Not only is it cold, but it’s also snowing.
Inversion means a change in the normal order. In English, we see this most often when making a question.
- The weather is cold today. Is the weather cold? [verb moves to the front]
- I like snow. Do you like snow? [simple present needs helping verb ‘do’]
- He ate snow. Did he eat snow? [simple past needs helping verb ‘did’]
- I have eaten snow. Have you eaten snow? [perfect tenses use helping verbs ‘have’]
- Where did you eat snow? Why did you eat snow? [wh- question words added before the verb]
Question inversion can be a difficult pattern to learn because sometimes the main verb moves to the front, and sometimes we need to add the ‘do’, ‘be’ or ‘have’ helping verbs, which then tell us the time/tense.
If you know English, you’re familiar with this question formation, even if you don’t always get the order right all the time.
However, did you know English also uses this same verb-subject inversion in a few other instances?
1. Negative or limiting adverbs
If a sentence begins with a negative or limiting adverb, invert the subject-verb order (and use helping verbs just like in questions).
Ex. 1
I was not only learning a language, but I was also learning other skills.
But
Not only was I learning a language, but also I was learning other skills.
Ex. 2
We not only discovered a free treatment, but it improved her quality of life.
But
Not only did we discover a free treatment, but it improved her quality of life.
Or
Not only had we discovered a free treatment, but it improved her quality of life.
Moving the negative or limiting adverb to the beginning of the sentence and inverting the subject-verb sounds more formal so you’ll see it more often in writing than you’ll hear it in speaking.
It sounds more “literary” to say “Seldom have I seen a more beautiful cat” instead of, “I have seldom seen a more beautiful cat.”
| Here are some negative adverbs and adverb phrases that we often use with inversion (from Perfect English ). |
| Hardly had I got into bed when the telephone rang. Never had she seen such a beautiful sight before. Seldom do we see such an amazing display of dance. Rarely will you hear such beautiful music. Only then did I understand why the tragedy had happened. Not only does he love chocolate and sweets but he also smokes. No sooner had we arrived home than the police rang the doorbell. Scarcely had I got off the bus when it crashed into the back of a car. Only later did she really think about the situation. Nowhere have I ever had such bad service. Little did he know! Only in this way could John earn enough money to survive. In no way do I agree with what you’re saying. On no account should you do anything without asking me first. |
2. Second half inversion
In some cases, the inversion happens in the second half of the sentence.
Ex.
Not until I saw it with my own eyes did I really believe it.
Not since she quit her job had she felt so happy.
Only after / only when I’d learned the truth did I understand his actions.
Only by working hard can we improve our writing.
3. Conditionals
We can also invert the verbs had, were, and should by dropping the If- at the beginning of a conditional clause.
Ex. 1
If we had been on time, we wouldn’t have missed our flight.
Becomes
Had we been on time, we wouldn’t have missed our flight.
Ex. 2
If I were in charge, I would organize things better.
Becomes
Were I in charge, I would organize things better.
Again, this construction sounds more formal although I frequently hear and read examples beginning with “had”.
4. Prepositional phrases
Another place you might see this inversion (especially in literary texts) is when the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase.
Ex 1
On the table was the most beautiful meal we’d ever seen.
Or
The most beautiful meal we’d ever seen was on the table.
Ex. 2
After the main dish came the dessert.
Or
The dessert came after the main dish.
Or
After the main dish, the dessert came.