Inversion

For formal Speech (writing & speaking)

To emphasise or to express contrast.

• Had it been completed as Calthorpe planned it, it would have been one of the great visionary new towns of the 20th century.

• (if it had been…-inversion in a conditional sentence.)

Inversion after a time adverbial phrase

• Only once did I see any evidence of public transport. (a fronted time adverbial---only once--- with a question form –did I see).

T o place emphasis

• No sooner had we left, than it started to pour with rain.

T o express contrast• Barely had Janie

recovered from her operation, when she found out she was pregnant.

T o emphasise

• Only after a rigorous security check, were we allowed to enter the buil ding. (fronted time adverbial--- only after-----and noun phrase– a rigorous check…)

Inversion with adverbials of place

• Opposite the gallery entrance stands an imposing bronze statue. (opposite the gallery---an adverbial of place---stands---main lexical verb).

Inversion with adverbials of place • Under the table sat a tiny

mouse with bright, beady eyes. (adverbial place---under the table---main ,lexical verb -----sat).

Inversion with <location> and verbs of movement (come, go, run).

• Up the hill crawled the number 77 bus. (location-----up the hill----verb of movement---crawled.)

Inversion with <location> and verbs of movement (come, go, run).

• Alongside the road runs the River Avon. (alongside the road------location----runs----main ,lexical verb).

Inversion after prepositional phrases with no• On no account should

children be left unsupervised in this play area. (prepositional phrase-----on no account--- lexical verb phrase----should children be left).

Inversion after prepositional phrases with no• In no way can a goalless

draw be seen as a good result for United. (in no way----prepositional phrase ----can a goalless draw be seen---predicate).

Inversion after prepositional phrases with no• Under no circumstances

was Sally going to admit defeat. (prepositional phrase----under no circumstances----predicate-----was Sally going to …..).

Inversion after not

• Not only did the team win the county cup, they also came top of their league. (not only---prepositional phrase--- main sentence follows).

Inversion after not

• Not one grain of encouragement did he show throughout the course. (particle---not---- noun phrase ----grain of encouragement--- main sentence –did he show).

Inversion after little

• Little did I think then , that I would miss the bright lights in years to come. (quantifier---little---inverted question---did I think-----sentence of result---that I….).

Inversion after little

• Little was she expecting Sam to walk through that door. (quantifier---little----question form inverted into a lexical sentence---was she expecting…).

Inversion with so/such…that

• So popular has the system become that it now carries nearly two million passengers each day. (quantifier+ adjective---so popular + verb phrase –has the system become + that sentence of result---it now carries…)

Inversion with so/such…that

• Such was the outcry that the advertisement had to be withdrawn. (quantifier---such + predicate sentence--- was the outcry + that + sentence of concession ---the advertisement hat to be withdrawn).

Inversion with neither/nor

• Yasmin doesn’t relish living in a high-rise apartment and neither do I. (quantifier –neither + auxiliary verb phrase– Do I.)

Inversion with neither/nor

• Jim hasn’t been asked to work overtime and nor should you be. (quantifier –nor + elliptical verb phrase ---should you be).