Vocabulary - Negative and Limiting Adverbials with Inversions

Here are some negative adverbs and adverb phrases that we often use with inversions.

Adverbial Meaning Example

Hardly… when... Immediately after Hardly had we finished our breakfast when the prime
minister came on the TV to make a statement.
No sooner… than... Immediately after No sooner had the Prime Minister made the statement
than MPs were calling for his resignation.
Never Never before had I heard such terrible lies from a Prime
Minister.
Never will they return to our city again.
Seldom Rarely, hardly Seldom do we witness such amazing displays of political
ever maneuvering.
Rarely hardly ever, Rarely will you see such widespread derision of a public
seldom figure.
Only then Only after Only then did I understand why my parents had been so
something else critical of him.
happened
Not only ... but also This and this Not only did he lie to the people but he also lied to the
Queen.
Scarcely… when... Only just, almost Scarcely had his political career taken off when it crashed in
not full view of the public.
Only later Only some time Only later did he really comment on the situation in his
after something memoirs.
else happened
Nowhere In no place Nowhere have I ever seen so many members of the press
gathered in one place.
Little Used to limit the Little did he know what was waiting for him! Meaning: He
verb (almost) to didn’t know what was waiting for him.
nothing
Only in this way This is the only Only in this way could he win back the respect of his
way in which country.
something
happened
In no way Not at all In no way do I agree with what he said he had to do.
In no way did I intend to cause offence with my words.
On no account Never / no way / On no account should you do anything like that at home.
definitely don’t
Under no Never / no way / Under no circumstances should you talk about this matter
circumstances definitely don’t with anyone.
On no condition Never / no way / On no condition should you talk to the press before our
definitely don’t briefing.
In the following expressions, the inversion comes in the second part of the sentence:

Not until Not until I saw him with my own eyes did I really believe he was telling the truth.

Not since Not since Thatcher was PM has the country seen such a divisive leader.

Only after Only after I'd read his memoir did I understand why he did what he did.

Only when Only when everyone had read his story did the nation choose to forgive him.

Only by Only by working extremely hard could he rescue his political career

task 1

1. I had hardly arrived home when my phone rang.

_____________________________________ home when my phone rang.
2. They had barely won the match when the coach had a heart attack.
_____________________________________ the match when the coach had a heart attack.
3. The company had no sooner launched a new product than it went bankrupt.
_____________________________________ a new product than it went bankrupt.
4. She didn't really understand what the conversation was about.
Little _____________________________________ what the conversation was about.
5. You are not allowed to disturb the pilots under any circumstances.
_____________________________________ to disturb the pilots.
6. We have never faced such a challenge!
_____________________________________ such a challenge!
7. You can solve this puzzle only by guessing.
_____________________________________ this puzzle.
8. I would accept this position only if everybody agreed.
_____________________________________ this position.
9. The Queen has rarely cried in front of a camera.
_____________________________________ in front of a camera.
10. He mentioned the financial crisis zero times.
Not once _____________________________________ the financial crisis.

task 2
1. You come to realise the significance of the murder only in the last few pages of the book.
Only in the last __________________________________________________________
2. The demands of her job are such that she is rarely able to take a holiday.
Such __________________________________________________________________
3. The matter could be explained in no other way.
In ____________________________________________________________________
4. I have seldom heard such beautiful singing.
Seldom ________________________________________________________________
5. Peter didn't realize that he had lost his keys until he got home.
Not ___________________________________________________________________
6. If Mr Chan had been kinder to his employees, his business would not have collapsed.
______________________________________________________________________
7. If an emergency should arise, dial 999.
______________________________________________________________________
8. There are no circumstances where audience members may consume alcohol.
Under no circumstances __________________________________________________
9. They started to argue soon after they had got married.
No sooner _____________________________________________________________
10. You can't use my new car at any time.
At no time _____________________________________________________________

task 3
1. The gang didn't know that the police had them under surveillance.
Little ____________________________________________________________
2. We won't consider you for the basketball team until you grow up.
Not until _________________________________________________________
3. Nobody has won so many matches for his team since 1994.
Not since ________________________________________________________
4. You will not be allowed to enter the auditorium under any circumstances once the play has
started.
Under no circumstances ____________________________________________
5. He would never play in front of a live audience again.
Never ___________________________________________________________
6. Amy had not enjoyed herself so much since she went to the circus as a child.
Not since ________________________________________________________
7. I have never seen such a terrible performance of Hamlet before.
Never before _____________________________________________________
8. They only realized the painting had been hung upside down when someone complained at
reception.
Only when _______________________________________________________
9. I had been in the room for a few minutes when I realized that everyone was staring at me.
Only after ________________________________________________________
10. He discovered that he had injured his knee when he tried to run.
Only when _______________________________________________________
11. The new park was hardly finished when vandals destroyed the flowerbeds.
Hardly __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
12. You shouldn't sign a contract you haven't read thoroughly under any circumstances.
Under no circumstances ____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

task 4
CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION TO COMPLETE THE SENTENCES.
1. _______________________ that I was speaking to someone as important as Professor Sims.
a) Little have I known
b) Little did I know
c) Little I knew
d) I knew little

2. In no way ___________________ question his honesty, although I think that he made some wrong
decisions.
a) did I ever
b) I ever did
c) had I ever
d) I had ever

3. Hardly _____________________ we were told that it would soon be time for lunch.
a) we had finished breakfast that
b) had we finished breakfast that
c) had we finished breakfast when
d) we had finished breakfast when

4. At no time before I accepted the job ___________________ that I would have to do so much travelling
around the country.
a) did they told
b) I was told
c) I had been told
d) was I told

5. Not since the 1960s _______________ attended an anti-war demonstration in London.

a) so many people have
b) have so many people
c) did so many people have
d) had so many people had

task 5
COMPLETE USING THE WORDS IN BRACKETS WITH THE VERB IN THE CORRECT FORM.
1. Not until the area is made safe _______________________________________ (construction/can
continue).
2. In no way ____________________________________________________ (the announcement/affect)
how strongly we felt about the situation.
3. Seldom __________________________________________________ (you/see) a vintage car in quite
such good condition these days.
4. Not only __________________________________________ (Jerry/forget) my birthday, but he also
forgot our wedding anniversary.
5. At no time _________________________ (I/ask) my opinion on the subject.
6. Only when I checked the ticket again __________________________ (I/realise) that I had won first
prize!
7. Only if the weather is clear _________________________________ (the space shuttle/will allow) to
launch.
8. Such ____________________________ (the media interest/be) in the wedding that there were over a
dozen photographers.