SUMMARY
1 - Negative inversion with adverbs of frequency.
Never have I tasted such a delicious meal. | Rarely can a young chef have had success so young.
Hardly ever has a competition been won so early on in the game.
Seldom has a simple omelette tasted better.
2 - Negative inversion with adverbs of time meaning 'only just' or 'immediately after'.
No sooner had he finished dinner, than she walked through the door.
Scarcely had I got out of bed, when the doorbell rang.
Barely had she passed her degree, when she was offered a job.
Hardly had we landed, when all hell let loose.
3 - Inversion with Little ...
Little does he know what the boss has in store for him.
Little did she realise what a stupid remark she had made.
Little did we suspect that we would never see each other again.
4a - Inversion with Only + time expression
Only then did the truth dawn on me. | Only the next day did I fully understand what had happened.
Only when I met Susannah did I find true happiness.
Only once you've read the book will you see what I'm talking about.
Only after I had seen her picture in the newspaper did I realise who she was.
4b - Inversion with Only + other expressions
Only by bribing the porter did we manage to get a meal sent up to our room.
Only if you increase the discount can we possibly accept this deal.
5a - at no time / nowhere
At no time was I aware that we were being followed.
But Officer! Nowhere does it say that parking here is forbidden.
At no (other) time are the hills quite so beautiful.
Nowhere (else) can you see more beautiful sunsets.
5b - on no account / under no circumstances
On no account should the back door be left unlocked. | On no account are the premises to be left unattended.
Under no circumstances may an employee accept a bribe.
Under no circumstances will a refund be given without a receipt.
5c - expressions with not
not until
Not until much later did he find out the truth.
Not until long after he had left university did he really know what he wanted to do in life.
not for
Not for a million pounds will I marry that woman after what she did to me!
Not for all the tea in China would I take that job.
not even if
Not even if they paid me triple would I work the weekend of our wedding anniversary.
5d - not only ... (but) (also)
Not only do I think he's a liar, but I also think he's dishonest.
Not only is she intelligent, she's also incredibly attractive.
Not only am I right this time, I'm always right.
5e - neither ... nor (both parts are inverted)
Neither do I believe a word he says, nor do I trust him an inch.
5f - not for nothing (недаром)
Davis scored twice and set up three other goals. Not for nothing was he named Man of the Match.
Helen Mirren's performance as 'The Queen' was absolutely flawless. Not for nothing was she awarded both an
Oscar and a Golden Globe.
5g - no way
No way am I going to get this finished tonight.
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Negative inversion - practice exercises
Exercise 1 - Fill the gaps using the words in the box.
has before than audience then was started will can did so many had
1. Hardly ever ------- an athlete won so many medals in such a short time.
2. Little ------- we realise what a social faux-pas we had committed.
[ faux pas [ˌfəu'pɑː] - неудачный шаг, необдуманное решение, бестактность ]
3. Scarcely ------- the match started when the trouble began.
4. Only by standing on tip-toe ------- I able to see anything at all.
5. Seldom can an ------- have heard a better interpretation of this symphony.
6. Hardly had the controversial opera ------- when people began to walk out.
7. Only if we leave now ------- we be in time to catch the train.
8. Never have I seen ------- people turn out for this event.
9. Rarely ------- a remark have been more ill-judged.
10. Only ------- did it become clear what the extent of the damage was.
11. Barely had we had time to pack up the picnic things ------- the heavens opened
12. No sooner had we asked for a quieter room room, ------- we were given one.
Exercise 2 - Fill the gaps using the words in the box.
else way did circumstances nothing such nor until would account only even
1. At no time ------- he seem to realise what an idiot he was making of himself.
2. At no time before have I heard ------- arrant nonsense.
3. Nowhere ------- do they charge you so much for water
4. On no ------- should you miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
5. Under no ------- must this door be left unlocked.
6. Not ------- she apologises for what she said will I speak to her again.
7. Not ------- if they halved the price would I buy such a heap of old rubbish.
8. Not for all the money in the world ------- I do what you're suggesting.
9. Not ------- do I know you're wrong, but I can also prove you're wrong.
10. Neither was the food up to standard ------- was the service particularly good.
11. Everyone except me got soaked. Not for ------- do I always carry an umbrella.
12. No ------- am I going to jump into that icy cold water!
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Practice Exercises
Remember that when there is more than one auxiliary verb, only the first one is inverted.
Exercise 3 - Make inverted sentences from the sentences given, using the words in brackets.
1. You shouldn't tell him about my trip to China. (On no ...)
2. You are not going to get me to eat that! (No way ... !)
3. I have seldom seen such a brilliant goal. (Seldom ...)
4. Such a hurricane has rarely happened in Hereford. (Hardly ever ...)
5. I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings for all the world. (Not ...)
6. They were never aware of the danger that threatened them. (At no time ...)
7. This must not leak out to the press. (Under ...)
8. He wasn't rich and he wasn't handsome. (Neither ...)
9. We haven't often witnessed such artistry. (Rarely ...)
10. The bridge collapsed as soon as we managed to get across. (No sooner ...)
11. We were only able to cross the border by offering him a bribe. (Only ...)
12. Immediately he opened his mouth he started complaining about everything. (Barely ... before ...)
Exercise 4 - Make inverted sentences from the sentences given, using the words in brackets.
1. She has no idea what a surprise she's going to get. (Little ... know)
2. The bell had barely started to ring when the children rushed out of the classroom. (Scarcely)
3. He didn't start his speech until there was absolute silence in the hall (Not ...)
4. We will only be able to accept your offer if we are offered free delivery (Only ...)
5. It is with good reason that Edinburgh is known as the Athens of the North (Not for ...)
6. We have never been so well wined and dined in our lives (Never ...)
7. She didn't break the news of her engagement until after dinner (Only ...)
8. We weren't told that we would need our passports. (At no time ...)
9. They don't charge you as much for water anywhere else. (Nowhere else ...)
10. I wouldn't fly with them again even if they offered me a free flight. (Not even ...)
11. We had barely entered the shop when an assistant jumped on us. (Hardly ... when ...)
12. He is both charming and very rich. (Not only ..., but ... also ...)