Inversion for emphasis
Ιnversion
of the subject and verb like that found in questions also occurs when a sentence begins with
certain introductory words and phrases:
never/ hardly ever/ rarely/
seldom/barely/not even once /only then
+ auxiliary
/modal Verb + subject + main verb
Rarely have I been so excited!
Seldom does Sam
travel by air.
Never had he
had such a terrifying experience.
Not
only…., but also
Not only does she play the piano,
but she also paints beautifully.
Not only does
he speak German, but he also speaks Italian.
Alert! Not
only Paul works out every day, but also his sister Jenny.
little, neither, never again,
never before ,nowhere, so
Little did I
know that the person I shouted at was my son's teacher.
Never again
will we book a holiday through that travel agency.
So exhausted
was the athlete that he fell asleep during the press conference.
Not
for one moment, on no account, under no circumstances/in no way/on no occasion
Not for one
moment did I doubt your dedication.
Under no circumstances must you
speak to your classmates during the exam.
Hardly/
scarcely(ever)... when
No sooner... than
Hardly
had I reached work when the earthquake struck.
No sooner had we taken off than the
pilot said we had to return to the airport.
Not until / not since
Only after/ by/ if / when
] ---------àinversion
in the main clause
Not until she arrived in Tokyo
Only if
you cancel at least 1 month before your arrival date will you receive a
refund.
Neither/
nor - So
The girls
didn't do well in the exams and nor did the boys.
‘I'm not a member of this group.’ ‘Neither/ nor am
I.’
I am a French
teacher and so is Tom.
‘Our ferry departs at 6.’ ‘Oh, so does ours.’
EXERCISE
1.
He wouldn’t do it in any way. (no)
.............................................................................................................do
it.
2.
He will not work overtime under any
circumstances.(no)
...............................................................................................................overtime.
3.
I’ll never mention anything of mine
again(again)
Never..................................................................................................
anything of mine.
4.
The moment we landed I felt much
better.(sooner)
No.......................................................................................................
I felt much better.
5.
As soon as Ted walked in, he
introduced himself to us. (had)
Scarcely
.........................................................................................he
introduced himself to us.
6.
I will not tolerate prejudice in this
company, whatever the reason.(account)
On........................................................................................... prejudice in this company.
7.
She had barely finished cleaning the
house when the guests arrived.(barely)
........................................................................................................when
the guests arrived.
8.
This is the largest crowd of people I
have ever seen.( never)
Never................................................................................................................
so many people.
9.
He went home only after all the bars
had closed.(did)
Only........................................................................................................................home.
10.
They couldn’t find a better price for a used car
anywhere.(nowhere)
....................................................................................................................for
a used car.
11. They only
realised he had been ill when he died.(only)
................................................................................................................he
had been ill.
12. My client
hasn’t on any occasion stated that he opened the safe that night.((on)
.......................................................................................................he
opened the safe that night.
13.He managed
to get his attention only by shouting and waving his arms in the air.(by)
.............................................................................................................................to
get his attention.
14. I won’t
go to the cinema with you unless you pay.(if)
.........................................................................................................to
the cinema with you.
15. She
didn’t resign from her job until she found a better one.(not)
.....................................................................................................................from
her job.
16.They
hardly ever stay up past midnight.(ever)
........................................................................................................................after
midnight.
17. He is not
only rich but he is also highly educated.(but)
Not ........................................................................................................highly
educated.
