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Question-type inversion in English

Most basic English speakers would think that the only time we use the subjectverb inversion (are you, have you, will you... etc.) or the use of 'do' as an
auxiliary (do you, does he etc.) is when asking direct questions.
However, advanced users are aware of, and use, certain other cases which I will
list below:

1. When we start a sentence with the words 'only', 'never', 'seldom',


'rarely', 'little' 'hardly' or another limiting phrase in order to
place limitations or conditions on what follows.
Only if you clean if afterwards, can you borrow my car.
Only when it rains does he take an umbrella
Rarely does he show any gratitude
Never in my life had I seen such an enormous person.
Little did he know, his boss was watching from behind the curtain.
Under no circumstances should you call the police

2. Immediately after 'not only' when this is at the beginning of a


sentence
Not only can he speak Spanish, he can speak five other languages too.

3. When a sentence begins with the words 'no sooner'. This is


accompanied by 'than' in the second clause. This form is mostly
used in the past perfect.
No sooner had we set out the garden furniture than it started to rain.

4. When a 'neither/nor is separated into two sentences or clauses


He didn't go out much. Then again, neither did he have many places to
go to.

5. When we use `should' instead of 'if' at the start of a conditional


sentence types 0,and 3.
Should I be late, start without me. (If I am late)
Should he have broken the glass he would have had to pay for it. (if he
had broken)

6. In type 3 conditional cases where we invert the past perfect


instead of using IF.
Had you arrived earlier, you'd have seen the whole film. (means if you
had arrived earlier)
Had you told me, I would have been to see you. (means if you had told
me)

7. When we use Be + subj + TO+Verb to substitute the If clause in


conditionals 2 and 3
Were he to fall, Id help him (=If he fell or If he were to fall)
Were he to have fallen, Id have helped him (= If he had fallen or if he
were to have fallen)
8. When a sentence begins with SO followed by an adjective or
adverb or when it begins with SUCH + verb BE
So hot was it that day, we hardly left the poolside.
Such was his courage, that he remained unbeaten throughout his life

9. When the first element of a sentence is a comparative or


superlative.
No less impressive than the invention of the laser was the development
of the wheel
Most important of all is your understanding of the text

10.

When the first element in a sentence is a past participle

Found on the highest plains of the Himalayas is the world's rarest plant
species.

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