreement.

e.g. ‘I like “Green day”’. ‘So do I’ (we use ‘so’ to agree with an affirmative statement)

‘I don’t like candies’ ‘Neither do I’(we use ‘neither/nor’ to agree with a negative statement)

d) With should, were, hadwhen they come at the beginning of an if-clause instead of “if”

e.g.type 1: Should Jane come,let me know

type 2: Were I you,I wouldn’t say anything

type 3: Had they been told,I would have offered my help.

2.-

main verb + subject

It is used in following cases:

a) After verbs of movement or adverbial expressions of place when they come at the beginning of a sentence