English Grammar Inversion

INVERSION
I. DEFINITION
Inversion is the reversal of the normal order of the subject and the verb in a sentence.

II. TYPES OF INVERSION

There are two types of inversion:
+ Subject-verb inversion: where the subject and the main verb switch positions and the word order becomes verb +
subject.
Examples:
1. The castle stands on a hill.
🡪 On a hill stands the castle.
2. The beautiful scenery I had been told about lay/was below me.
🡪 Below me lay/was the beautiful scenery I had been told about.

+ Subject-auxiliary inversion: where the subject and the auxiliary switch positions and the word order becomes
“auxiliary + subject + verb”.
Examples:
1. Max never bought another motorcycle again.
🡪  Never again did Max buy another motorcycle.
2. I was no sooner informed of the facts than I took legal action.
As soon as I was informed of the facts, I took legal action.
🡪 No sooner was I informed of the facts than I took legal action.

III. FORM
A. VERB + SUBJECT:
1. Form Prepositional phrase of place + Intransitive Verb + Subject
Examples a. Her father stood in the doorway.
🡪 In the doorway stood her father.
b. The town where you’ll live lies beyond the mountains.
🡪 Beyond the mountains lies the town where you’ll live.

2. Form Adverb particle + Motion verb + Subject

Adverb particles (e.g. up, down, in, out, on, off, away and back)
Examples a. Peter goes up again.
🡪 Up goes Peter again.
b. My brother went off without saying a word.
🡪 Off went my brother without saying a word.

3. Form Initial adverb of time/ place + Verb + Subject

Examples a. Here are your keys.
b. There goes the train!
c. First came the scouts. Next came the anti-tank gunner.
d. For a moment nothing happened. Then came voices all shouting together.

Notes:
If the subject is a pronoun, however, there is no inversion. 
Examples:
a. Out you go, you little rascal!
b. So down to the basement I went.
c. There he goes!

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B. AUXILIARY VERB + SUBJECT + VERB

+ Inversion with negative adverbs
Negative adverbs/ adverbial expressions
At no time Not since On no occasion
In/ Under no circumstances Not till/ until On no account
In no way No longer On no condition
In vain No way Scarcely/Hardly/Barely... when...
Neither/ Nor/ Not Nowhere Seldom
Never No sooner … than ... Rarely
Never before Not for one minute Little
Not only … but (also) ...

Form Negative adverb + Aux + S+ V

Examples a. We did not know anything about what was going to happen to us.
Little did we know about what was going to happen to us next.
b. They rarely went fishing when they were in New York.
Rarely did they go fishing when they were in New York.

Form Hardly/ Barely/ Scarcely + had + S + V3/ed + when + S + V2/ed

No sooner + had + S + V3/ed + than + S + V2/ed
Examples a. We had hardly/scarcely/barely started to watch the film when the light went off.
🡪 Hardly/Scarcely/Barely had we started to watch the film when the light went off.
b. I had no sooner taken a sachet of this medicine than I felt much better.
🡪 No sooner had I taken a sachet of this medicine than I felt much better.

+ Inversion with “only” expressions

“Only” expression Inversion form
Only after Only after + N/Ving/clause  +  Aux + S + V
Only by Only by + N/Ving + Aux + S + V
Only when Only when + clause + Aux + S + V
Only in this/that way Only in this/that way + Aux + S + V
Only then Only then + Aux + S + V
Only if Only if + clause + Aux + S + V
Only later Only later + Aux + S + V
Only + AdvP Only + AdvP + Aux + S + V
Examples:
a. We stand any chance of success only in this way. 
🡪 Only in this way do we stand any chance of success. 
b. I would accept this position only if everybody agreed.
🡪 Only if everybody agreed would I accept this position.

+ Adverb/ Adverb Phrase

Form Adverb/ Adverb Phrase + Verb + Subject
Examples a. I have often heard it said that he is not to be trusted. 
🡪 Often have I heard it said that he is not to be trusted. 
b. You should act thus and not otherwise.
🡪 Thus should you act and not otherwise.

+ “So” and “Neither”/ “Nor”

Form So/ Neither/ Nor + Auxiliary Verb + Subject
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English Grammar Inversion
Examples a. He likes tea and I do too.
🡪 He likes tea and so do I.
b. He isn’t a student and she is not either. 
🡪 He isn’t a student and neither is she.

+ So/ Such ... that...

1. Form So + Adjective + Be + Subject + that ...
Examples a. I was so happy that I bought flowers for everybody in class.
🡪 So happy was I that I bought flowers for everybody in class.
b. The test is so difficult that students need three months to prepare.
🡪 So difficult is the test that students need three months to prepare.

2. Form So + Adverb + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb + that ...

Examples a. She left so quickly that we did not even realize that.
🡪 So quickly did she leave that we did not even realized that.
b. He drove so carelessly that his car crashed into a tree. 
🡪 So carelessly did he drive that his car crashed into a tree.

3. Form Such + Be + Subject + (that)... / Such + Noun + Aux + S + V

Examples a. The wind was such that we couldn't open the window.
🡪 Such was the wind that we couldn't open the window.
b. Such is the stuff of dreams.
c. He showed such an originality that he became wealthy.
🡪 Such an originality did he show that he became wealthy.

+ “Not a/ an...”, “Many a...” and “Not any...”

Form Not a/an + Singular Noun + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb
Many a + Singular Noun + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb
Not any + Noun + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb
Examples a. She didn’t make a sound.
🡪 Not a sound did she make.
b. He gave her many roses.
🡪 Many a rose did he give her.
c. You won’t make any improvement unless you work hard now.
🡪 Not any improvement will you make unless you work hard now.

+ Conditional sentences
Form Were + S....
Should + S + V0 ...
Had + S + V3/ed ...
Examples a. If you should meet Peter, please let me know.
🡪 Should you meet Peter, please let me know.
b. If I were you, I would do that.
🡪 Were I you, I would do that.
c. If she hadn’t overslept, she wouldn’t have been late for the interview.
🡪 Had she not overslept, she wouldn’t have been late for the interview.

+ Comparatives: “than” and “as”

1. Form than + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb (optional inversion)
Examples a. Jessica is more interested in Computer Science than Benjamin (is). 
🡪 Jessica is more interested in Computer Science than is Benjamin. 
b. Light travels faster than sound (does).

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🡪 Light travels faster than does sound.

2. Form ... as + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb (optional inversion)

Examples a. I believed, as my colleagues did, that the plan would work. 
🡪 I believed, as did my colleagues, that the plan would work. 
b. The cake was excellent, as the coffee was. 
🡪 The cake was excellent, as was the coffee.
Notes: If the subject is a pronoun, however, there is no inversion. 
Example: I believed, as he did, that the plan would work. 

EXERCISES
I. Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1. Only when he is here……………..
A. he speaks English B. does he speak English
C. he can speak English D. he does speak English
2. No sooner ................. the house than the phone started to ring.
A. did he enter B. he had entered C. entered he D. had he entered
3. Not until it was too late ………………. I call Susan.
A. I remembered B. did I remember C. did I remembered D. I did remember
4. ......................., he can never follow me.
A. Fast as he runs B. Fast as does he run C. As he runs fast D. As does he run fast
Although he runs fast
5. On no account ................. any money if he offers you.
A. must you accept B. did you accept C. do you accept D. you accept
6. Never in her life ....................... this exhilarating emotion.
A. she experienced B. she did experience
C. she had experienced D. had she experienced
7. .........................seen such awful behavior.
A. Have I never before B. Before have I never
C. Never before I have D. Never before have I
8. They were wealthy. Money was plentiful, and .............. to be very bothered about levels of expenditure.
A. rarely anyone seemed B. rarely did anyone seem
C. did anyone rarely seem D. rarely anyone did seem
9. Not only do I enjoy classical music, ......................a season ticket to the symphony.
A. but I also have B. but also have C. but also I have D. I but also have
10. ........................, the situation.
A. Little he understands B. Little he understood
C. Little did he understand D. Did he understand little
11. .............................. us to have private talks in class.
A. At no time does our teacher allow B. At no time our teacher allows.
C. At any time does our teacher allow D. At any time our teacher allows.
12. There...........................................
A. comes the bus. B. does my bus come. C. my bus come D. did my bus come
13. By the gate ..................................
A. a little girl stood B. stood a little girl
C. did a little girl stand D. a little girl did stand
14. I cannot swim very well .............
A. and neither my sister can B. and neither can my sister
C. and so my sister can D. and so can my sister.
15. So difficult ............................that .......................three months to prepare.
A. is the test/ do the students need B. the test is/ do the students need
C. is the test/ the students need D. the test is/ the students need
16. .............................. had I arrived home than it began to rain.

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A. No sooner B. Hardly C. Scarcely D. Rarely
17. ............................... the problem, he wouldn’t have committed those mistakes.
A. Had he understood B. He had understood
C. If had he understood D. Unless had he understood
18. ................................a more beautiful sight.
A. Nowhere hadn’t Susan seen B. Had Susan seen nowhere
C. Nowhere Susan had seen D. Nowhere had Susan seen
19. Canada does not require that U.S citizens obtain passports to enter the country, and ..................
A. Mexico doesn’t, too B. so does Mexico
C. Mexico doesn’t, either = Neither does Mexico D. neither is Mexico
20. Not until the next morning ................... how serious ..................
A. she realized/ was it B. she realized/ it was
C. did she realize/ was it D. did she realize/ it was
21. Not till .................... that he had lost the key.
A. he got home did he find B. he got home he found
C. did he get home did he find D. did he get home he found
22. Only when .................. into smart clothes after the match ................. to talk to the TV reporters.
A. the players had changed/ they were allowed B. the players had changed/ were they allowed
C. had the players changed/ they were allowed. D. had the players changed/ were they allowed
23. .......................... so upset!
A. Has the boss seldom been B. Seldom the boss has been
C. Seldom has the boss been D. Has the boss been seldom
24. No sooner .......................... the door than ..................... it was locked.
A. had I reached/ did I realize B. I had reached/ did I realize
C. had I reached/ I realized D. I had reached/ I realized
25................... John that she talked about him all the time.
A. Did so much she adore B. Did she adored so much
C. So much she adored D. So much did she adore
26. Carefully though ........................, he could not manage to escape the accident.
A. he drove B. did he drive C. does he drive D. he is driving
27. Scarcely ........................out of bed when .........................
A. had I got/ did the doorbell ring B. had I got/ the doorbell rang
C. I had got/ did the doorbell ring D. I had got/ the doorbell rang
28. Little ..........................how much trouble .........................in.
A. you know/ are you B. you know/ you are
C. do you know/ are you D. do you know/ you are
29. On the table ...................................
A. lies a yellow cat B. did a yellow cat lie C. a yellow cat lie D. a yellow cat lay
30. Such ......................... that ........................ whenever it was on.
A. the popularity of the film was/ the streets were deserted
B. was the popularity of the film/ the streets were deserted
C. the popularity of the film was/ were the streets deserted
D. was the popularity of the film/ were the streets deserted
31. Only after food has been dried or canned .................................................
A. it should be stored for future use. B. that it should be stored for future use.
C. should it be stored for future use. D. should it store for future use.
32. Hardly ...........................before ...................................
A. had I left/ did the trouble start B. had I left/ the trouble started
C. I had left/ the trouble started D. I had left/ did the trouble start
33. Only after .....................................
A. the teacher understood the situation and did he make a comment
B. understanding the situation the teacher made a comment
C. the teacher understood the situation and made a comment
D. understanding the situation did the teacher make a comment

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34. ..........................to win the election, what .............................. first?
A. You were/ you would do B. You were/ would you do
C. Were you/ you would do D. Were you/ would you do
If you won (were to win) the election, …
35. Not a single word ....................... during dinner.
A. did he say B. was he said C. said he D. were
36. Down ...................................
A. fell half a dozen apples B. half a dozen apples fell
C. did half a dozen apples fall D. half a dozen apples fall
37. Only then ................... the danger .......................... in.
A. did I see/ which we were B. I saw/ which we were
C. did I see/ which were we D. I saw/ which were we
38..................... us an apology.
A. Not once the manager offered B. Not once did the manager offer
C. Did the manager not once offer D. Didn’t once the manager offer

II. Choose the most suitable words underlined.

1. Jim promised that he would never/ never would he tell anyone else.
2. Not until it was too late I remembered / did I remember I call Susan.
3. Hardly had we settled down in our seats than/when the lights went out.
4. Only after checking three times I was/was I certain of the answer.
5. At no time I was aware/was I aware of anything out of usual.
6. Only when Mary sang Sally passed/ did they pass the final examination.
7. So the waves were high/ So high were the waves that swimming was dangerous.
8. Only when Peter has arrived / has Peter arrived can we begin the program.
9. No sooner had it stopped raining than/when the sun came out.
10. If should you leave early/ Should you leave early could you leave me a lift?

III. Rewrite each of the following sentences with the given words in such a way that it means the same as
the sentence printed above it.
1. Her grief was so great that she almost fainted.
So great was her grief that she almost fainted.
2. He got down to writing the letter as soon as he returned from his walk.
No sooner had he returned from his walk than he got down to writing the letter.
3. She had hardly begun to speak before people started interrupting her.
Hardly had she begun to speak when people started interrupting her.
4. I only realized what I had missed when they told me about it later.
Only when they told me about it later did I realize what I had missed
5. You won’t find a more dedicated worker anywhere than Mrs John.
Nowhere will you find a more dedicated worker than Mrs John.
6. The outcome of the election was never in doubt.
At no time was the outcome of the election in doubt.
7. He forgot about the gun until he got home.
Not until he got home did he remember about the gun.
8. The only way you can become a good athlete is by training hard every day.
Only by training hard every day can you become a good athlete.
9. She had never been so happy before.
Never had she been so happy before.
10. The bus driver cannot be blamed for the accident in any way.
In no way can the bus driver be blamed for the accident.
11. The artist rarely paid any attention to his agent's advice.
Rarely did the artist pay any attention to his agent’s advice.
12. Public borrowing has seldom been so high.
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English Grammar Inversion
Seldom has public borrowing been so high.
13. I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed .
Hardly had I begun to apologize when the door closed.
14. They little suspected that the musical was going to be a runaway success.
Little did they suspect that the musical was going to be a runaway success.
15. We had only just arrived home when the police called.
Only when the police called had we arrived home.
16. They had seldom participated in such a fascinating ceremony.
Seldom had they participated in such a fascinating ceremony.
17. The shop can in no way be held responsible for customers' lost property.
In no way can the shop be held responsible for customers' lost property.
18. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the ceremony.
No sooner had the couple arrived than the priest started the ceremony.
19. Tom only understood the meaning of the comment when he saw his wife's face.
Only when Tom saw his wife's face did he understand the meaning of the comment.
20. The embassy staff little realized that Ted was a secret agent.
Little did the embassy staff realize that Ted was a secret agent.
IV. Rewrite each of the following sentences with the given words in such a way that it means the same as
the sentence printed above it.
1. He only thought about having a holiday abroad after he retired.
Only after he retired did he think about having a holiday.
2. I only realized how dangerous the situation had been when I got home.
Only when I got home did I realize how dangerous the situation had been.
3. It wasn’t until last week that the Agriculture Minister admitted defeat.
Not until last week did the Agriculture Minister admit defeat.
4. I understood Hamlet only after seeing it on the stage.
Only after seeing Hamlet on the stage did I understand it.
5. They didn’t get around to business until they had finished eating.
Only until they had finished eating did they get round to business.
6. They had to wait for twelve hours before their flight left.
Only after they had to wait for twelve hours did their flight leave.
7. I didn’t realize who he was until later .
Only later did I realize who he was.
8. The door could not be opened without using force.
Only using force could the door be opened.
9. I won’t agree until Tom apologizes.
Only when Tom apologized will I agree.
10. The only way you can become a good athlete is by training hard every day.
Only by training hard every day can you become a good athlete.
V. Rewrite these sentences, using inversion with SO OR SUCH.
1. The weather is so beautiful that we decided to go to the beach.
So beautiful is the weather that we decided to go to the beach.
2. He is so strong that he can lift the box.
So strong is he that he can lift the box
3. He is such a lazy boy that no one likes him.
Such a lazy boy is he that no one likes him.
4. He ate so much food that he became ill.
So much food did he eat that he became ill…
5. It is such hot coffee that I can't drink it.
Such hot coffee is it that I can’t drink it.
6. He bought so many books that he didn't know where to put them.

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English Grammar Inversion
So many books did he buy that he didn’t know where to put them.
7. She has such a soft voice that everyone likes her.
Such a soft voice does she have that everyone likes her.
8. This book is so boring that I couldn’t finish it
So boring is this book that I couldn’t finish it......................
9. He was such a fast speaker that we couldn’t understand him.
Such a fast speaker was he that we couldn’t understand him.
10. She was so tired that she fell asleep in the armchair.
So tired was she that she fell asleep in the armchair.
11. It was such a foggy day that we couldn’t see the road.
Such a foggy day was it that we couldn’t see the road.
12. This tea is so good that I’ll have another cup.
So good is this tea that I’ll have another cup.
VI. Rewrite these sentences, using inversion with NOT.
1. He is my friend as well as yours.
Not only is he my friend, but he is also yours.
2. He booked tickets for the afternoon performance and the evening performance as well.
Not only did he book tickets for the afternoon performance, but he also booked the evening performance.
3. Burglars stole a thousand pounds’ worth of electrical goods, and left the flat in an awful mess.
Not only did burglars steal a thousand pounds’ worth of electrical goods, but they also left the flat in an awful
mess.
4. Tony was not only late, but he had left all his books behind.
Not only was Tom late, but he had also left all his books behind.
5. You will enhance your posture and improve your acting ability on this course.
Not only will you enhance your posture but you will also improve your acting ability on this course.
6. It isn’t worth considering his suggestion for a moment.
Not for a moment is it worth considering his suggestion.
7. She didn’t shed a tear when the story ended in tragedy.
Not a tear did she shed when the story ended in tragedy.
8. She made no sound as she crept upstairs.
Not a sound did she make as she crept upstairs
VII. Rewrite these sentences with the adverbial phrase of direction or place at the front of the clause. Use
inversion where possible.
1. A while pillar was in front of them and a small, marble statue stood on top of it.
In front of them was a while pillar and on the top of it stood a small, marble statue
2. The two men were talking in front of the station.
In front of the station the two men were talking.
3. One of the biggest men I had ever seen was lying under the tree.
Under the tree was lying one of the biggest men I had ever seen.
4. The teacher blew a whistle and the children ran off.
Off ran the children when the teacher blew a whistle.
5. The young man came into the room.
Into the room came the young man.
6. A great castle stood directly in front of them
Directly in front of them stood a great castle.
7. The people dived for cover as the bullets flew over their heads.
The people dived for cover as over their heads flew the bullets.
8. A strange procession came along the road.
Along the road came a strange procession.
9. The bus goes there.
There goes the bus.
10. A red flower tree is near the pagoda.
Near the pagoda is a red flower tree.
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12. The runners went away.
Away went the runners.
XII. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word or words in capitals, and so that the meaning stay
the same.hihi
1. Were Smith to resign, I might stand a chance of getting his job. IF
If Smith resigned, I might stand a chance of getting his job.
2. Such was the demand for the tickets that people queued day GREAT
and night. (such that=so great that)
The demand for the tickets was so great that people queued day and night…
3. The money is not to be paid under any circumstances. NO
Under no circumstances is the money to be paid.
4. Three days passed before we arrived at the first oasis.
Not until three days passed did we arrive at the first oasis. NOT UNTIL
5. Hardly had the ship left port when a violent storm developed. SOON AFTER
Soon after the ship left port, a violent storm developed.
6. They would have discovered land sooner had they carried a compass. IF
If they had carried a compass, they would have discovered land sooner.
7. Little did Brenda know what she was letting herself in for. IDEA
Brenda had no idea what she was letting herself in for.
8. It was only when I stopped that I realized something was wrong. DID I
Only when I stopped did I realize something was wrong.
9. The accused never expressed regret for what he had done. AT NO TIME
At no time did the accused express regret for what he had done.
10. So exhausted were the runners that none of them finished the race. TOO
The runners were too exhausted to finish the race.