Grammar C1: Inversion after negative adverbials: 1
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence. Write
three words in each gap.
1. We have rarely seen weather like this in October.
Rarely have we seen weather like this in October.
2. He's won the election and got ninety per cent of the vote.
Not only has he won the election but he's got ninety per cent of the vote.
3. The film started just as we found our seats.
No sooner had we found
our seats than the film started.
4. People can rarely photograph the Amur leopard.
Rarely can people photograph the Amur leopard.
5. We couldn't relax until we heard they'd arrived safely.
Only when we had heard / we'd heard they'd arrived safely could we relax.
6. I didn't realise at the time how soon I'd need your help.
Little did I realise at the time how soon I'd need your help.
7. I really didn't expect a reaction like this.
In no way did I expect a reaction like this.
8. There has never been such a good time to do this.
Never before has there been such a good time to do this.
Grammar explanation
'Inversion' means reversing (inverting) the normal subject–verb word order in a
sentence.
We can use inversion to add emphasis, especially in formal English. It is
common, for example, in political speeches, because it has a persuasive and
impressive effect.
To invert a sentence in this way, we put the adverbial (e.g. never, rarely, not
only, etc.) at the beginning and change the normal position of the subject and
the auxiliary verb.
Not only did they arrive late but they talked throughout the film.
(They not only arrived late but they talked throughout the film.)
If there is no auxiliary verb, we need to add one. For example, we add do for
present simple verbs and did for past simple verbs.
Rarely do we find such talent.
(We rarely find such talent.)
Never, rarely, seldom
These adverbials are often used with present perfect, past perfect or modals
like can and could.
Never had they seen so many people in the village.
Seldom has she taken a day off work.
Rarely can a patient fully recover from such an injury.
Hardly, barely, scarcely, no sooner
These adverbials often refer to an event which quickly follows another in the
past and are usually used with past perfect. Hardly, scarcely and barely are
followed by when in the contrasting clause, and no sooner is followed by than.
Hardly had we sat down when we were told to evacuate the building.
Scarcely had the votes been counted when the new president was pushed in
front of TV cameras.
No sooner had the game started than the captain was taken ill.
No sooner was the new park open than it started raining.
Only + time expression
These include only after, only if/when, only then and only later.
Only when they refilled my glass did I realise it was broken.
Only later did they discover they hadn't been told the truth.
Phrases with no and not
These include under no circumstances, on no account, at no time, in no way, on
no condition, not until and not only.
Under no circumstances should children travel without an adult.
In no way did we agree to this.
Little
In these sentences, little has a negative or restrictive meaning.
Little do people realise how hard it is to be a chef.
(People don't realise how hard it is to be a chef.)
Little did she know then that she would become the company director.
(She didn't know then that she would become the company director.)
Grammar C1: Inversion after negative adverbials: 2
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence. Write three
words in each gap.
1. She fell asleep just as she finished reading the first page.
Barely had she finished reading the first page when she fell asleep.
2. I have never seen anything like it.
Never have I seen anything like it.
3. The film started just as we found our seats.
No sooner had we found our seats than the film started.
4. They raised the price and reduced the amount in the packet.
Not only did they raise the price but they reduced the amount in the packet.
5. There has never been so much interest in mental health before.
Never before has there been so much interest in mental health.
6. They didn't tell us until the decision was confirmed.
Only when the decision was confirmed did they tell us.
7. I didn't know at that moment that my life was about to change.
Little did I know at that moment that my life was about to change.
8. There has never been such a good time to do this.
Never before has there been such a good time to do this.
Grammar C1: Inversion after negative adverbials: 1
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence. Write
three words in each gap.
1. We have rarely seen weather like this in October.
Rarely__________________ weather like this in October.
2. He's won the election and got ninety per cent of the vote.
Not ________________ won the election but he's got ninety per cent of the vote.
3. The film started just as we found our seats.
No sooner _________________ our seats than the film started.
4. People can rarely photograph the Amur leopard.
Rarely_______________________ the Amur leopard.
5. We couldn't relax until we heard they'd arrived safely.
Only when __________________________ they'd arrived safely could we relax.
6. I didn't realise at the time how soon I'd need your help.
Little _______________________ at the time how soon I'd need your help.
7. I really didn't expect a reaction like this.
In no way______________________a reaction like this.
8. There has never been such a good time to do this.
Never before _____________________ such a good time to do this.
Grammar explanation
'Inversion' means reversing (inverting) the normal subject–verb word order in a
sentence.
We can use inversion to add emphasis, especially in formal English. It is
common, for example, in political speeches, because it has a persuasive and
impressive effect.
To invert a sentence in this way, we put the adverbial (e.g. never, rarely, not
only, etc.) at the beginning and change the normal position of the subject and
the auxiliary verb.
Not only did they arrive late but they talked throughout the film.
(They not only arrived late but they talked throughout the film.)
If there is no auxiliary verb, we need to add one. For example, we add do for
present simple verbs and did for past simple verbs.
Rarely do we find such talent.
(We rarely find such talent.)
Never, rarely, seldom
These adverbials are often used with present perfect, past perfect or modals
like can and could.
Never had they seen so many people in the village.
Seldom has she taken a day off work.
Rarely can a patient fully recover from such an injury.
Hardly, barely, scarcely, no sooner
These adverbials often refer to an event which quickly follows another in the
past and are usually used with past perfect. Hardly, scarcely and barely are
followed by when in the contrasting clause, and no sooner is followed by than.
Hardly had we sat down when we were told to evacuate the building.
Scarcely had the votes been counted when the new president was pushed in
front of TV cameras.
No sooner had the game started than the captain was taken ill.
No sooner was the new park open than it started raining.
Only + time expression
These include only after, only if/when, only then and only later.
Only when they refilled my glass did I realise it was broken.
Only later did they discover they hadn't been told the truth.
Phrases with no and not
These include under no circumstances, on no account, at no time, in no way, on
no condition, not until and not only.
Under no circumstances should children travel without an adult.
In no way did we agree to this.
Little
In these sentences, little has a negative or restrictive meaning.
Little do people realise how hard it is to be a chef.
(People don't realise how hard it is to be a chef.)
Little did she know then that she would become the company director.
(She didn't know then that she would become the company director.)
Grammar C1: Inversion after negative adverbials: 2
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence. Write three
words in each gap.
1. She fell asleep just as she finished reading the first page.
Barely _______________ reading the first page when she fell asleep.
2. I have never seen anything like it.
Never __________________ anything like it.
3. The film started just as we found our seats.
No sooner ________________ our seats than the film started.
4. They raised the price and reduced the amount in the packet.
Not ________________ raise the price but they reduced the amount in the packet.
5. There has never been so much interest in mental health before.
Never before ___________________ so much interest in mental health.
6. They didn't tell us until the decision was confirmed.
Only when the decision was confirmed __________________ us.
7. I didn't know at that moment that my life was about to change.
Little __________________ at that moment that my life was about to change.
8. There has never been such a good time to do this.
Never before ___________________ such a good time to do this.