ECE] INversION Beh 34.3A Subject-verb inversion 34.3B Subject- auxiliary inversion We sometimes put a verb or verb phrase in front of the subject after adverbs of place (e.g. on, in, here, there, outside, opposite) and adverbs of time (e.g. next, then, first, now, finally). We can use a form of be or verbs of place and movement (e.g. stand, sit, ie, come, go, climb, run, sail, fy) before Une subject. We often use Lily pattern Le fort a link with the information in the previous sentence, and it is common in formal English: place adverbs + be or verbs Here lies the body of our late lamented sovereign of place/movement (On one wall there was a beautiful rambling rose. Opposite stood an ancient oak tree aver a charming wishing well time adverbs + be or verbs For the first hour the teams seemed evenly matched. Then of place/movement came the turning point in the game as Ed scored. That was the final instalment. Next is the news. @ We don't use inversion if the subject of the clause is a pronoun: Here comes the bus. x Here-comes-it. Here it comes. We can also use inversion in as and than clauses in formal English: Mr Slater is expecting a pay rise, as are several other salesmen in the team, I'm atraid her proposals are no more feasible than are those James presented. We also use inversion in certain fixed expressions, often with subjunctives (> 11.10): So be it. Lona live the kina! We sometimes put an auxiliary (do, have, should, can, etc.) before the subject in statements; the rest of the verb phrase follows the subject. We use this pattern of inversion for emphasis in the following cases: after adverbs with ‘restrictive’/ Little did we realise the true extent of his involvement. negative meaning (e.g. hardly, Never have | seen such a disturbing sight. scarcely, rarely, little, never) Hardly had | arrived when Suzy collared me. only 1 time expression or Only later did he manage to get permission. prepositional phrase ‘Only with a great deal of effort was he able to escape. (in) no way, at no time, ‘No way am | going to wear that! (informal) under no circumstances, Under no circumstances can refunds be given. (on no account not + onlyitime expression! _Not only is he Jate, he hasn't even brought a present. person or thing Not since the sixties has a pop group won such acclaim. Not a single stone was left unturned in the search 1no sooner ... than No sooner had we set out than the skies opened. clauses beginning with They have no intention of paying and neither have we. neither or nor We couldn't face the customers and nor could the boss. clauses beginning with may May he live to regret this decision! which describe a strong wish after fronted comparisons, The captain is refusing to play under these conditions also, such and so (> 34.2B) and so is the rest of the team. @ Expressions with no, not, etc. not listed above (e.g. no doubt) cannot be inverted: X No-doubt will he give-us-a-key. v No doubt he will give us a key. @ We do not invert the subject and auxiliary after only if there is no time expression or prepositional phrase immediately after Only-can-members park-there- v Only members can park there ¥ Only on Sundays can members park there. Note there are other uses of inversion: Negation » Unit 6; Questions » Unit 7; Reported speech » Unit 9, Conditionals > Unit 10. 323