Negative Inversion

Exercises

Explanation

1. When do we use negative inversion?

We use negative inversion when a sentence starts with a negative or limiting expression, such as:

• never

• rarely / seldom

• hardly

• little

• nowhere

• under no circumstances

• at no time

• not only

• no sooner … than

2. Basic structure

Negative word + auxiliary + subject + main verb

If there is no auxiliary verb, we add do / does / did, just like in questions.

3. Common examples

Never / Rarely / Seldom

Never have I heard such a strange explanation.
Seldom does he arrive early.
Rarely did we experience such silence.

Little (meaning “almost not at all”)

Little did she know that the decision would change everything.

Under no circumstances / At no time

Under no circumstances must you share your password.
At no time did the manager admit the mistake.

Not only … but also

Not only did they cancel the flight, but they also lost our luggage.

No sooner … than (immediate sequence)

No sooner had we started the meeting than the power went out.

4. Why use negative inversion?

Negative inversion:

• makes ideas sound stronger and more dramatic

• is common in formal writing, journalism, and speeches

• helps highlight important negative information

Compare:

We never expected such a result.
Never did we expect such a result. (more emphatic)