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Inversion

Inversion describes two grammatical operations: using question word order and changing the normal position of verb and subject. Inversion is commonly used after negative adverbials at the beginning of a clause for rhetorical effect, though it is not used in everyday speech. Negative adverbials that commonly use inversion include time expressions like never and hardly, phrases containing no/not, and expressions with only or little. Inversion is also used after so and such when they are the first words of a clause and the main verb is be. Inverted conditional sentences with were, had and should are more formal and make the event less likely. Inversion also occurs after as in formal language and after so, neither, and nor in echoing statements

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26 views16 pages

Inversion

Inversion describes two grammatical operations: using question word order and changing the normal position of verb and subject. Inversion is commonly used after negative adverbials at the beginning of a clause for rhetorical effect, though it is not used in everyday speech. Negative adverbials that commonly use inversion include time expressions like never and hardly, phrases containing no/not, and expressions with only or little. Inversion is also used after so and such when they are the first words of a clause and the main verb is be. Inverted conditional sentences with were, had and should are more formal and make the event less likely. Inversion also occurs after as in formal language and after so, neither, and nor in echoing statements

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Sonia Orenczuk
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Inversion

Retrieved from Michael Vince’s Advanced Language Practice


What is inversion?

Inversion describes two possible grammatical operations:

1. Using question word order: Auxiliary + subject + verb

EX: Not only did he fail to report the accident, but he also denied it.

2. Changing the normal position of verb and subject

EX: along the street came a procession.


Inversion after negative adverbials

● When the adverbial appears at the beginning of a clause


● Used in formal language
● Often used for rhetorical effect
● Not used in everyday speech

EX: “Never had I heard a weaker excuse!” said the judge.

“I have never heard a weaker excuse!” said my teacher.


Negative adverbials
1) Time expressions: never, rarely, seldom
● Commonly used with the present and past perfect, with modals such as can or could
● Sentences like these often contain comparatives

never had I seen such a horrible handwriting.

2) Time expressions: hardly… when, barely… when, scarcely… when, no sooner…than


● Refers to an event that quickly follows the other.
● Often used with past perfect although no sooner can also be followed by past simple.

Hardly had the train left the station, when there was an explosion.
Negative adverbials
3) after only

● Only after… Only if/when… only then… only later…

Only after seeing the car did I realize the consequences of my drinking.

Only if you plead guilty will you be given fair trial.

4) Phrases containing no/not or little

● uncer no circumstances, on no account, at no time, in no way, on no condition, not until,


not only (...but also)

On no condition are they to search the house without a warrant.

Little did the governor know about the crisis they were going through.
Inversion after so/such

● SO is more common than SUCH


● inversion only happens when so and such are the first words of a clause
● it’s used when the main verb is be
● It’s used for emphasis

So devastating were the floods that some areas may never recover.

● when we use such with be it means so much/many

Such was the force of the storm that trees were uprooted.
Inverted conditional sentences

Conditional sentences with WERE, HAD and SHOULD can be inverted. In those cases, we drop
IF and the sentence becomes more formal and makes the event less likely.
Other cases of inversion
Inversion after AS:
more common in formal or written language
EX: We were short of money, as were most people in the country.
I thought, as did my colleagues, that the recession would soon be over.
Inversion after SO, NEiTHER, NOR:
Used in echoing statements, agreeing or disagreeing
EX: A. I’m going home. B. so am I.
PRACTICE:
H
o
m
e
w
o
r
k
H
o
m
e
w
o
r
k
H
o
m
e
w
o
r
k

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