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Grammar Explanation - Negative Inversion

The document explains the concept of 'inversion' in English grammar, which involves reversing the normal subject-verb order for emphasis, particularly with negative or restrictive adverbs. It provides examples of how to structure inverted sentences using various adverbials and auxiliary verbs. Additionally, it highlights specific adverbials and phrases that commonly require inversion, along with illustrative sentences.

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41 views2 pages

Grammar Explanation - Negative Inversion

The document explains the concept of 'inversion' in English grammar, which involves reversing the normal subject-verb order for emphasis, particularly with negative or restrictive adverbs. It provides examples of how to structure inverted sentences using various adverbials and auxiliary verbs. Additionally, it highlights specific adverbials and phrases that commonly require inversion, along with illustrative sentences.

Uploaded by

virginia.mestres
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Grammar explanation

'Inversion' means reversing (inverting) the normal subject–verb word order in a


sentence.

In formal English, we can use a negative or restrictive adverb at the


beginning of a sentence to make it more emphatic or dramatic.

To invert a sentence in this way, we put the adverbial (e.g. never, rarely, not
only, etc.) at the beginning and change the normal position of the subject and
the auxiliary verb.

When we do this, the adverb is then followed by an inversion: negative


adverbial + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + object

 Not only did they arrive late but they talked throughout the film.
(They not only arrived late but they talked throughout the film.)

If there is no auxiliary verb, we need to add one. For example, we add do /


have for present simple verbs and did / had for past simple verbs.

 Rarely do we find such talent.


(We rarely find such talent.)

 Never, rarely, seldom


These adverbials are often used with present perfect, past perfect or modals
like can and could.
 Never had they seen so many people in the village.
 Seldom has she taken a day off work.
 Rarely can a patient fully recover from such an injury.
 Hardly, barely, scarcely, no sooner
These adverbials often refer to an event which quickly follows another in the
past and are usually used with past perfect.
Hardly, scarcely and barely are used with when in the contrasting clause,
and no sooner is followed by than.
 Hardly had we sat down when we were told to evacuate the building.
 Scarcely had the votes been counted when the new president was
pushed in front of TV cameras.
 No sooner had the game started than the captain was taken ill.
 No sooner was the new park open than it started raining.

 Only + time expression


These include only after, only if/when, only then and only later.
 Only when they refilled my glass did I realise it was broken.
 Only later did they discover they hadn't been told the truth.

 Phrases with no and not


These include under no circumstances, on no account, at no time, in no
way, on no condition, not until and not only.
 Under no circumstances should children travel without an adult.
 In no way did we agree to this.

 Little
In these sentences, little has a negative or restrictive meaning.
 Little do people realise how hard it is to be a chef.
(People don't realise how hard it is to be a chef.)

 Little did she know then that she would become the company director.
(She didn't know then that she would become the company director.)

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