Inversion

Inversion involves putting an auxiliary verb before the subject of a clause. We do

this in a number of different situations:

1. Questions
The most common use of inversion is in the forming of questions.
Examples:
Were they ready when you arrived?
Where was it made?
Have you ever visited France?
Where do you live?
What should we do now?

2. So, nor and neither

Inversion is common when using these words to expression agreement or
disagreement.
Examples:
A: I'm from Turkey.
B: So am I.

A: I don't like monsters!

B: Nor/ Neither do I.

3. Conditional clauses
In formal English, the if clause in conditional sentences can be rephrased through
inversion:
Examples:
Were you to win the election, what's the first thing you'd do?
= If you won the election …
Had we known what the weather would be like, we wouldn't have come
= If we had known what …
Should you see Nigel, give him my regards.
Were I in your shoes, I would make a formal complaint.

4. May
When we are making wishes, we can use inversion:
Examples:
May you both live happily ever after!
May you have more birthdays to come!

5. After negative adverbials

There are some words and phrases that function as adverbials that sometimes need
an inversion.

a. Time expressions: hardly, barely, no sooner, or scarcely

These time expressions are used when a there are a succession of events in
ajvilches. 5/ 2009
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-grammar-inversion.htm
http://www.fullspate.net/grammar/inversions_in_english.html
http://esl.about.com/od/advancedgrammar/a/inversion.htm
the past.
Examples:
Scarcely had I got out of bed when the doorbell rang.
No sooner had he finished dinner, when she walked in the door.

b. Time expressions: never, rarely, seldom

Examples:
Never have I been more insulted!
Seldom has he seen anything stranger.
Rarely does Bob speak to himself.
Seldom does she get invited to parties. (seldom = rarely)
Never have we seen such a breathtaking view.

c. After only expressions

Note that it is not always the first verb that is inverted.
Examples:
Only after he arrived at the airport did he look for his passport.
Only if you look through this dark glass will you be able to see the
spots on the sun.
We accepted the invitation. Only later did we suspect it might be a
trap.
Only by threatening extreme physical violence was the teacher able to
control the class.
Only then did I understand the problem.

Note that there is no inversion when "only" is used in the following way.
Only Fiona knew the answer to the question.

d. After little
'Little' is used in a negative sense.
Examples:
Little did she realize that her grandmother was really a wolf.
= The girl didin't realize that her grandmother was a wolf.
Little did he understand the situation.
Little have I read concerning nanotechnology.

e. Other Negative Adverbials

At no time did the prisoner look as if he might confess.
Not only is she a great dancer but she is also an amazing
mathematician.
Not until she took up rock climbing did she overcome her fear of
heights.
Under no circumstances will prisoners be allowed to give interviews
to the media.
= Prisoners will not be allowed to give interviews to the media
under any circumtsances

ajvilches. 5/ 2009
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-grammar-inversion.htm
http://www.fullspate.net/grammar/inversions_in_english.html
http://esl.about.com/od/advancedgrammar/a/inversion.htm
6. After So and Such
a. So
Form: So + adjective... that
Examples:
So strange was the situation that I couldn't sleep.
So difficult is the test that students need three months to prepare.

b. Such
Form: So + to be + noun ... (that)
Examples:
Such is the moment that all greats traverse.
Such is the stuff of dreams.

7. With as
In these sentences "as" indicates the similarity between two things.
Examples:
Elisabeth was too shy to dance, as was Gerald.
She decided to leave early, as did Gerald.

8. Exclamations
We can use inversion to make exclamations:
Examples:
Aren't you a silly girl!
Isn't it a lovely day!

9. After adjectives
A few very literary sentences begin with an adjective and include an inversion.
Examples:
Blessed are the children who are still unaware of what the future holds.
Gone are the days when I could have been happy. (Here the past participle is
used like an adjective.)

However there is no inversion in the following sentence.

Strange as it may seem, we were sorry to leave in the end.

ajvilches. 5/ 2009
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-grammar-inversion.htm
http://www.fullspate.net/grammar/inversions_in_english.html
http://esl.about.com/od/advancedgrammar/a/inversion.htm