INVERSION
Inversion of the verb before the subject is a common
phenomenon in English sentences. The natural order of English sentences is (subject + verb + . . .
.) but sometimes it
becomes (verb + subject). Inversion is most
common with question form of the sentences. However, there are few other
circumstances where inversion of subject and verb occurs.
Inversion
in questions:
Almost all forms of Interrogative sentence (without subject questions and embedded
questions) use inversion. These sentences always place the auxiliary
verb before the subject.
Example:
o Is he going to the
club?
o Did he go to the club?
o Where is the
club?
o Who is that guy standing
there? (No inversion for it is a subject question)
Inversion
in other expressions:
Many
other negative and affirmative sentences use inversion.
1. Affirmative and negative agreement: only
after so, nor, neither but not in the cases of either and too.
Examples:
o Alex went to the club,
and so did his brother.
o Alex went to the club,
and Jenny did too. (No inversion)
o Robert hasn’t reached
yet, neither has his companion.
o Robert hasn’t reached
yet; Robin hasn’t either. (No inversion)
o Russel is not a
footballer, and nor is Alex.
2.
Negative adverbial expressions at the beginning of the sentence.
Example:
o In no way should we
accept their offer.
o Little did they
know about me.
o Never has he
felt so embarrassed.
o Seldom do they
go to a tour.
o Rarely do we
see gypsies.
o Hardly ever do they
talk to each other.
3. Beginning with only & not
only.
Example:
Example:
o Only if they come would I
go
o Only by researching can you
solve this problem.
o Only after lunch can you
play.
o Not only did they
kill the adults, but they killed also the children.
4.
Adverbials at the beginning of a sentence.
Example:
o Hardly had I
reached there, he left.
o Seldom does the
teacher finishes his class early.
o Rarely does Alex
forget to do his
5. Adverbs
of place (here & there) at the beginning of a
sentence. This type of sentence requires the main verb (not the auxiliary verb)
to come before the subject.
Example:
o There is a
lady standing in front of the club.
o Here comes the
king.
o Here is your
home-made cola.
o There are so
many people in that field.
6. Some prepositional phrases at the beginning of a sentence.
Example:
o Into the room came she
when I was sleeping.
o Behind me cries a
child.
o Over the table hangs a
painting.
7. Conditional without
the conjunction
Example:
o Had he been there, he
could have seen it.
o Were I the president, I
could do the good things.
o Were he my brother, I
would support him to reach his dreams.
o Should you go there, I
will go with you.
o
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