Inversion after negative adverbials

Do you know how to use inversion after negative adverbials like Not only, Barely and Only? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how we use inversion after negative adverbials.

Never have I been so happy to see someone.
Not only did he win the match but he came back from a difficult start.
Barely had she got back in bed when her alarm went off.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1: Inversion after negative adverbials: Grammar test 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

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.)

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2: Inversion after negative adverbials: Grammar test 2

Language level

C1 Advanced

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Hi teachers,

Thank you for the handy information. I have some confusion about the topic. Could you give me some advice?

As in Grammar Test 1 no. 5, the question says:

We couldn't relax until we heard they'd arrived safely.
While simple past tense is used in the question, the model answer involves the use of past perfect tense.

Can it also be 'Only when we heard they'd arrived safely could we relax'?

Is past perfect tense necessary in this case? Or is simple past tense acceptable?

Hello kitmit831,

Since the instructions in the exercise specify that three words must be used, the answer must be in the past perfect.

But you are right: in real life, the past simple is also acceptable in this case :-)

Sorry for the confusion!

Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team

Hello teachers,

I found this sentence on news 'Showing me around the long, brightly lit corridors lined with rows of shuttered metal doors is David Allan. '

Is this structure using inversion? Why?

I don't find the reason why this is using inversion?

Hello Risa warysha,

There are many forms of inversion and this page focuses on those with negative adverbs such as rarely, never and so on. Your example is different. It is a form of inversion which we can create from sentences using continuous forms:

Paul was writing a book > Writing a book was Paul
David Allan is showing me around the long, brightly lit corridors lined with rows of shuttered metal doors > Showing me around the long, brightly lit corridors lined with rows of shuttered metal doors is David Allan

This form of inversion is used mainly in narratives as it has a literary style. It is used for descriptions which set the scene in a story.

Here are a list of some common forms of inversion in English.

After negative adverbial expressions, especially those containing ‘no’
Under no circumstances can we accept credit cards.
At no time / At no point / In no way was the price mentioned.
Not until I heard my name did I believe I had won the race.

After adverbial expressions of place
Round the corner came the postman.
On the doorstep was a bunch of flowers.

After 'seldom', 'rarely', 'never', and 'little'
Seldom have I seen such a beautiful view.
Never had I felt so happy.
Little did he imagine how dangerous it would be.

After 'hardly', 'scarcely', 'barely', 'no sooner', when one thing happens after another
Hardly had I begun to speak when I was interrupted.
Scarcely had we started our meal when the phone rang.
No sooner had I arrived than they all started to argue.
NB: hardly, scarcely and barely are followed by when; no sooner is followed by than.

After adverbial expressions beginning with 'only' and 'not only’
Only after the meeting did I realise the importance of the subject.
Only when the plane landed safely did he calm down.
Not only was the car slow, it was also very uncomfortable.

In unreal present and past conditionals we can sometimes replace the 'if' with an inversion
Had you not (If you had not) invited him he would not be here.
Had I known (If I had known) it would be so difficult I would never have enrolled.
Were I younger (If I were younger) I would take a job abroad.
NB: You can’t use inversion with totally impossible conditions: not Were I to have three heads, I’d….

In expressions with 'here' and ‘there' as adverbs of place
Here comes the bus.
There goes all our money!

With verbs of reporting such as 'say' or 'ask' in direct speech
"I love you,” said Harry.
"How far is it?" asked the passenger.

In expressions with ‘so (+adjective)’ or ‘such (+be+noun)’
So terrifying was it that I had to stop watching.
Such was the dream that I had.

I hope that's useful.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Is "no sooner...than..." not likely to be used in a positive or agreeable situtaion? Like, "No sooner had he got the new gloves than he eagerly tried them on." Does this sentence sound weird? The sentence conveys a sense of eagerness and happiness, but "no sooner ... than ..." seems to give a slightly contrast note.

Hello Radioheady,

I don't think there's any particular context more or less likely with no sooner.... You can use it with positive and negative situations. Your example is fine.