Different types of inversion in English

1. Adding Emphasis:
Inversion
ADVANCED ENGLISH C2

2. Inversion after Negative
Adverbial Expressions
Identify Negative Adverbials
Look for words like never (before), not until, not only, no sooner, seldom
at no time, in no way, nowhere (else), rarely, on no account,
under/in no circumstances, no sooner….than or little.
Place Adverbial First
Move the negative expression to the beginning of the sentence.
Invert Subject and Verb
Switch the normal subject-verb order for emphasis.
Add Auxiliary if Needed
Include 'do', 'does', or 'did' with simple present or past.

3. Negative Adverbial Expressions
I (for emphasis in formal
English
Never
Never would I have imagined how difficult the exam would be.
No sooner...than
No sooner had he opened the door, than he heard a strange noise.
Nowhere else
Nowhere else in this city will you find such a good language school.
Rarely
Rarely have I read such a thought-provoking book before.

4. Negative Adverbial Expressions
II with Simple Tenses (with
auxiliaries)
Not until
Not until I saw the exam, did I realize that I would fail.
Not only
Not only do I study English but I also watch films in English.
At no time
At no time did he feel bored in class.
Little did we
Little did we know about how difficult the English exam would be.

5. Inversion with Other Expressions
Only then
This expression triggers inversion for emphasis and
dramatic effect.
Only then did he understand he loved him.
Hardly...when/than
Shows two actions happening in quick succession.
Hardly had I opened the door when the phone rang.

6. After Some Adverbial Phrases
1 Not until/Not before
Not until you start studying seriously, will you really learn.
2 Only when
Only when you start studying a foreign language, do you realize
how difficult it is.
3 Only after
Only after years of practice, can one master this grammar point.
4 Only once
Only once you've experienced failure, will you appreciate success.

7. Inversion with So and Such
100%
Intensity
Intensifiers that trigger inversion for
dramatic emphasis.
2
Key Words
"So" and "Such" begin the sentence
for powerful effect.
X3
Impact
These structures amplify emotional
and rhetorical impact.
So powerful is this technique that writers use it extensively.
Such was the elegance of her writing that everyone applauded.

8. Inversion in Conditional Sentences
First Conditional
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Second Conditional
Were we to pass the exam, we would receive a certificate.
Third Conditional
Had I known you were in hospital, I would have visited
you.

9. Inversion with Adverbs of Time, Place and
Movement
Literary Style
Used in formal writing for dramatic or
poetic effect.
In front of the door stood the teacher.
1
Colloquial Speech
Common in everyday expressions.
Here comes the bus.
2
No Auxiliaries
These inversions don't require helping
verbs.
Down went the ship into the depths.
3
No Pronouns
Can't be used with pronoun subjects.
Use with nouns only for correct
formation.
4