Negative Inversion
Negative inversion after certain adverbs or adverbial phrases, mostly with a restrictive or negative
sense, can be placed for emphasis at the beginning of a sentence and are then followed by the
inverted (ie interrogative) form of the verb.
Adv aux S mv
Common adverbs used in negative inversion
Never
Hardly ever
Never again/before
No longer
Nowhere
Only then
Only in this way
In no way
Not only (…but also)
Rarely
Seldom
On no account
Under no circumstances
At no time
Little
Up to two things to remember:
No sooner …….than
Hardly/scarcely…..when
One thing to remember:
Not until
Not since
Only by
Only when
Examples
I don’t lie. Never + tenses
I have never been asked to accept a bribe.
Never
He was able to make himself heard only by shouting at the top of his voice.
Only
They not only burgled the house, they smashed everything they left.
Not only
This switch must not be touched on any account.
On
I didn’t really realise how important it was.
Little
The storm broke almost as soon as he left the house.
No sooner
He had hardly left the house when the storm broke.
Hardly
He didn’t realise that he had lost his keys until he got home.
Not until
Transform the following sentences:
1. I had never felt so happy.
2. The letter arrived only a week later.
3. He can rarely take a week off work.
4. Global warming is nowhere as evident as in the Polar regions.
5. You mustn’t leave this door unlocked in any circumstances.
6. The public cannot enter this area on any account.
Finish the following sentences as originally as you can:
1. Only when they found the jewels…..
2. Under no circumstances……
3. No sooner had they opened the door…..
4. Never before in the history of mankind……
5. Only by stealing the map…..
6. No longer….
Make this spy story more dramatic by re-writing six parts using negative inversion.
I had hardly entered the office of the head of the Secret Service when she shouted at me: ‘Where
have you been all this time? You not only took unauthorised leave, but you didn’t even leave an
address!’ I had rarely seen the boss so angry. I was able to find my voice only after a few seconds:
‘Ma’am, I thought I was entitled to a little break after solving the Maypole case’. I have never seen
anyone change their expression as suddenly as the boss did when I mentioned the Maypole case,
and I realised only then that the boss had something in store for me.
Rules
Using negative inversion, write 6 rules for your Student Union/ University
Transformation sentences (max 5 words)
1. My sister never asks when she borrows my clothes. (ASK)
Never _____________________ when she borrows my clothes.
2. It’s rare for foreigners to marry into the royal family. (MARRIED)
Seldom _____________________ members of the royal family.
3. The dog started barking almost as soon as I got home. (THAN)
No sooner ____________________ the dog started barking.
4. They had no idea he had stolen all their money. (LITTLE)
________________________ he had stolen all their money.
5. I had just left the house when my mobile rang. (NO)
____________________ left the house ________ my mobile rang.
6. We didn’t hear about the accident until they called. (DID)
Not until __________________ about the accident.
7. He is rich, but he’s handsome too! (ONLY)
_________________, but he’s handsome too!
8. Shortly after she passed her driving test, she received a fine for speeding. (SOONER)
No __________________ her driving test ________ she received a fine for speeding.
9. I could never see myself living in a cold climate. (IMAGINE)
Never _________________ in a cold climate.
10. Fewer people have used travel agencies than ever before. (SO)
Never before __________________ travel agencies.