Inversion is the structure that is used in statements

after certain words that are at the beginning of the Never before have I
clause and the subject and the corresponding verb or seen such a
stubborn mule!
auxiliary are inverted.
It looks like a question but it isn’t!
There are two types of inversion
Type 1-with auxiliary verb
Type 2-without auxiliary verb

Type 1-with auxiliary verb

Negative
wordsNegative
words
(Inversion of the main clause)
Clauses of result
ConditionalsSeldom
Rarely
Scarcely (ever)
Had I known
Scarcely…..when how happy
Hardly (ever) I would be,
I would have
Hardly….when
had a child
No sooner…than earlier!
Not only….but…. also
Little
Barely
On no occasionUnder/In no circumstances
Never
Never before
Not since
Not even once
On no account
Only in this way
Only then
In no way
Nowhere
Only if
Now rewrite the sentences starting with the words given.
Only when speak to them even once.
1.We didn’t
Only
Not after
even once……………………………………………………………………………….
Only by
2.He knows little about the subject.
Not till/untilSo
Little…………………………………………………………………………………………
Such
To such a degree1st –Should
2nd –Were
 (Omission of If)Examples
He isshouldn’t
3.You not only clever butdoor
open this he ison
also educated-Not
any occasion. only is he clever but he is also educated.
OnI will lend you my CDs only if you promise to bring them back-
no occasion………………………………………………………………………………
Onlyhad
4.He if you promise
no sooner to bring
seen my CDs
the princess back
than he will I lend
fell in lovethem
with to you.
her.
NoHesooner…………………………………………………………………………………….
was such a hard-working student that he managed to pass those difficult tests-
Such
5.If sheahadhard-working
been there student
she wouldwashave
he that he managed
helped us. to pass those difficult tests.
If you should hear from John, tell him to call me-Should you hear from John, tell him to call
Had……………………………………………………………………………………………
me. are not under any circumstances allowed to stay out late.
6.You
Under no circumstances…………………………………………………………………..
7.I’ll be able to sleep only after the kids have gone to bed.
Only after…………………………………………………………………………………..
8.If I were you I would give him a second chance.
Were………………………………………………………………………………………….
9.We rarely see such birds back home.
Rarely………………………………………………………………………………………..
10He was frightened to such a degree that he couldn’t utter a word.
To such a degree…………………………………………………………………………..
11. We were so happy that we kept singing all night long.
So……………………………………………………………………………………………..
12.They seldom stay at home on Saturday evenings.
Seldom………………………………………………………………………………………..
13.We had never seen such bad behaviour before.
Never before………………………………………………………………..
14.She had scarcely left when it began to rain heavily.
Scarcely…………………………………………………………………………………….
15.You can get better at playing golf only by practicing a lot.
Only by………………………………………………………………………………………
16.You will not find this kind of flowers anywhere.
Nowhere…………………………………………………………………………………….
17.If we should go on holiday together, we are sure to have a lot of fun.
Should………………………………………………………………………………………..
Type 2-without auxiliary verbInversion happens after adverbials of place (here,
there, down, up, off, back, round, away, over etc) with verbs of motion or position and when
the subject is a noun
(NOT a pronoun).
Examples
Here comes the bride! There stands the statue!
Away ran the children! Up goes the balloon!Now rewrite the sentences starting
with the words given.
1.Your bag is here. 6.The bus goes away.
Here………………………………. Away…………………………………..
2.His glasses fell off. 7.The bee flew round and round.
Off……………………………….. Round and round……………………..
3.The car rolled down the street. 8.The horse galloped back.
Down…………………………………. Back…………………………….
4.All the people go there. 9.The boy jumped over the wall.
There………………………………… Over……………………………….
5.The children went up the hill. 10.The bird flew out.
Up……………………………………. Out…………………………………….