The document discusses various uses of inversion in formal English writing and speaking to emphasize elements or express contrast. Some examples of inversion include using an inverted conditional sentence, inverting the subject and verb after a fronted time adverbial, and inverting the subject and verb after prepositional phrases with "no", "little", "so/such", "neither/nor", or involving location or movement. Inversion structures the information to highlight important elements or introduce contrast.

1. Inversion
For formal Speech (writing &
speaking)

2. To emphasise or to express contrast.
• Had it been completed
as Calthorpe planned it,
it would have been one
of the great visionary
new towns of the 20th
century.
• (if it had been…-
inversion in a
conditional sentence.)

3. Inversion after a time adverbial phrase
• Only once did I see
any evidence of public
transport. (a fronted
time adverbial---only
once--- with a
question form –did I
see).

4. T o place emphasis
• No sooner had we left,
than it started to pour
with rain.

5. T o express contrast
• Barely had Janie
recovered from her
operation, when she
found out she was
pregnant.

6. T o emphasise
• Only after a rigorous
security check, were we
allowed to enter the buil
ding. (fronted time
adverbial--- only after-----
and noun phrase– a
rigorous check…)

7. Inversion with adverbials of place
• Opposite the gallery
entrance stands an
imposing bronze statue.
(opposite the gallery---an
adverbial of place---
stands---main lexical
verb).

8. Inversion with adverbials of place
• Under the table sat a tiny
mouse with bright, beady
eyes. (adverbial place---
under the table---main
,lexical verb -----sat).

9. Inversion with <location> and verbs of
movement (come, go, run).
• Up the hill crawled the
number 77 bus. (location-
----up the hill----verb of
movement---crawled.)

10. Inversion with <location> and verbs of
movement (come, go, run).
• Alongside the road runs
the River Avon.
(alongside the road------
location----runs----main
,lexical verb).

11. Inversion after prepositional phrases
with no
• On no account should
children be left
unsupervised in this play
area. (prepositional
phrase-----on no account-
-- lexical verb phrase----
should children be left).

12. Inversion after prepositional phrases
with no
• In no way can a goalless
draw be seen as a good
result for United. (in no
way----prepositional
phrase ----can a goalless
draw be seen---
predicate).

13. Inversion after prepositional phrases
with no
• Under no circumstances
was Sally going to admit
defeat. (prepositional
phrase----under no
circumstances----
predicate-----was Sally
going to …..).

14. Inversion after not
• Not only did the team
win the county cup, they
also came top of their
league. (not only---
prepositional phrase---
main sentence follows).

15. Inversion after not
• Not one grain of
encouragement did he
show throughout the
course. (particle---not----
noun phrase ----grain of
encouragement--- main
sentence –did he show).

16. Inversion after little
• Little did I think then ,
that I would miss the
bright lights in years to
come. (quantifier---little--
-inverted question---did I
think-----sentence of
result---that I….).

17. Inversion after little
• Little was she expecting
Sam to walk through that
door. (quantifier---little---
-question form inverted
into a lexical sentence---
was she expecting…).

18. Inversion with so/such…that
• So popular has the
system become that it
now carries nearly two
million passengers each
day. (quantifier+
adjective---so popular +
verb phrase –has the
system become + that
sentence of result---it
now carries…)

19. Inversion with so/such…that
• Such was the outcry that
the advertisement had to
be withdrawn.
(quantifier---such +
predicate sentence---
was the outcry + that +
sentence of concession --
-the advertisement hat
to be withdrawn).

20. Inversion with neither/nor
• Yasmin doesn’t relish
living in a high-rise
apartment and neither
do I. (quantifier –
neither + auxiliary verb
phrase– Do I.)

21. Inversion with neither/nor
• Jim hasn’t been asked to
work overtime and nor
should you be. (quantifier
–nor + elliptical verb
phrase ---should you be).