INVERSION

Whats Inversion
Inversion happens when we reverse (invert) the normal word order of a sentence or a clause.
The Most commonly type of inversion is the subject- auxiliary verb word order (inversion) or question
word order. For example, a statement has the subject (s) before the verb (v), but to make question, we
invert the subject and the verb, with an auxiliary (aux) or modal verb (m) before the subject (s).
But inversion also happens in other situations.

When do use inversion

Used for emphasis, certain adverbs and adverbial phrases can be put at the beginning of a sentence or
clause with an inversion of the following verb; the position of the subject and the verb is the same as in
questions forms.
These structures are often used in literacy or formal contexts. The adverbials are referred to as broad
negatives as they have a negative meaning.
Adverbial + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + main verb
I had hardly started speaking when he interrupted me = Hardly had I started speaking when he
interrupted me.

The verb is used in a form with more than one auxiliary - Adverbial + first auxiliary + subject+ other
auxiliary

Ive never been introduced too so many people in a single night = Never have I been introduced too so
many people in a single night.

Single form of verb to be, this is place before the subject

He was rarely at home = Rarely was he at home

With present / past simple, the structure is Adverbial + Do/Does/Did + subject + main verb.
He never considered he might be discovered = Never did he consider he might be discovered
She seldom forgets to pay the parking meter = Seldom does she forget to pay the parking meter

Common examples of adverbials used in these structures are shown below.

NEVER (BEFORE), RARELY, LITTLE, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, ON NO CONDITION, IN NO
WAY, NOT ONLY ... BUT / BUT ALSO.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: We have never faced such a challenge.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: There has rarely been so much speculation about the future of the
company.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: She didn't really understand what the conversation was about.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: You are not allowed to disturb the pilots under any circumstances.

NORMAL WORD ORDER: The company will not bear responsibility for lost property on any
condition.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: I am in no way related to the suspect.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: You were not only late, but you didnt even have a good excuse
either
NORMAL WORD ORDER: He not only exceeded the speed limit but he had also consumed
alcohol.
ONLY AFTER, ONLY BY, ONLY IF, ONLY IN THIS WAY,ONLY THEN, ONLY WHEN, NOT UNTIL.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: You can play only after lunch.

NORMAL WORD ORDER: You can play only after finishing your homework.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: You can play only after you have finished your homework.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: You can solve this puzzle only by guessing.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: I would accept this position only if everybody agreed.

NORMAL WORD ORDER: This machine works only in this way.

NORMAL WORD ORDER: They discovered his secret only then.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: He called me only when he needed help.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: I noticed that my glass was broken only when I filled it.

This last sentence can also been rephrased as following:

NORMAL WORD ORDER: I didnt notice that my glass was broken until I filled it.
If the word Only follows the subject at the beginning the sentence we cant apply the inversion.
NORMAL WORD ORDER:

No one else can understand.

Only you can understand.

HARDLY, SCARCELY, BARELY, NO SOONER.

a. The adverbs HARDLY, SCARCELY y BARELY are followed by WHEN.
b. NO SOONER is followed by THAN ( as SOONER is the comparative of SOON).
This structure is commonly used when telling a story in past tense, where adverbs like these ones
are used to indicate that one event happened quite soon in time after another. In these cases the
verb referring to the first event goes is past perfect and the adverbs above mentioned go at the
beginning of the sentence in invesion
NORMAL WORD ORDER: I had hardly arrived home when my phone rang.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: She had scarcely finished reading when she fell asleep.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: They had barely won the match when the coach had a heart attack.

If the second event occurs immediately after the first, we can express that idea using the structure
No sooner than.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: The company had no sooner launched a new product than it went bankrupt.

NORMAL WORD ORDER: I will no sooner arrive, they will all start to argue