Inversion

 Inversion After Negative Words and Phrases

We use inversion after negative adverbs such as never and nowhere when they are placed in front position for emphasis. We put the subject after an auxiliary verb (be, do, have) or a modal.

                    Negative Adverbial + Auxiliary/Modal + S + Verb

I have never heard such nonsense ---> Never have I heard such nonsense.

The couldn't find a bottle opener anywhere ---> Nowhere could they find a bottle opener

No sooner had I woken up each morning than I would see a smiling face and hear a child's giggle that would melt my heart.

Never before have I seen such enthusiasm and excitement.

Not until the end of the holiday did we realise how attached we had become to them.

We also use inversion after negative phrases with no and not in front position.

You shouldn't go under any circumstances ---> Under no circumstances should you go.

I didn't realize what she meant until later ---> Not until later did I realize what she meant.

At no time did we regret the decision to go there.

Inversion is typically used in formal or literary English, but we can also use it in informal replies, after neither, nor, and no way.

I don't understand -- Neither do I.

We didn't like the film -- Nor did most people.

rarely .... no sooner ..... at no time .....

not in a million years..... only after .....

only when ..... not until...... little ....

hardly .... seldom.... only by chance.....

never before .....

Inversion after so + adjective ....that; such + be ....that; neither..../nor.....

So successful was her business, that Lin was able to retire at the age of 50.

Such is the popularity of the play that the theatre is likely to be full every night.

Neither/Nor do I

Neither/Nor does Diane

So do I/So does Maya.

Summary (Tuncay, 2023)

a. Inversion after negative adverbials

- never, rarely, seldom

- hardly, barely, scarcely. no sooner

b. Inversion after only (only if/when. only then, only later)

c. Inversion with phrases containing No/Not (on no account, at no time, in no way, on no condition, not untill, not only ...(but also), under no circumstances)

d. Inversion with Little

e. Inversion after so/such with that

The floods were so devastating that some areas may never recover --> So devastating were the floods that some areas may never recover.

Such used with be means so much/so great

Such was the force of the storm that tress were uproofted.

f. Inverted Conditional sentences without if

If they were to escape, there would be an outcry ---> Were they to escape, there would be an outcry

If I had known, I would have protested strongly ---> Had I known, I would have protested strongly

g. Inversion after as

I thought, as did my colleagues, that the recession would be over.

h. Inversion after so, neither and nor.

Reference :

Doff, A., Thaine, C., Puchta, H., Stranks, J., Lewis-Jones, P., 2016.Cambridge English Empower C1 Advanced Student's Book. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press  

Hewings, Martin. 2013. Advanced Grammar in Use Third Edition. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press  

Tuncay, Hidayet. 2023. Proficiency in Listening and Reading Comprehension (PLRC) 6th Edition. Istanbul : Tuncay Yayincilik

Yule, George. 2019. Advanced Oxford Practice Grammar with Answer. Oxford UK : Oxford University Press.