Inversion

Rarely (rara vez). Seldom, Never

- they are most commonly used with the present perfect or past perfect
- with the present simple
- with modals such as can and could
Hardly (apenas en este contexto)...when
- when referring to an event that quickly follows another one
- it is usually used with the past perfect
Little, with a negative meaning
- with verbs such as ' imagine ', ' suspect ', ' understand ' , ' realise ', ' know ', etc.
- it is usually used in the present simple or the past simple
- meaning: ' have no idea '
Little does Michael suspect that his daughter has been failing all her subjects at school!
Scarcely (apenas)...when
- when referring to an action that quickly follows another one
- it is usually used with the past perfect
No soonerthan
- it can be used with the past perfect or the past simple tense ( there is not any
difference in meaning)
Only after, Only by, Only when, Not since, Not until
- when using the other type of inversion ( to invert the main clause in a sentence )

In normal everyday English, inversion is used :

To make questions : Does he? Can you?

After 'so' 'neither', 'nor' : So do I, neither do I, nor do I.

In written English, as well as in a very formal style, inversion is used in the

following cases :

After negative adverbial expressions :

Under no circumstances can we accept cheques.

In no way can he be held responsible.

At no time did she say she would come.

After adverbial expressions of place :

Round the corner came the postman.

On the doorstep was a bunch of flowers.

After 'seldom', 'rarely', 'never', in comparisons :

Seldom have I seen such a beautiful view.

Rarely did he pay anyone a compliment.

Never had I felt so happy.

After 'hardly', 'scarcely', 'no sooner', when one thing happens

after another.

Hardly had I begun to speak when I was interrupted.

Scarcely had we started our meal when the phone rang.

After adverbial expressions beginning with 'only' :

No sooner had I arrived than they all started to argue.

Only after the meeting did I realize the importance of the

subject.

After exclamations with 'here' and 'there' :

Here comes the winner!

There goes all our money!

Construction "there is, there are"

Inversion is required in the construction "there is, there are" and in

cases where a modal verb or a main verb is used in such constructions.
There is an interesting article about Spain in today's paper.
There are several books on the table.
There must be a reason for it.
There can be no doubt about it.
There exist several theories on this matter.
Once upon a time, there lived an old man in a small house by the sea.
Inversion after "here" and "there"

Inversion takes place in sentences beginning with the adverb "here" or

"there". Some phrases beginning with "here" or "there" have idiomatic

character.
Here is the book you asked for.
Here comes the sun.
Here comes my bus.
Here comes your friend.
There is my sister!
There goes the bell.
There goes my money!
If the subject of the sentence beginning with "here" or "there" is expressed
by a personal pronoun, the verb is placed after the subject.

Here it is. Here you are. Here you go.

There you are. There you go.
Here he comes. There he goes.
Here I am. There she is.
Here we go again.
Constructions with "so" and "neither"

Inversion is required in responses like "So do I" and "Neither do I".

(See So do I. Neither do I. in the section Phrases.)

I like coffee. So do I.
I don't like coffee. Neither do I.
She will wait for them. So will I.
She won't wait for them. Neither will I.
Inversion is also required in compound sentences with such
constructions.
I like coffee, and so does Ella.
I don't like coffee, and neither does Ella.
She will wait for them, and so will I.
She won't wait for them, and neither will I.
Conditional sentences

Inversion is required in the subordinate clause of conditional sentences

in which the subordinating conjunction "if" is omitted. If the conjunction
"if" is used, inversion is not used. Compare these conditional sentences
in which inverted word order and standard word order are used.
Should my son call, ask him to wait for me at home. If my son should
call, ask him to wait for me at home. If my son calls, ask him to wait for
me at home.
Were I not so tired, I would go there with you. If I weren't so tired, I
would go there with you.
Had I known it, I would have helped him. If I had known it, I would
have helped him.

(See Conditional Sentences, the part "Absence of IF", in the section

Grammar.)
Inversion after direct speech

Inversion takes place in constructions with verbs like "said, asked,

replied" placed after direct speech.
"I'll help you," said Anton.
"What's the problem?" asked the driver.
"I lost my purse," replied the woman.
But if the subject of such constructions is expressed by a personal
pronoun, the verb is placed after the subject.
"Thank you for your help," she said.
"Don't mention it," he answered.
If verbs like "said, asked, replied" stand before direct speech, inversion
is not used: Nina said, "Let's go home."
Inversion in exclamatory sentences

Inversion is sometimes used for emphasis in exclamatory sentences.

Compare inverted and standard word order in the following exclamatory
sentences.
Oh my, am I hungry! I'm so hungry!
Oh boy, was she mad! She was so mad!
Have we got a surprise for you! We've got a surprise for you!

May all your wishes come true!

How beautiful are these roses! How beautiful these roses are!

Inversion depending on the beginning of the sentence

The following cases of inversion occur when some parts of the sentence,
for example, the adverbial modifier of place or direction, come at the
beginning of the sentence. Inversion in such cases consists in moving
the auxiliary verb, and in some cases the main verb (i.e., the whole
tense form), into the position before the subject.
Such types of inversion are used for emphasis, mostly in literary works.
It is advisable for language learners to use standard word order in such
cases. The examples below are given in pairs: Inverted word order
Standard word order.
Inversion after "so", "such", "as"

So angry was he that he smashed all plates in the kitchen. He was so

angry that he smashed all plates in the kitchen.
So unhappy did the boy look that we gave him all the sweets that we
had. The boy looked so unhappy that we gave him all the sweets that
we had.
Such was her disappointment that she started to cry. Her
disappointment was so strong that she started to cry.
Owls live in tree hollows, as do squirrels. Owls and squirrels live in tree
hollows.
As was the custom, three fighters and three shooters were chosen.
Inversion after adjectives and participles

Gone are the days when he was young and full of energy. The days
when he was young and full of energy are gone.

Blessed are the pure in heart.

Beautiful was her singing. Her singing was beautiful.
Inversion after adverbial modifiers of place

Right in front of him stood a huge two-headed dragon. A huge twoheaded dragon stood right in front of him.
In the middle of the road was sitting a strange old man dressed in black.
A strange old man dressed in black was sitting in the middle of the
road.
Behind the mountain lay the most beautiful valley that he had ever seen.
The most beautiful valley that he had ever seen lay behind the
mountain.
Inversion after postpositions

The doors opened, and out ran several people. Several people ran out
when the doors opened.
Up went hundreds of toy balloons. Hundreds of toy balloons went up.
But if the subject is expressed by a personal pronoun, the verb stands
after the subject.
Are you ready? Off we go!
Out he ran. He ran out.
Inversion in negative constructions
Inversion is required in negative sentences beginning with the following
negative adverbs and adverbial phrases: never; never before; not
only...but also; not until; no sooner; at no time; on no account; under
no circumstances.

Inversion also takes place in sentences beginning with the following

adverbs and adverbial phrases used in a negative sense: rarely; seldom;
hardly; scarcely; little; only when; only after; only then.
Inverted negative constructions are used for emphasis, mostly in formal
writing and in literary works.
If you don't need or don't want to use emphatic inverted negative
constructions, don't put the above-mentioned expressions at the
beginning of the sentence.
Compare the following examples of inverted and standard word order in
sentences with such negative constructions. The first sentence in each
group has inverted order of words.
Examples:

Never before have I felt such fear. I have never felt such fear before.
Never in his life had he seen a more repulsive creature. He had never
in his life seen a more repulsive creature.
Not only did he spill coffee everywhere, but he also broke my favorite
vase. He not only spilled coffee everywhere but also broke my favorite
vase.
Not only was the princess strikingly beautiful, but she was also
extremely intelligent. The princess was not only strikingly beautiful but
also extremely intelligent.
Not until much later did I understand the significance of that event. I
understood the significance of that event much later.
No sooner had she put down the phone than it started to ring again.
As soon as she put down the phone, it started to ring again. The phone
started to ring again as soon as she put down the receiver.
At no time should you let him out of your sight. You should not let him

out of your sight at any time. Don't let him out of your sight even for a
second.
Under no circumstances can she be held responsible for his actions.
She cannot be held responsible for his actions.
Rarely have I seen such a magnificent view. I have rarely seen such a
magnificent view.
Seldom do we realize what our actions might lead to. We seldom
realize what our actions might lead to.
Little did he know what his fate had in store for him. He did not know
what his fate had in store for him.
Hardly had I stepped into the house when the light went out. I had
hardly stepped into the house when the light went out.
Scarcely had he said it when the magician appeared. He had scarcely
said it when the magician appeared.
Only when I arrived at the hotel did I notice that my travel bag was
missing. I noticed that my travel bag was missing only when I arrived
at the hotel.
Only after my guest left did I remember his name. I remembered my
guest's name only after he left.