UNIT 21 INVERSION

In English sometimes the auxiliary verb may precede the subject just like in questions.
Inverted structures are used either to make certain parts of the sentence more emphatic and
formal or to avoid the repetition of a structure.

1. So, neither and nor

The most typical form of inversion is used either in short answers or in the second clause of
sentences to avoid the repetition of what has been said.
With short answers so is used for agreeing after an affirmative sentence, while neither or nor
is used for agreeing after a negative sentence.
‘I love writing letters.’ ‘So do I.’
‘I can’t afford it.’ ‘Neither/Nor can I.’

2. As, so, neither, nor and than

a) To avoid the repetition of something, so, neither and nor can be used with inversion in the
second clause. Neither and nor are interchangeable here, and the auxiliary following them
cannot be negated. For neither and nor together, see 23.3.
I am very grateful to you and so is Paul.
Your score may go up, but so will everyone else’s.
He could not lose, but neither/nor could he win. OR
He could not lose but he could not win, either.
(NOT He could not lose but neither/nor couldn’t he win.)
People aren’t perfect and neither/nor am I.

a) If we want to compare or contrast the subjects of the two clauses, we can use as or than to
avoid repetition. As is used instead of and so.
I was afraid of her, as were most of the kids. OR
I was afraid of her and so were most of the kids.
Her hair was dark brown, as were her eyes.
Older pupils do better at given questions than do younger ones.

Note: However, when the subject of the two clauses is the same, there is no inversion.
We all think we eat less than we do.
(NOT We all think we eat less than do we.)

3. Never, rarely and seldom

Inversion may take place after negative adverbs of time, such as never, rarely and seldom,
which can come at the beginning of the sentence and are often used with present or past
perfect.
I was quite scared on the boat. Never before had I slept on a river. OR
I had never slept on a river before.
Rarely do you see such a perfect family. OR
You rarely see such a perfect family.
Seldom has a team been so fired up before a major match. OR
A team has seldom been so fired up before a major match.

4. Barely/hardly/scarcely and no sooner

If we want to emphasise that two things happened immediately after each other (alighogy in
Hungarian) we can use no sooner + than in the other clause or barely, hardly, scarcely +
when in the other clause. These structures are most common in past tense with past perfect in
the first clause. Barely and scarcely are much less frequent than hardly and no sooner.
No sooner had the proposal been passed than it was changed.
The proposal had no sooner been passed than it was changed.
Hardly had it stopped raining when the spectators began to return to the slope. OR
It had hardly stopped raining when the spectators began to return to the slope.
Barely/Scarcely had the decision been announced when the criticism started.
The decision had barely/scarcely been announced when the criticism started.

Note: Other tenses are also possible with no sooner.

No sooner does the latest model take its place in the market than it is superseded by
another development.
No sooner have I got excited about the cool sensation in my throat than the can is
empty.
No sooner did the plane rise into the air than a door flew open.

5. Only
If we want to put the emphasis on only in a sentence, we can use inversion, too.
a) Only can appear with nouns and prepositions.
Only with incredible luck could he escape. OR
He could only escape with incredible luck.
Only next week will the results be posted. OR
The results will only be posted next week.

b) If we refer to a certain moment when something important happened, we can use only
when, only if or not until + clause + inversion in the second clause.
Only when he was safely inside the car did he look round. OR
He only looked around when he was safely inside the car. OR
Not until he was safely inside the car did he look round. OR
He didn’t look around until he was safe inside the car.
(NOT Only when/Not until was he safely inside the car, he looked around.)
Not until he had gone did my mother ask what had happened.
Only when you are soothed do you realize how much you needed soothing.
Only if you think he’s making a mistake should you say a word.
Only if we helped could we save them.

c) Only later and only then can also be followed by inversion.

Only later did she learn more about him. OR
Only later, when she was in love with him, did she learn more about him.
She only learnt about him later, when she was in love with him.
There was an hour to go before the final briefing. Only then would he know his
destination.

d) Not only is followed by inversion, too. See also 23.2.

Not only must you be accurate but also armed with strong, supporting evidence.
Not only did I not want surgery or drugs, but I hoped that in refusing them I would
not be offending my surgeon.

6. At no time, in no way, on no account, on no condition and in/under no circumstances

Some other adverbials are used with inversion if we use no at the beginning of a clause.
a) The most important of these are at no time, in no way, on no account, in/under no
circumstances and (less frequently) on no condition. However, if there is negation preceding
the expression, no changes into any.
At no time will the report be sent to us without your consent. OR
The report will not be sent to us without your consent at any time.
(NOT At any time will the report be sent to us without your consent.)
In no way had she ever been prepared for the life she was now expected to lead.

Note: In informal language sometimes no way is used without a preposition.

No way was I going back to that house.
No way could she tell him the real reason.

b) Inversion is not necessary if the adverbial comes between the auxiliary and the main verb.
A horse’s head should on no account be pulled down. OR
On no account should a horse’s head be pulled down. OR
A horse’s head should not be pulled down on any account.
I was in no way offended.

c) We can use imperatives in the following way:

Do not return on any account. OR
On no account should you return.

d) Sometimes the expressions at no time, in no way, on no account, on no condition and

in/under no circumstances might appear later in the sentence.
My father ordered me to study hard, avoid sport and, under no circumstances, play
rugby.
Tears must not be allowed to fill their eyes and under no circumstances run down
their cheeks.

7. Little
After little we can also use inversion to emphasise emotions, with verbs such as guess,
imagine, know, realize, think etc.
Little did she realise how soon she’d need to exercise her new skills.
Little did I know I was a fool slipping into danger.

8. So and such
Inversion can follow so + adjective and such + noun, usually with a copula verb (such as be,
become, get).
So successful were the organizers that the demonstration seemed spontaneous. OR
The organizers were so successful that the demonstration seemed spontaneous.
(NOT Such successful were the organizers...)
So feeble had my efforts become that I felt absolutely helpless. OR
My efforts had become so feeble that I felt absolutely helpless.
Such was the response from readers that I decided to write an extended version of
the book. OR
The response from readers was such that I decided to write an extended version of
the book.
(NOT So was the response from readers that...)

Note: Such can also refer to the previous sentence.

 Her face burned with the shame. Such was the feeling he had aroused in her.

9. Adverbials of place
In literary writing, after adverbials of place (but not time), the verb – usually in simple past –
can come before the subject.
In front of her stood her father, whom she hadn’t seen for fifteen years.
Onto the table flew a beautiful butterfly.
(NOT Onto the table did a beautiful butterfly fly.)
Tomorrow I will go home.
(NOT Tomorrow will I go home.)

10. Conditionals
For inversion in conditional sentences, see 9.8.

Exercises

1. Rewrite these sentences without changing the word given.

1. He started laughing, just like everyone else who worked in the shop. AS
2. They didn’t offer to help me until I had lost my temper. ONLY WHEN
3. His partners accepted his proposal and then he changed his mind. HARDLY
4. The boy was so talented that at the age he received a special award. SUCH
5. He had no idea that years later he would have his own pool. LITTLE
6. It’s not common to see so many people in this theatre. RARELY
7. She didn’t wish ill health on the woman at all. WAY
8. The announcement was made and then it was immediately withdrawn. SOONER
9. Girls don’t receive as much of the teacher’s attention as boys. THAN
10. He could only fall asleep at dawn. UNTIL

2. Write A if only sentence A, B if B, C if both and D if neither of the sentences are correct.

1. A) Under no circumstances are the competitors allowed to take drugs.

B) On no way are the competitors allowed to take drugs.

2. A) Never have anyone considered building an international airport here.

B) Never has considered anyone building an international airport here.

3. A) Weren’t it for the support of their friends, they could not be given the necessary help.
B) Were it not for the support of their friends, they could not be given the necessary help.

4. A) It was even hard to tell whether or not she could hear, so unused were her senses.
B) It was even hard to tell whether or not she could hear, such unused were her senses.

5. A) Were I to tell that story to my son, he would laugh and wonder what it was all about.
B) Did I tell that story to my son, he would laugh and wonder what it was all about.

6. A) Not until do you know what you want to achieve you can plan how you are going to
achieve it.
B) Only when you know what you want to achieve can you plan how you are going to achieve
it.
7. A) Anyone who has a history of epilepsy should never on any account be hypnotized.
B) On no account should anyone who has a history of epilepsy be hypnotized.

8. A) In no circumstances should silence be used against an accused person at the trial.

B) Silence should be used in any circumstances against an accused person at the trial.

9. A) Not only are people afraid of getting in and out of the bath, but they also have problems
in operating the taps.
B) People aren’t only afraid of getting in and out of the bath, but they have problems in
operating the taps, as well.

10. A) No sooner I had entered my front door than there was a knock on it.
B) I had no sooner entered my front door than there was a knock on it.

3. Translate these sentences into English, using the inversion and the words given.
1. Alighogy megszoksz egy helyet, máris tovább kell lépned. SOONER
2. Csak az utolsó pillanatban, az állomáson tűnt megint szomorúnak. ONLY
3. Soha, egy pillanatra sem hitte, hogy van köztük valami. NEVER
4. Nem nézett rám és nem is szólt egy szót sem. NOR
5. Egy-két pillanatig se lélegezni, se mozogni nem tudtam. NEITHER
6. Csak nehezen tudta a könnyeit visszatartani. DIFFICULTY
7. A tüntetéseket semmi esetre sem szabad a TV-ben bemutatni. UNDER
8. Alighogy a csapat kicsomagolt, máris elkezdődött a verseny. HARDLY
9. Csak akkor fogjuk eldönteni mi a teendő, mikor ezekre a ONLY WHEN
kérdésekre mind választ kaptunk.
10. Nem sejtette, hogy a gyűjteménye egy napon turisták ezreit fogja LITTLE
odavonzani.