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Inversion - Fce

The document discusses different types of inversion in English grammar. Inversion occurs when the typical subject-verb word order is reversed, such as forming questions by placing the auxiliary verb before the subject. Inversion also happens with negative adverbs in front position, expressions beginning with "not", and after words like "here" and "there". Some common examples of inversion structures provided are questions, sentences using adverbs like "never" and "seldom" initially, and phrases like "not until" or "not for a moment".
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
44 views2 pages

Inversion - Fce

The document discusses different types of inversion in English grammar. Inversion occurs when the typical subject-verb word order is reversed, such as forming questions by placing the auxiliary verb before the subject. Inversion also happens with negative adverbs in front position, expressions beginning with "not", and after words like "here" and "there". Some common examples of inversion structures provided are questions, sentences using adverbs like "never" and "seldom" initially, and phrases like "not until" or "not for a moment".
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INVERSION

Material extracted from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/inversion and


https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/negation_2 (October, 2020).

Inversion happens when we reverse (invert) the normal word order of a structure, most
commonly the subject-verb word order. For example, a statement has the subject (s) before the
verb (v), but to make question word order, we invert the subject and the verb, with an auxiliary
(aux) or modal verb (m) before the subject (s):

[S]She [V]sings.

[AUX]Does [S]she [V]sing?

[S]They [AUX]are [V]working.

[AUX] [S]Are they [V]working?

[S]Joe [M]can [V]swim.


[M]Can [S]Joe [V]swim?

When does inversion happen?

The most common type of inversion is question word order (see above). Inversion also happens in
other situations.

NEGATIVE ADVERBS

In formal styles, when we use an adverb with negative meaning (e.g. never, seldom, rarely, scarcely,
hardly) in front position for emphasis, we invert the subject (s) and auxiliary (aux)/modal verb:

Never have we witnessed such cruel behaviour by one child to another. (or We have never witnessed …)

Seldom/Rarely does one hear a politician say ‘sorry’. (or One seldom hears …)

SOME ADVERBS (E.G. HARDLY, LITTLE, NEVER, ONLY, SCARCELY AND SELDOM) have a
NEGATIVE MEANING. When we use these at the beginning of the clause, we invert the subject and
verb:

Hardly/Barely/Scarcely had we left the hotel when it started to pour with rain.

Not: Hardly we had left the hotel …

Little did we know that we would never meet again.


EXPRESSIONS BEGINNING WITH NOT

We also invert the subject and verb after not + a prepositional phrase or a clause in initial position:

NOT FOR A MOMENT/AT NO TIME did I think I would be offered the job, so I was amazed when I got it.

NOT UNTIL I got home did I realise my wallet was missing.

HERE AND THERE

Inversion can happen after here, and after there when it is as an adverb of place. After here and there,
we can use a main verb without an auxiliary verb or modal verb:

Here comes the bus!

Here’s your coffee.

I opened the door and there stood Michael, all covered in mud.

She looked out and there was Pamela, walking along arm in arm with Goldie.

Only in spring do we see these lovely little flowers.

WE ALSO INVERT THE SUBJECT AND VERB AFTER NOT + A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
OR NOT + A CLAUSE IN FRONT POSITION:

Not for a moment did I think I would be offered the job, so I was amazed when I got it.

Not till I got home did I realise my wallet was missing.

 NOT ONLY

Not only DID I visit Disenyland but also New York!

 UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES

Under no circumstances WILL I go to that party.

 NO SOONER

No sooner had the criminals escaped than the police arrived.

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