Inversion for emphasis
Negative adverb + auxiliary + subject, using Unit 28 words.
In formal English, we can put a negative or limiting adverb at the front of a sentence for emphasis. This causes inversion: the auxiliary comes before the subject, like a question. Every example uses this unit's emphasis vocabulary.
A — How it works
After a fronted negative adverb (Never, Rarely, Not only, Under no circumstances), invert: auxiliary + subject + main verb.
1) Fronted negative adverbs
Never / Rarely / Seldom + auxiliary + subject.
- Never have I approved a request without documentation.
- Rarely do we use abbreviations in client emails.
- Seldom does the manager arrive late.
- Hardly had we started when the system failed.
2) Not only… / Under no circumstances…
Emphatic openers with inversion.
- Not only did revenue rise, but costs also fell.
- Under no circumstances should slang appear in the report.
- No sooner had the meeting begun than it was cancelled.
- Only then did we understand the problem.
The rest of this lesson is in the General English course:
- B — Quick reference
- Remember
Try it: Choose the correct form
Select the best option.
- Never ___ I seen such a clear report.
(a) have (b) I have (c) has - Rarely ___ we approve refunds without receipts.
(a) do (b) we do (c) does - Not only ___ revenue rise, but costs fell.
(a) did (b) revenue (c) was - Under no circumstances ___ slang appear in reports.
(a) should (b) slang should (c) does slang - Inversion puts the ___ before the subject.
(a) auxiliary (b) object (c) adverb - Inversion is mainly used in:
(a) formal writing (b) texting (c) casual speech
Check your answers in the course — it marks them instantly. This is one of the unit's 3 exercises; the other 2 are in the General English course too.
Practise this unit in the course →