1. Success Advanced Chapter 4
Inversion
Success Advanced Chapter 4

2. What is inversion?
In statements the subject normally comes before the verb.
I hadn’t thought I would end up becoming a teacher.
Sometimes, after certain words or expressions, this word order is reversed and this is called inversion
Never had I thought I would end up becoming a teacher.

3. When do we use inversion?
Inversion is used for dramatic emphasis.
It is most common in formal English.
I shall never forget your kindness
Never
Never shall I forget your kindness.

4. Now you try We did not get confirmation of our order until Wednesday.
Not until
Not until Wednesday did we get confirmation of our order
I haven’t ever seen such a big crowd.
Never
Never have I seen such a big crowd.

5. No auxiliary verb Never did I think I would win.
If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence we add:
Do in Present Simple sentences
subjects I, we, you, they
Does in Present Simple sentences
Subjects he, she, it
Did in Past Simple sentences
I never thought I would win.
Never
Never did I think I would win.

6. Now you try I only understood what he meant many years later.
Not until
Not until many years later did I understand what he meant.
They rarely go on holiday.
Rarely
Rarely do they go on holiday.

7. Inversion can be used with
Some time expressions with never
Never, Never before, Never again
I will not go there again.
Never
Never again will I go there.

8. Inversion can be used with
Some expressions with no/not/neither
No sooner … than, No longer, Nowhere, Not until, Not since, Not often, Not only … but, Neither … nor
Hugh owns a Las Vegas hotel and a movie studio.
Not only but
Not only does Hugh own a Las Vegas hotel, but he also owns a movie studio.

9. Inversion can be used with
Some expressions with only
Only when, Only then, Only later
I realised I had made a mistake when I noticed the time.
Only when
Only when I noticed the time did I realise that I had made a mistake.

10. Inversion can be used with
Some other negative adverbials
Scarcely/Hardly/Barely … when,
Rarely, Seldom, Little
The chargers found themselves 7-0 down just after the game had begun.
Hardly when
Hardly had the game begun, when the Chargers found themselves 7-0 down.

11. Inversion can be used with
So/Such … that
So emphasises an adjective
Such emphasis a noun
The soap opera was so popular that people actually stayed home to watch it. So
So popular was the soap opera that
Such
Such was the popularity of the soap opera that...

12. Inversion can be used with
Some formal expressions
Under no circumstances
On no account
At no time
Cheating will not be tolerated .
Under no circumstances will cheating be tolerated

13. You should not disclose personal details in emails.
On no account
On no account should you disclose personal details in s.
Dictionaries are not to be removed from the library.
At no time
At no time are dictionaries to be removed from the library.