Inversion after never, hardly and not only
Never have I seen, hardly had we left when, not only did she: the auxiliary before the subject.
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When a negative or limiting word starts a sentence for emphasis, the word order changes as it does in a question: the auxiliary comes before the subject. This is called inversion. It belongs to formal writing, speeches and storytelling. In everyday conversation, people usually keep the normal order.
Normal order | Inversion |
|---|---|
I have never seen such a mess. | Never have I seen such a mess. |
The company rarely admits its mistakes. | Rarely does the company admit its mistakes. |
We had hardly left when it started to rain. | Hardly had we left when it started to rain. |
She not only wrote the play, she directed it. | Not only did she write the play, she directed it. |
How the inversion is built
Use the same order as a question: auxiliary + subject + main verb. If the verb is in the present simple or the past simple, add do, does or did. The verb be needs no help: it moves before the subject itself.
- Never have I felt so embarrassed.
- Rarely does she complain, so we knew something was wrong.
- Seldom were the results so clear.
- Incorrect: Never I have seen such a beautiful sunset.
- Correct: Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.The auxiliary have goes before the subject I.
- Incorrect: Rarely the company admits its mistakes.
- Correct: Rarely does the company admit its mistakes.In the present simple, add does and use the base form admit.
Never, rarely, seldom and little
Never, rarely and seldom often go with the present perfect, or with before. Little at the start means "not at all", usually with know, realise, suspect or imagine.
- Never before has the town seen such crowds.
- Seldom do we get a chance to relax like this.
- Little did she know that the whole team was planning a surprise for her.
She had no idea at all.
Hardly, scarcely and no sooner
These say that one thing happened immediately after another. They usually take the past perfect for the first action. Hardly and scarcely go with when; no sooner goes with than.
- Hardly had I sat down when the phone rang.
- Scarcely had the meeting begun when the fire alarm went off.
- No sooner had we paid for the tickets than the concert was cancelled.
- Incorrect: No sooner had we arrived when it started to snow.
- Correct: No sooner had we arrived than it started to snow.No sooner is a comparison, so it takes than.
Not only ... but also
Invert only the clause that starts with not only. The second part, with but or but also, keeps the normal order.
- Not only did he forget the meeting, but he also lost the documents.
- Not only is the flat cheap, it's also close to the station.
- Incorrect: Not only he forgot the meeting, but also did he lose the documents.
- Correct: Not only did he forget the meeting, but he also lost the documents.The inversion goes after not only, not after but.
Only after, only when, not until
With only + a time word or clause, and with not until, the inversion comes in the main clause, not straight after only or until.
- Only when the results were published did we realise how serious the problem was.
- Only after six months did she feel at home in London.
- Not until the manager explained it did we understand the plan.
- Only then did I notice the mistake.
- Incorrect: Only when did we see the figures we realised the problem.
- Correct: Only when we saw the figures did we realise the problem.The when clause keeps the normal order; the main clause is inverted.
Under no circumstances, on no account, at no time
These phrases make a strong prohibition or a strong denial. They are common in rules, notices and formal statements.
- Under no circumstances should you open the door to strangers.
- On no account are visitors allowed to feed the animals.
- At no time did the minister mention the cost.
- In no way am I responsible for what happened.
So and such at the start
So + adjective or adverb, and such + be, can also come first, followed by inversion and a that clause.
- So difficult was the exam that half the class failed.
- So quickly did the news spread that the shop sold out by noon.
- Such was the demand that the tickets sold out in an hour.
When there is no inversion
Invert only when the negative word starts the sentence and is about the whole clause. If it belongs to the subject, or the phrase isn't really negative, keep the normal order.
- Hardly anyone came to the meeting.
Hardly is part of the subject hardly anyone, so there is nothing to invert.
- In no time, the room was full.
In no time means "very quickly".
- Incorrect: Not long ago did I meet her brother in town.
- Correct: Not long ago, I met her brother in town.Not long ago means "recently", not a negative, so there is nothing to invert.