INVERSIONS 4ª C1.

Inversion happens when we reverse (invert)

the normal word order of a structure, most
commonly the subject-verb word order.
 Types of inversion
Inversions after negative adverbials

• Time expressions: never, rarely, seldom.

“Rarely can a teacher relax in the
afternoons.” (modal: can)
“Seldom have the students behaved so
badly.” (present perfect)
“Never had I had so much work to do.” (past
perfect)
Time expressions: hardly, barely, scarcely, no
sooner
•  This happens typically with past perfect or past
simple (no sooner). 
“Hardly had I parked the car, when you rang me.” (past
perfect)
“Scarcely had she finished cooking when her son
arrived home.” (past perfect)
“No sooner had I left the shop than I realised the item
was faulty.” (past perfect)
“No sooner was she on her way to work than it started
raining.” (past simple)
After only: combined with other time expressions and usually with the
past simple. 

• “Only after hanging up did I remember that I had

forgotten to congratulate her.”

Phrases containing no/not: on no account, under no

circumstances, at no time, in no way, on no condition,
not until, not only…(but also), etc. 

• “Not until she told me did I notice that she’d had her

hair cut.”
After little: when little has a negative or restrictive meaning. 

• “Little did she imagine what his real intentions

were.”

Inversions after so/such with that
It takes place when so/such occurs at the
beginning of a clause.
• “So exhausting was the race that his knees were not responding
properly anymore.”
• “Such was the pain in his ankle that he could not carry on
with the race.”
 Inversions after so, neither, and nor
This happens in echoing statements, agreeing or disagreeing. 
• A: I’ll have a coke, please. 
B: So will I.

Inversions with here and there

“There we go”
“Here’s your coffee” 
Inversions are used occassionally
for dramatic or emphatic effect.
Overusing it will make your
English sound unnatural.
 Let’s practice
• No sooner ________their tent than it beganto
rain (they/put up)
• Hardly_____ the station when the train
arrived (we/reach)
• Never______such a depressing book. I felt
thoroughly miserable by the end (I/read)
• Not only_____delayed, but the airline also lost
my baggage. (our flight/be)