Inversion after so, such, nor and little
So quickly did it spread, such was the noise, nor did she reply, little did they know.
Not sure C2 is your level? Find out in 8–40 questions, no account needed.
At C1 you met inversion after negative words such as never, hardly and not only, and briefly after little, so and such. This page looks at those more closely: so and such with a that clause of result, and little meaning "not at all". It adds nor and neither for a second negative, and the optional inversion after as and than. The order is the same as in a question: auxiliary + subject + main verb. These patterns are formal and literary. In conversation, the normal order is far more common.
Normal order | Inversion |
|---|---|
The rumour spread so quickly that everyone heard it. | So quickly did the rumour spread that everyone heard it. |
The noise was such that nobody could sleep. | Such was the noise that nobody could sleep. |
She didn't reply, and she didn't call either. | She didn't reply, nor did she call. |
They had no idea what was about to happen. | Little did they know what was about to happen. |
So + adjective or adverb + that
Put so + adjective or adverb first, then invert, then give the result in a that clause. With be, the verb itself moves; with other verbs in the present or past simple, add do, does or did.
- So strong was the wind that the ferry was cancelled.
- So rarely does he speak in meetings that people notice when he does.
- So badly had the house been damaged that it had to be pulled down.
- Incorrect: So quickly the rumour spread that by lunchtime everyone had heard it.
- Correct: So quickly did the rumour spread that by lunchtime everyone had heard it.When so + adverb starts the clause, the auxiliary comes before the subject.
Such + be + subject + that
Such at the start stands for "so great" or "of this kind". It is followed by be and the subject, which is usually a noun: such was the demand, such is his reputation.
- Such was the demand for tickets that the website crashed.
- Such is her reputation that people travel miles to hear her.
- Such were the delays that we missed our connection.
Be agrees with the noun after it: such were the delays.
- Incorrect: Such the noise was that nobody could sleep.
- Correct: Such was the noise that nobody could sleep.Such comes first, then be, then the subject.
Nor and neither + auxiliary + subject
Nor and neither add a second negative statement. The clause after them is inverted, as in the short answer Neither do I. In writing, nor is the usual word inside a sentence, often after a comma or after and.
- The company did not apologise, nor did it offer any compensation.
- I have never been to Rome, and nor do I particularly want to go.
- He can't cook. Neither can his brother.
- Incorrect: She didn't reply to my email, nor she called me.
- Correct: She didn't reply to my email, nor did she call me.After nor, use auxiliary + subject; in the past simple, add did.
- Incorrect: The hotel wasn't clean, nor wasn't it cheap.
- Correct: The hotel wasn't clean, nor was it cheap.Nor is already negative, so the verb after it is positive.
Little + auxiliary + subject
Little at the start means "not at all" or "hardly". It goes with verbs of knowing and thinking: know, realise, suspect, imagine, think, dream. It often looks back at a time when someone had no idea of what was coming.
- Little did I think that I would end up living here.
- Little do they realise how much the project has cost.
- Little had she imagined that her small blog would become a business.
- Incorrect: Little did she knew that her plan had already failed.
- Correct: Little did she know that her plan had already failed.After did, the main verb is in the base form: know, not knew.
As and than: an optional inversion
In formal writing, a clause after as or than can be inverted when its subject is a noun. The meaning does not change, and the normal order is always correct.
- She was a doctor, as was her mother.
Her mother was a doctor too. / ... as her mother was.
- Older people tend to save more than do younger people.
... than younger people do.
When there is no inversion
Invert only when so, such or little starts the clause in these meanings. In other uses, the normal order stays.
- So I left early and went home.
So means "therefore" here, not "to such a degree".
- Little money was left at the end of the month.
Little is part of the subject little money.
- Such behaviour is not acceptable.
Such behaviour is the subject; there is no be straight after such.
- The talk was so long that half the audience left.
So is not at the start, so there is nothing to invert.