Inversion and Emphasis

We can shape our use of English to add emphasis in a number of different contexts. For example,
to give strong advice, to express opinions clearly, to disagree, to show concern, to entertain. The list
is endless.
One of the most effective ways to make language more emphatic when using English is by inverting
a sentences regular word order. Emphasis in this way is often presented through written language
and is of a highly formal register. Lets take a look at the following sentence:
1) She had never seen such an impressive live performance
The sentence above displays a regular, relatively common word order in English. We have our
subject (She), followed by a negative verb form in the past (had never seen) and a modified object
(such an impressive live performance).

second example:
2) Never had she seen such an impressive live performance
Our second sentence clearly demonstrates a shift in the first examples word order. Never is what is
known as a Negative Adverbial. Above, Never has been taken away from the sentences main verb
phrase and inserted at the beginning. Additionally, the past auxiliary had is placed in front of the
subject, she.

The basic formula for transforming common sentences into more emphatic statements is as follows:
Negative Adverbial or Only/No Expression + Auxiliary or Modal Verb + Subject + Main Verb
+ Object

3) Never had we heard such a fascinating story

Despite using the past perfect in sentences 2) and 3), this formula remains reliable with the present
tense also. For example:

4) Rarely will I eat chocolate during the week

5) Under no circumstances should you leave your children unsupervised

Other Negative Adverbials include: rarely, not since, hardly, never before, not until, little, at no
time etc.
No/Only Expressions include: under no circumstances, not only, no sooner, in no way, only
when etc.
I have played little tennis since I was a child
Little have I played tennis since I was a child

He had hardly taken a seat before he started to talk

Hardly had he taken a seat before he started to talk

Fruit and vegetables are not only good for your health, but they are also extremely delicious
Not only are fruit and vegetables good for your health, but they are also extremely delicious

The cyclist was in no way held responsible for the recent accident
In no way was the cyclist held responsible for the recent accident

Inversion
(verb before the subject)
Inversion means putting the verb before the subject.
It is a literary technique in which the normal order of words is reversed, generally
for emphasis
or special effect. It makes a sentence sound striking or unusual. It also sounds
quite formal.
Sentences with inversion are less common in ordinary English.
In a sentence with no special effect or emphasis, the normal order of words is
retained.
Example 1 : I have never seen such a beautiful rose.
Example 2 : Never have I seen such a beautiful rose.
In example 2 inversion is used to emphasise the fact that in your whole lifetime
you have not seen such a beautiful rose.
It is sometimes difficult to remember when inversion is or can be used.
Here are some guidelines and examples to help you.
In normal everyday English, inversion is used :

To make questions : Does he? Can you?

After 'so' 'neither', 'nor' : So do I, neither do I, nor do I.

In written English, as well as in a very formal style, inversion can be used in

the following cases :

After negative adverbial expressions :

Under no circumstances can we accept credit cards.

In no way can he be held responsible.

At no time did she say she would come.

Not until I heard my name did I believe I had won the race.

After adverbial expressions of place :

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Round the corner came the postman.

On the doorstep was a bunch of flowers.

After 'seldom', 'rarely', 'never', and 'little' :

Seldom have I seen such a beautiful view.

Rarely did he pay anyone a compliment.

Never had I felt so happy.

Little did he imagine how dangerous it would be.

After 'hardly', 'scarcely', 'no sooner', when one thing happens

after another.

Hardly had I begun to speak when I was interrupted.

Scarcely had we started our meal when the phone rang.

No sooner had I arrived than they all started to argue.

After adverbial expressions beginning with 'only' and 'not only' :

Only after the meeting did I realize the importance of the

subject.

Only when the plane landed safely did he calm down.

Not only was the car slow, it was also very uncomfortable.

Conditionals with inversions

In conditional sentences we can sometimes replace the 'if' with an
inversion:
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Had I known it would be so difficult I would never have enrolled.

After exclamations with 'here' and 'there' :

Here comes the winner!

There goes all our money!

Constructions with "so" and "neither"

Inversion is required in responses like "So do I" and
"Neither do I".
I like coffee. So do I.
I don't like coffee. Neither do I.
She will wait for them. So will I.
She won't wait for them. Neither will I.
Inversion is also required in compound sentences with
such constructions.
I like coffee, and so does Ella.
I don't like coffee, and neither does Ella.
She will wait for them, and so will I.
She won't wait for them, and neither will I.
So do I. Neither do I.
Phrases like "So do I" and "Neither do I" are used as
responses showing your similar attitude, action, or
state in comparison with what your conversation
partner has said.
The auxiliary verb in your response is the same as in
the phrase to which you are responding. If there are
two auxiliary verbs in the phrase to which you are
responding, use the first auxiliary verb in your
response.
If there is no auxiliary verb in the phrase to which you
are responding (i.e., the main verb is in the Simple
Present or the Simple Past), use the auxiliary verb DO
(does, did) in your response.
Responses to affirmative phrases
I am a student. So am I.
I like oranges. So do I.
I feel terrible. So do I.
I was there yesterday. So was I.
I visited India last year. So did I.
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I will see him tomorrow. So will I.

I have been waiting for a long time. So have I.
Responses like "I do too" may be used instead of
responses like "So do I", with the same meaning.
I'm bored. I am too. / So am I.
I like it. I do too. / So do I.
I was disappointed. I was too. / So was I.
Responses to negative phrases
I am not hungry. Neither am I.
I don't know him. Neither do I.
I didn't call them. Neither did I.
I wasn't laughing. Neither was I.
I won't go there. Neither will I.
Responses like "I don't either" may be used instead of
responses like "Neither do I", with the same meaning.
I don't like it. I don't either. / Neither do I.
I didn't find her. I didn't either. / Neither did I.
I wasn't invited. I wasn't either. / Neither was I.
Note: Me too. Me neither.
Informal responses "Me too" and "Me neither" are
sometimes used in colloquial speech in informal
situations. (Language learners should avoid such use
in their speech and writing.)
I am hungry. Me too.
I wasn't sure. Me neither.
The verb HAVE in responses
If the phrase to which you are responding has the
auxiliary verb HAVE, use the verb HAVE in your
response. If the verb HAVE is used as a main verb
(meaning: to own, to possess), use the verb DO (does,

did) in your response

I have finished my work. So have I.
I haven't seen this film yet. Neither have I.
I have been working very hard lately. So have I.
I have a question. So do I.
I have a car. So do I.
I have no time. Neither do I.
I don't have any money. Neither do I.
I had a lot of work yesterday. So did I.
Expressing similarity with other people or
objects
First person phrases and responses are the most
common, but various other combinations are also
possible.
She is on vacation now. So are we. / We are too.
John can speak Italian. So can Tom. So can Tina.
Maria works in this building. So does Anton. So do
we.
This house is very expensive. So is that house. So
are those houses.
She didn't ask him about it. Neither did you. / You
didn't either.
You shouldn't stay here. Neither should Alex.
My task wasn't very difficult. Neither was mine.
My pen doesn't write. Neither does mine. / Mine
doesn't either.
Note: Use of "nor"
If several people or things are mentioned in your
negative response, use "neither" with the first and
"nor" with the second, third, etc.
She didn't ask him about it. Neither did you. Nor did
his brother.
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I never saw him after that. Neither did I, nor did

Mike.
You shouldn't stay here. Neither should you, nor
should Alex, nor should anyone.
But I do. But I don't.
Responses like "But I do" (often "I do") and "But I
don't" (often "I don't") express a different attitude,
action, or state as compared with what has just been
said.
I like tomato sauce. But I don't. / I don't.
I have been there many times. I haven't.
She told you the truth. But you didn't.
I don't have any questions. But I do. / I do.
I didn't like that film. But I did. / I did.
No one can help her. We can.
Victor won't come to the party tomorrow. But Tom
will. / Tom will.
Note: Yes, No
When you agree or disagree with someone's
statement or tag question, use responses like "Yes, I
do; No, I don't".
You like such films. Yes, I do. (agreement) No, I don't.
(disagreement)
You don't like such films. No, I don't. (agreement)
Yes, I do. (disagreement)
Tom knows them. Yes, he does. (agreement) No, he
doesn't. (disagreement)
Tom doesn't know them. No, he doesn't. (agreement)
Yes, he does. (disagreement)
Full responses
Shortened responses like "So do I; Neither do I" help
you to avoid repetition of the phrase said by your
conversation partner. But if you want, you can use a

full phrase in your response.

I'm tired. I'm tired too. (So am I. / I am too.)
She doesn't know him. We don't know him either.
(Neither do we. / We don't either.)
We are not going to the party. Mike isn't going to the
party either. (Neither is Mike. / Mike isn't either.)
I have already done my homework. But Lena hasn't
done her homework yet. (But Lena hasn't.)
Tom wasn't busy yesterday. But Tanya was busy
yesterday. (But Tanya was. / Tanya was.)
Other cases of use
Phrases like "So do I; I do too; Neither do I; I don't
either; But I do; But I don't" are used not only as
responses in conversation but also for uniting similar
separate sentences into a compound sentence (in
speech and writing).
Such compound sentences allow you not to repeat the
second sentence in full. For example:
I went to France last summer. Larisa went to France
last summer too. = I went to France last summer, and
so did Larisa. = I went to France last summer, and
Larisa did too.
Kate isn't watching TV now. Mike isn't watching TV
either. = Kate isn't watching TV now, and neither is
Mike. = Kate isn't watching TV now, and Mike isn't
either.
Anna speaks English. Sergey doesn't speak English. =
Anna speaks English, but Sergey doesn't.
Sergey doesn't speak English. Anna speaks English. =
Sergey doesn't speak English, but Anna does.

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NEVER (BEFORE), RARELY, LITTLE, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES,

ON NO CONDITION, IN NO WAY, NOT ONLY ... BUT, NOT ONLY ... BUT ALSO.
Cuando las palabras arriba indicadas se colocan al comienzo de una oracin
para lograr un efecto retrico o enftico, el sujeto y el auxiliar invierten sus
posiciones. Observa estos ejemplos:
Never (before) have we faced such a challenge.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: We have never faced such a challenge.
Rarely has there been so much speculation about the future of the
company.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: There has rarely been so much speculation about the
future of the company.
Little did she understand what the conversation was about.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: She didn't really understand what the conversation
was about.
Under no circumstances are you allowed to disturb the pilots.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: You are not allowed to disturb the pilots under any
circumstances.
On no condition will the company bear responsibility for lost property.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: The company will not bear responsibility for lost
property on any condition.
In no way am I related to the suspect.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: I am in no way related to the suspect.
Not only were you late, but you didnt even have a good excuse.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: You were not only late, but you didnt have a good
excuse either.
Not only did he exceed the speed limit, but he had also consumed
alcohol.
NORMAL WORD ORDER: He not only exceeded the speed limit but he had also
consumed alcohol.

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Reformulate the following sentences using inversion.

1.

I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed .

2.

I have seldom heard such a talented singer.

3.
If John had known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to an
Indian restaurant.
4.

The artist rarely paid any attention to his agent's advice.

5.

He had never felt so depressed.

6.

The shop can in no way be held responsible for customers' lost property.

7.

The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the ceremony.

8.
Tom only understood the meaning of the comment when he saw his
wife's face.
9.
10.

She never at any time said that she was allergic to cats.
The restaurant cannot accept animals under any circumstances.

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1.

Hardly had I begun to apologize when the door closed.

2.
Seldom have I heard such a talented singer.
3.
Had John known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to an Indian
restaurant.
4.
Rarely did the artist pay attention to his agent's advice.
5.
Never had he felt so depressed.
6.
In no way can the shop be held responsible for customers' lost property.
7.
No sooner had the couple arrived than the priest started the ceremony.
8.
Only when he saw his wife's face did Tom realize the meaning of the
comment.
9.
Never at any time had she said (that) she was allergic to cats.
10. Under no circumstances can the restaurant accept animals.

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Inversion
Sometines, we may invert the verb and subject of a phrase.
1.-Inversion is used with so and neither in short answers to agree with
something someone has just said.
A: I really enjoyed the play
B: So did I. Not: so I did.
Notice: you use so for answering a positive structure.
I dont have any money left / I havent got any money left.
Neither do I or I havent either.
You use neither to provide a short answer with a negative structure.
2.- Inversion is used with adverbs of negative to express surprise or emphasis.
This use is common in more formal or literary writing:
- not only did they steal the kitchen equipment but also the food from the
fridge / the food from the fridge too.
- Hardly had I opened the door than I notice a strange smell.
- no sooner had they left the flat than Mary rang to say she couldnt come.
- never / rarely / seldom had we witnessed such a terrible scene.
3.- with the 3rd conditional:
If we had known about his past, we wouldnt have gone to the police.
Had we known about his past, we wouldnt have gone to the police.

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