Explanation
Exercises
Inversion after negative adverbials (for emphasis)
B2 • quick reference

What is it?

With a negative or restrictive adverbial at the start of a clause, English often flips the word order for emphasis: move the auxiliary before the subject.

Core pattern Adverbial + auxiliary + subject + verb

I could find my keys nowhere ⟶ Nowhere could I find my keys.

If there is no auxiliary, use do/does (present) or did (past): Only then did I understand.

Register & punctuation

  • Common in formal writing or dramatic storytelling.
  • No comma after the fronted adverbial (unless it is very long).
  • When the adverbial contains a subordinate clause (e.g., only when…, not until…), the inversion is in the main clause, not in the subordinate one.

Only when I sleep can I forget. (✗ Only when do I sleep I can forget.)

Sequence adverbials

StarterTypical formExampleConnector
Hardly / Barely / Scarcely Hardly/Barely/Scarcely + had + S + past participle Hardly had we sat down when the phone rang. … when
No sooner No sooner + had + S + past participle No sooner had the shop opened than a queue formed. … than (not *when)

“Only” for restriction

PatternMeaningExample
Only then/now/later + aux + S + V time focus Only then did we realise the risk.
Only if/when + clause, + aux + S + V condition / time Only if you book early will you get a seat.
Only after/before + noun/-ing, + aux + S + V time phrase Only after the meeting did the truth emerge.
Only by/with/through + noun, + aux + S + V means / instrument Only by working together can we finish.
Only + object/adverbial, + aux + S + V restricted focus Only chicken did they serve.

In the only if/when/since/until patterns, the inversion never appears inside the introduced clause.

Fronted phrases with not

StarterExampleNotes
Not only … Not only did she apologise, but she also refunded us. Inversion only in the first clause.
Not until/since + clause/noun Not until I saw the email did I understand. Subordinate clause first, inversion in main clause.
Not once / not ever / not in years Not once did they mention the delay. “Not” must modify another element.
Not a / not one + noun Not a word did he say. Strong emphasis on zero quantity.

Fronted phrases with no

StarterExample
Under no circumstances Under no circumstances should you share the password.
On no account On no account are visitors allowed in the lab.
In no way In no way am I related to him.
Nowhere Nowhere were the results published.
At no time At no time did the pilot lose control.

Frequency & degree adverbs

AdverbExampleComment
Never Never have I met a more generous host. Often with present/past perfect for “life experience”.
Rarely / seldom Rarely do we see such honesty. Formal tone.
Little (= not much) Little did we know what was coming. Degree adverb with negative meaning.

Quick checklist

  1. Front a negative/restrictive adverbial (hardly, only then, not until, nowhere…).
  2. Find the main clause; put the auxiliary before the subject. Use do/does/did if needed.
  3. Keep required linker words: when after hardly/scarcely/barely, than after no sooner.
  4. Apply inversion to the first clause only in patterns like not only … but (also) …

Common slips

  • ✗ Only then I understood. → ✓ Only then did I understand.
  • ✗ No sooner … when … → ✓ No sooner … than …
  • ✗ Inverting the subordinate clause: Not until did I called her… → ✓ Not until I called her did I get an answer.
Exercises:
1
2
3

Inversion after Negative Adverbials

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
Never such a breathtaking view.
2
Seldom on time during rush hour.
3
Hardly the announcement when people started cheering.
4
No sooner the lights than the band began to play.
5
Not until we reached the hotel, .
6
Only after reading the manual how the system works.
7
Under no circumstances your password to anyone.
8
Little there was a surprise party waiting for her.
9
At no time control of the aircraft.
10
Nowhere such friendly locals on our trip.

Inversion after Negative Adverbials

Choose the correct options for the gaps in these sentences.
1
Never ____ such a confusing interface.
A.
B.
C.
2
Hardly ____ when the alarm went off.
A.
B.
C.
3
No sooner ____ than the lights came back on.
A.
B.
C.
4
Seldom ____ such a candid apology from a politician.
A.
B.
C.
5
Only after the audit ____ the accounting error.
A.
B.
C.
6
Not until the contract ____ did we start the project.
A.
B.
C.
7
Little ____ about the risks at that point.
A.
B.
C.
8
Under no circumstances ____ your access key to anyone.
A.
B.
C.
9
Nowhere ____ proof of his claims.
A.
B.
C.
10
Not only ____ the deadline, but she also improved the design.
A.
B.
C.

Inversion after Negative Adverbials

Rewrite the second part of the sentence without repeating the verb or verb phrase. Include ‘to’ when it is required. Don’t include ‘to’ when it can be dropped.
1
Original: I had never seen such a beautiful view.
Transform: such a beautiful view.
2
Original: We rarely eat out on weekdays.
Transform: eat out on weekdays.
3
Original: He had scarcely finished the exam when the bell rang.
Transform: finished the exam when the bell rang.
4
Original: We did not realize the truth until much later.
Transform: Not until much later the truth.
5
Original: You should not open this door under any circumstances.
Transform: open this door.
6
Original: As soon as we sat down, the lights went out.
Transform: sat down than the lights went out.
7
Original: They did not know how the story would end.
Transform: how the story would end.
8
Original: The team only then realised the risk.
Transform: the team realise the risk.
9
Original: There was never at any time a risk to the public.
Transform: a risk to the public.
10
Original: We published the report only after the data had been checked.
Transform: Only after the data had been checked the report.