Date: September 15, 2010

Group: The Who-Knows-What-We-Are-Today Guys

INVERSION

1. Time expressions: never, rarely, seldom. These time expressions are used with a perfect form or with
modals and often include comparatives:

Never have I been more insulted!

Seldom has he seen anything stranger.

2.Time expressions: hardly, barely, no sooner, or scarcely. These time expressions are used when a there are
a succession of events in the past.

Scarcely had I got out of bed when the doorbell rang.

No sooner had he finished dinner, when she walked in the door.

3. After 'Only' Expressions such as 'only after', 'only when', 'only then', etc. 'Only' is used with a time
expression.

Only then did I understand the problem.

Only after understanding the situation does the teacher make a comment.

4. After 'Little'. 'Little' is used in a negative sense.

Little did he understand the situation.

Little have I read concerning nanotechnology.

5. Inversion after 'So', 'Such', and 'That'

'So' . 'So + adjective ... that' combines with the verb 'to be'.

So strange was the situation that I couldn't sleep.

So difficult is the test that students need three months to prepare.

'Such'. 'So + to be + noun ... (that)':

Such is the moment that all greats traverse.

Such is the stuff of dreams.

6. ‘Neither’ and ‘Nor’.

When "so", "neither" and "nor" are used to make short agreements they are followed by an inversion.

"I am not into hip hop."

"Neither am I." (Or: "Nor am I.")

"I am fond of flamenco dancing."

"So am I."

Or they can be used in the following way (also including an inversion).

Jennifer buys only organic fruit and vegetables, and so does Hugh.
They don't mind the higher prices, and neither do we. (Or: ...nor do we.)
7. Inverted Conditional Forms. Sometimes conditional forms are inverted as a means of sounding more formal.
In this case, the conditional 'if' is dropped and the inverted forms takes the place of the 'if clause'.

Had he understood the problem, he wouldn't have committed those mistakes.

Should he decide to come, please telephone.

8. Inversions after adjectives. A few very literary sentences begin with an adjective and include an inversion.
Blessed are the children who are still unaware of what the future holds.
Gone are the days when I could have been happy.

But! Strange as it may seem, we were sorry to leave in the end.

More examples:
Seldom does Bob get invited to parties.
Never have we seen such a breathtaking view.
At no time did the prisoner look as if he might confess.
Not only is she a great dancer but she is also an amazing mathematician.
Not until she took up rock climbing did she overcome her fear of heights.
Under no circumstances will prisoners be allowed to give interviews to the media.

Only after he arrived at the airport did he look for his passport.
Only if you look through this dark glass will you be able to see the spots on the sun.
We accepted the invitation. Only later did we suspect it might be a trap.

1. There are no circumstances where audience members may consume alcohol. (Under no
circumstances)

2. Nobody has won so many matches for his team since 1994. (Not since)

3. We won't consider you for the basketball team until you grow up. (Not until)

4. The gang didn't know that the police had them under surveillance. (Little)

5. You can't use my car at any time. (At no time)

6. They started to argue soon after they had got married. (No sooner)

7. The girl didn’t realize that her grandmother was really a wolf (Little)
Match the beginnings with the endings

A B
1. Little do you know how a. learn the terrible secret
2. At no time did he get b. much trouble you are in
3. Only later did they c. a silly girl
4. May you both d. than it exploded
5. Aren’t you e. it began to rain
6. No sooner had Agent Bond left the house f. live happily far away from me
7. Hardly had we started, when g. permission for what he did

Continue the sentences.

1. Were I in your shoes….

2. Should you see my boss…
3. Not only are you a great…
4. Never have I seen such…
5. Hardly had we walked in the door when…