Inversion

…Erm, what?

A distinct grammatical construction in which a noun or adpositional phrase is shifted from its default postverbal position to one before the main verb of the clause.

In grammar, a reversal of normal word order, especially the placement of a verb ahead of the subject.

How can I do it?!

There are to ways to invert the subject and the verb.

1- be/have/auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (nonlocative inversion) or

2- main verb + subject (locative inversion)

The first example (be/have/auxiliary verb + subject + main verb) is usually used in:

Questions – Is Peter taking an exam today? Was Sally walking in the street last night?

After certain words or expressions (only when they come at the beginning of a sentence)- Seldom, rarely, little, barely, nowhere (else), never (before), not (even) once, on no account, only by, only in this law, only then, hardly (ever) … when, no sooner…than, not only… but (also), not until/till, in no way, in/under no circumstances, not since.

- Never (before) have I seen such a beautiful woman.

- Under no circumstances shall I accept this truce.

Note: when the expressions only after, only by, only if, only when come at the beginning of a sentence, the inversion is the main clause.

Only after she started working was she able to save money

Only if you follow my advice will you succeed.

With so, neither, nor, as to express agreement.

I need to be careful not to get caught.

So do I.

With should, were, had when they come at the beginning of an if-clause instead of “if”.

Should Lois call, tell her I’m out.

(if she should call)

The second example (main verb + subject) is usually used:

After verbs of movement or adverbial expressions of place when they come at the beginning of a sentence.

Outside the house was a sports car.

On the sofa sat an old man.

Note: if the subject is a pronoun, there is no inversion.

Here she comes (here comes she - wrong)

In direct speech when the subject of the introductory verb is a noun.

“I don’t like the looks of this one”

said Brian

I shall torture them with grammar exercises!

Rewrite the sentences with the phrases given1- She had no sooner fallen asleep then the telephone rang.

No sooner

had she fallen asleep than the telephone rang.

2- We not only got lost, but our car broke down.

Not only

did we get lost, but (also) our car broke down.

3- I have never heard such a terrible story before.

Never before

have I heard such a terrible story.

4- We realised only then that the jewels had been stolen.

Only then

did we realise that the jewels had been stolen.

5- Business has rarely been so good.

Rarely

has business been so good.

6- The boss has not once given him a bonus.

Not once

has the boss given him a bonus.

7- You should not enter this room under any circumstances.

Under no circumstances

should you enter this room.

8- I go to know Peter only after meeting him several times.

Only after

meeting Peter several times did I get to know him.

9- The police didn’t know that the man was a criminal.

Little

did the police know that the man was a criminal.

10- I haven’t been to the beach since last summer.

Not since

last summer have I been to the beach.

11- If I had known about the party, I would have gone.

Had I known about the party, I would have gone.

12- We haven’t had such a wonderful time anywhere else.

Nowhere else

have we had such a wonderful time.

13- If I were you, I would look for a new job.

Were

I you, I would look for a new job.

14- He had barely entered the office when the manager called him.

Barely

had he entered the office when the manager called him.

At least I go to be in THE END