C1-GATEWAY-UNIT 8-INVERSION

BBC ENGLISH MASTERCLASS: INVERSION AFTER NEGATIVE OR LIMITING ADVERBS. WATCH THE VIDEO TAKE NOTES! READ LEARN! 1: When we use a negative adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning of the sentence.Usually, we put the expression at the beginning of the sentence to emphasise what we're saying. It makes our sentence sound surprising or striking or unusual. It also sounds quite formal. If you don't want to give this impression, you can put the negative expression later in the sentence in the normal way:Seldom have I seen such beautiful work.('Seldom' is at the beginning, so we use inversion. This sentence emphasizes what beautiful work it is.)I have seldom seen such beautiful work.('Seldom' is in the normal place, so we don't use inversion. This is a normal sentence with no special emphasis.)Here are some negative adverbs and adverb phrases that we often use with inversion:HardlyHardly had I got into bed when the telephone rang.NeverNever had she seen such a beautiful sight before.SeldomSeldom do we see such an amazing display of dance.RarelyRarely will you hear such beautiful music.Only thenOnly then did I understand why the tragedy had happened.Not only ... butNot only does he love chocolate and sweets but he also smokes.No soonerNo sooner had we arrived home than the police rang the doorbell.ScarcelyScarcely had I got off the bus when it crashed into the back of a car.Only laterOnly later did she really think about the situation.NowhereNowhere have I ever had such bad service.LittleLittle did he know!Only in this wayOnly in this way could John earn enough money to survive.In no wayIn no way do I agree with what you're saying.On no accountOn no account should you do anything without asking me first.In the following expressions, the inversion comes in the second part of the sentence:Not untilNot until I saw John with my own eyes did I really believe he was safe.Not sinceNot since Lucy left college had she had such a wonderful time.Only afterOnly after I'd seen her flat did I understand why she wanted to live there.Only whenOnly when we'd all arrived home did I feel calm.Only byOnly by working extremely hard could we afford to eat.We only use inversion when the adverb modifies the whole phrase and not when it modifies the noun: Hardly anyone passed the exam. (No inversion.) Change the sentences so that they use inversion.For example:We had hardly arrived when Julie burst into the house. → Hardly had we arrived when Julie burst into the house. 1. John had never been to such a fantastic restaurant.1. Never had John been to such a fantastic restaurant.2. I in no way want to be associated with this project.2. In no way do I want to be associated with this project3. They had no sooner eaten dinner than the ceiling crashed onto the dining table.3. No sooner had they eaten dinner than the ceiling crashed onto the dining table.4. I had scarcely finished writing my essay when the examiner announced the end of the exam.4. Scarcely had I finished writing my essay when the examiner announced the end of the exam.5. I seldom leave my house so early.5. Seldom do I leave my house so early.6. People rarely appreciate this musician’s talent.6. Rarely do people appreciate this musician’s talent.7. We would understand what had happened that night only later.7. Only later would we understand what had happened that night.8. They had met such rude people nowhere before.8. Nowhere had they met such rude people before.9. He understood little about the situation.9. Little did he understand about the situation.10. The children should on no account go on their own.10. On no account should the children go on their own.