INVERSION

What is inversion?

Basically it is changing the order subject-verb as we do in questions (Can I leave, please?) but it’s not a question and it is used to emphasize.  

Consider the following examples:

1.   They are made to one another, you know; both right on the same wavelength, and both of course love high voltage tourism. On their last journey, not only did they visit Syria and Yemen but Afghanistan as well.

2.    She lacks taste, you know. A bit tacky, everything she buys. Never have I seen her wearing a decent dress together with decent shoes.

3.    He was in such a hurry; believe me, he didn’t know what he was doing: swallowed two biscuits, gulped a cup of tea, and no sooner had he brushed his teeth than he jumped through the front window forgetting he was not at his mother’s cottage but at his girlfriend’s, on a seventh floor. Thank God in a jiffy arrived an ambulance [fronting, compare].

4.    As you all know here, I love juicy meat on the grill, just with a bit of salt. Well, last week my wife and I found this little place in Torrox. And, let me tell you, seldom in my life have I eaten such good meat.

·         Notice that all three examples given (and in class as well) have negative elements;

·         Notice also that the negative element is at the beginning of the sentence;

·         Notice that what has been done here is to bring the negative elements from middle or end position to front position in the sentence (not only, never, no sooner), and these drag the verbs, which implies a change in the order S+V → V+S.

·         Notice that if the verb is not an auxiliary verb (have, for instance), you will need to introduce one and it is here that do/does/did come in in accordance to person and time reference.

·         Notice that, in a way, “inversions” are like “questions” (actually, “questions” are a type of “inversion”) but since they have an extra element (negation) instead of asking they declare, and they do in a very strong way.

·         Notice, finally, that the negative element is not always clearly negative. Other elements can be used, such as

seldom          rarely                    hardly                   hardly ever                        only    

Front position doesn’t mean that the negative elements will have to be right at the beginning of the sentence. In example 1, the negative element comes after a time adverbial that has been placed there but could be at the end; in example 3 the negative element follows the coordinator “and”; only in number 2 is the negative element in first position [this last, by the way, is another case of inversion because only has been placed in front position and it has dragged the verb before the subject]

Look at the following:

Example A

No inversion        He doesn’t only linger in this street all day but he even sleeps under that tree at night.

Inversion              Not only does he linger in this street all day but he even sleeps under that tree at night.

Example B

No inversion        Smith & Co will never come to terms with us.

Inversion              Never will Smith & Co come to terms with us.

Example C

No inversion        He had no sooner left than the guests let out a cheer.

Inversion              No sooner had he left than the guests let out a cheer.

More examples

a)   Not until 10pm did they realize they had forgotten little Johnny at the cinema.

b)    Not until they had arrived home did they realize they had forgotten the little Johnny at the cinema.

note that “they had arrived home” is not inverted; this is so because it is not the main clause, the main clause being “they realized they had.....

c)     Under no circumstance will they sign this contract.

d)    Not before dawn do they go back home

e)    Only after an eleven months’ holiday can one feel ready to go back to work.

f)      Never in all his vagabond life has Peter Shrunk bought a packet of cigarettes (Shrunk is alive).

g)     Never in all his vagabond life did Peter Shrunk buy a packet of cigarettes (Shrunk is dead).

h)    Hardly ever has she come here with a smile on her face.

Saying them aloud, without writing a word, try to transform the following sentences into inversions; try to record yourself. After each one, check the answer in the key below and repeat it several times aloud. The idea is that you learn them orally.

1.       He has never been to one of those street markets full of fleas and flies.

2.       He seldom comes round.

3.       She had no sooner arrived than he flew into a rage [become very angry].

4.       Mr Monroe had hardly ever been to such a distinguished place.

5.       He wouldn’t do it for the world.

6.       She didn’t open the present until he had left.

7.       He rarely goes out on Saturdays.

8.       He wouldn’t do it on any account. [Note: “any” becomes “no”]

9.       You will barely recognize him after such a long time.

10.    The throng of admirers had scarcely scattered when she arrived.

1.        Never has he been to one of those street markets full of fleas and flies.

2.        Seldom does he come round.

3.        No sooner had she arrived than he flew into a rage.

4.        Hardly ever had Mr Monroe been to such a distinguished place.

5.        Not for the world would he do it.

6.        Not until he had left did she open the present. (If doubts, look at “More examples – b - Note”)

7.        Rarely does he go out on Saturdays.

8.        On no account would he do it.

9.        Barely will you recognize him after such a long time.

10.     Scarcely had the throng of admirers scattered when she arrived.