The inversion
The inversion (an irregular verb placement form) is used to stress the uniqueness
of an event and begins with a negative use of a question form
(use of auxiliary + subject +main verb instead of subject + main verb).
The inversion is used after:
>Time expressions like: never, rarely, seldom, hardly, barely, no sooner, scarcely,
only, only after, only then, only when, not only.
Example: Only then did the student understand the question.
>”little” (negative sense):
Example: Little did he do sport exercises.
>Inverted conditional forms: Inverted conditional forms mean more formality.
In these forms, the conditional “if” is dropped and the inverted forms take the place of
The “if clause”.
Example: Had he revised his lessons, he wouldn’t have got low marks.
(meaning: if he had revised his lessons, he wouldn’t have got low marks.)
