This document discusses adding emphasis in English sentences by starting with negative adverbials and reversing the subject and verb order. It provides examples of sentences with and without this structure and notes the structure creates a more dramatic or emphatic effect. Negative adverbials that can be used in this way include never, nowhere, not once, not until, and others. When reversing order with certain adverbials like never, an auxiliary verb like did must be added.

1. ADDING EMPHASIS 1
INVERSIÓN AFTER NEGATIVE ADVERBIALS
Read the pair of sentences below and tick the sentence in each pair which is
more emphatic. Underline the structural differences between the sentences.
lo
a) The old woman had never in her life experienced such excitement.
b) Never in her life had the old woman experienced such excitement.
2.
a) Nowhere else in the world will you frnd scenery like this.
b) You won't find scenery like this anywhere in the world.
3.
a) You must not leave your luggage unattended at any time.
b) On no account should you leave your luggage unattended at any
time.
4.
a) 1 didn't realise how cold it was until 1 went outside.
b) Not until 1 went outside did 1 re alise how cold it was.
5.
a) Only recently did they get the chance to visit the city.
b) They only got the chance to visit the city recently.
Starting a sentence with a negative adverbial and reversing the order
of the subject and verb is a way of adding emphasis or creating a dramatic
effect in English. It is a feature of more formal writing, but may also occur
in speech for dramatic effect. Expressions that can be placed first in the
sentence include:
On no account Under no circumstences Little
Atno time No where
Notonce Nota word
Not for a moment Not since
Not until Not only ... but (also)
Never (betore) Rarely
Seldom Only (now/recently)
Only by chance Onlywhen
HardJy/scarcely '" when No sooner ... than
If there is no auxiliary verb, do/does/didhas to be added.
He never once came to see ber in hospital.
Never once did he come to see her in hospital.