What is Inversion

Inversion means to reverse the order of things e.g.,

Normal Order: subject + verb (SV)

Inverted Order: verb + subject (VS)

What is Grammatical Inversion

Grammatical Inversion occurs when a word, particularly an adverb (aka adverbial), is brought to the beginning of sentence and the subject-verb order is inverted (placing the verb before the subject) in order to lay emphasis on the fronted adverbial.

Normal: I was never in favour of learning about inversion.

(subject + verb + adverb)

Inverted: Never was I in favour of learning about inversion.

(adverb + verb + subject)

Incorrect: Never I was in favour of learning about inversion.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

The function of inversion is to express something in a more formal or emphatic style than to say the same in a normal or ordinary way. Inversion is of two types e.g., partial and complete.

1-   PARTIAL INVERSION

(adverb + helping verb + subject + main verb)

Partial inversion occurs in two steps: 1- a negative adverbial is brought to the beginning of the sentence; 2- auxiliary verb is placed before the subject (subject-verb inversion).

1.1-     SENTENCES CONTAINING NEGATIVE ADVERBIAL OF FREQUENCY

Negative adverb (aka Restrictive adverbials) of frequency (which expresses very low occurrence and usually takes main verb) is moved to the beginning to lay emphasis on it, immediately followed by subject-verb inversion (auxiliary verb placed before the subject).

1.1.1-    Sentences containing (Seldom):

Normal: They seldom visit the hilly areas.

(subject + adverb of frequency + main verb)

Inverted: Seldom do they visit the hilly areas.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Seldom they visit the hilly areas.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.1.2-    Sentences containing (Rarely):

Normal: She rarely plucks a flower.

(subject + adverb of frequency + main verb)

Inverted: Rarely does she pluck a flower.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Rarely she plucks a flower.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.1.3-    Sentences containing (Never):

Normal: She never wore her party dress.

(subject + adverb of frequency + main verb + object)

Inverted: Never did she wear her party dress.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Never she wore her party dress.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.1.4-    Sentence containing (Not once = not one single time):

Normal: She not once kissed her pet.

(subject + adverb of frequency + main verb + object)

Inverted: Not once did she kiss her pet.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Not once she kissed her pet.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.2-     SENTENCES CONTAINING NEGATIVE ADVERBIAL OF DEGREE

Negative adverb of degree (which shows an action happened almost not at all and usually takes main verb or auxiliary –can/could) is moved to the beginning to lay emphasis on it, immediately followed by subject-verb inversion (auxiliary verb placed before the subject).

1.2.1-    Sentences containing (Hardly):

Normal: They could hardly finish their syllabus.

(subject + helping verb + adverb of degree + main verb)

Inverted: Hardy could they finish their syllabus.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Hardy they could finish their syllabus.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.2.2-    Sentences containing (Barely):

Normal: The huts can barely withstand the storms.

(subject + helping verb + adverb of degree + main verb)

Inverted: Barely can the huts withstand the storms.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Barely the huts can withstand the storms.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.2.3-    Sentences containing (Scarcely):

Normal: She could scarcely peep through the window.

(subject + helping verb + adverb of degree + main verb)

Inverted: Scarcely could she peep through the window.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Scarcely she could peep through the window.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.2.4-    Sentences containing (Little):

Normal: He little knew the vicinity of his town.

(subject + adverb of degree + main verb)

Inverted: Little did he know the vicinity of his town.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Little he knew the vicinity of his town.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.3-     SENTENCES CONTAINING NEGATIVE CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

Negative adverb of time (which shows that something has not happened or would not happen at all and are primarily associated with simple or perfect tenses) is moved to the beginning to lay emphasis on it, immediately followed by subject-verb inversion (auxiliary verb placed before the subject).

Generally, negative adverbs of time are found working in negative correlative conjunction pairs (which connect two parallel nouns, phrases or clauses).

1.3.1-    Sentences with conjunction pair (Hardly … When):

Normal: We had hardly finished the syllabus when the exam started.    (subject + helping verb + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: Hardy had we finished the syllabus when the exam started.    (adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Hardy we had finished the syllabus when the exam started.    (subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.3.2-    Sentences with conjunction pair (Barely … When):

Normal: She had barely kissed her pet parrot when it died.

(subject + helping verb + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: Barely had she kissed her pet parrot when it died.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Barely she had kissed her pet parrot when it died.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.3.3-    Sentences with conjunction pair (Scarcely … When):

Normal: She had scarcely started the presentation when the bell rang.    (subject + helping verb + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: Scarcely had she started the presentation when the bell rang.    (adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Scarcely she had started the presentation when the bell rang.    (subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.3.4-    Sentences with conjunction pair (No sooner … Than):

Normal: They had no sooner started cheating than the teacher came in. /As soon as they started cheating, the teacher came in.

(subject + auxiliary verb + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: No sooner had they started cheating than the teacher came in. /No sooner did they start cheating than the teacher came in.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: No sooner they had started cheating than the teacher came in.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.3.5-    Sentences with conjunction pair (Not only … But also):

Normal: They not only missed the train but also lost their luggage.    (subject + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: Not only did they miss the train but also lost their luggage.    (adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Not only they missed the train but also lost their luggage.    (partial inversion requires auxiliary verb placed right after the adverbial)

1.3.6-    Sentences containing (Only):

Normal: They will permit you only.

(subject + verb phrase+ adverb of focus)

Incorrect Inversion: Only will they permit you.

(‘Only’ does not trigger inversion)

1.4-     SENTENCES CONTAINING STRONG NEGATIVE ADVERBIALS

Strong negative adverbs (which express absolute prohibition and are generally associated with modals or indefinite tenses) are moved to the beginning of the sentence, immediately followed by subject-verb inversion (auxiliary verb placed before the subject).

1.4.1-    Sentences containing (Under no circumstances):

Normal: You should under no circumstances cheat the exams.    (subject + helping verb + adverb of manner + main verb)

Inverted: Under no circumstances should you cheat the exams.    (adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Under no circumstances you should cheat the exams.    (subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.4.2-    Sentences containing (On no account):

Normal: You must on no account tell a lie.

(subject + helping verb + adverb of manner + main verb)

Inverted: On no account must you tell a lie.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: On no account you must tell a lie.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.4.3-    Sentences containing (No longer):

Normal: I will no longer tolerate your whispering.

(subject + helping verb + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: No longer will I tolerate your whispering.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: No longer I will tolerate your whispering.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.4.4-    Sentences containing (Never again):

Normal: You should never touch the wires again.

(subject + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: Never again should you touch the wires.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Never again you should touch the wires.

(subject-verb order was not reversed)

1.5-     SENTENCES CONTAINING NEGATIVE SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

As a general rule, subject-verb inversion (auxiliary-subject) occurs right after the adverbial. But, in case of subordinating conjunction pairs, the position of inversion varies. In fact, the subordinate clause, maintaining its normal subject-verb order, comes right after the adverbial (conjunction pairs are brought together) and let the main clause follow with subject-verb inversion.

1.5.1-    Sentences containing conjunction pair (Only … after):

Normal: You will only know the facts after they speak truth.

(subject + helping verb + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: Only after they speak truth will you know the facts.    (adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Only after do they speak truth, you will know the facts.

(conjunction pair must lead the subordinate clause followed by inversion in the main clause)

1.5.2-    Sentences containing conjunction pair (Only … When):

Normal: The plants can only grow fast when the sun shines bright.

(subject + helping verb + adverb of time + main verb… + subordinate clause)

Inverted: Only when the sun shines bright can the plants grow fast.

(adverb + subordinate clause + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb…)

Incorrect: Only when does the sun shine bright, the plants can grow fast.

(conjunction pair must lead the subordinate clause followed by inversion in the main clause)

1.5.3-    Sentences containing conjunction pair (Only … if):

Normal: She will only participate in the party if she buys a new dress.    (subject + helping verb + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: Only if she buys a new dress will she participate in the party.    (adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Only if does she buy a new dress, she will participate in the party.

(conjunction pair must lead the subordinate clause followed by inversion in the main clause)

1.5.4-    Sentences containing conjunction pair (Only … by):

Normal: He only got through the exam by cheating.

(subject + auxiliary verb + adverb of time + main verb)

Inverted: Only by cheating did he get through the exam.

(adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Only by cheating he got through the exam.

(conjunction pair must lead the subordinate clause followed by inversion in the main clause)

1.5.5-    Sentences containing conjunction pair (Not … until):

Normal: The hunters cannot collect honey until they find hives.    (subject + adverb of limitation + main verb)

Inverted: Not until they find hives can the hunters collect honey.    (adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Not until do they find hives, the hunters can collect honey.

(conjunction pair must lead the subordinate clause followed by inversion in the main clause)

1.5.6-    Sentences containing conjunction pair (Not … since):

Normal:   My temperament had not changed since she came in my life.    (subject + adverb of limitation + main verb)

Inverted: Not since she came in my life had my temperament changed.    (adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Not since did she come in my life, my temperament had changed.

(conjunction pair must lead the subordinate clause followed by inversion in the main clause)

2-   COMPLETE INVERSION

(adverb + main verb + subject)

Unlike the partial inversion (auxiliary verb-subject), full inversion triggers the main verb before the subject.

2.1-  To emphasize a verb:

Normal: The Qaid said, “Work, work, work”.

(subject + main verb)

Inverted: Said the Quaid, “Work, work, work”.

(main verb + subject)

Incorrect: Said he, “Work, work, work”.

(full inversion is avoided in case the subject is a pronoun)

2.2-  To emphasize a verb phrase:

Normal: The rock rolled down.

(subject + verb phrase)

Inverted: Rolled down the rock.

(verb phrase + subject)

2.3-  To emphasize an Adverb:

Normal: The plants grow upside.

(subject + main verb + adverb of direction)

Inverted: Upside grow the plants.

(adverb of direction + main verb + subject)

2.4-  To emphasize a predicate containing an adverbial:

Normal: The roar of lion echoed in the village.

(subject + main verb + adverbial phrase)

Inverted: In the village echoed the roar of lion.

(Adverbial phrase + main verb + subject)

2.5-  To emphasize the immediacy of the arrival:

Normal: The king is coming.

(subject + helping verb + main verb)

Inverted: Here comes the king.

(Adverb of place + main verb + subject)

2.6-  Full inversion is avoided in case the subject is a pronoun:

Normal: He is coming.

(subject + helping verb + main verb)

Inverted: Here he comes.

(Adverb of place + subject + main verb)

Incorrect: Here comes he.

(Normal subject-verb order is maintained with a pronoun subject)

2.7-  To emphasize Comparative structures:

Normal: The experimental results are more significant than the old theories.    (subject + be verb + comparative structure)

Inverted: More significant than the old theories are the experimental results.    (comparative structure + be verb + subject)