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Course: French English Spanish Greek
Explanations in: Greek English Spanish French
B2

Inversion after negative expressions

Never have I seen…, Not only…, Hardly had I…, No sooner… than.

In formal English, when a negative or restrictive expression comes first, the subject and auxiliary are inverted, as in a question.

ExpressionExampleNeutral version
Never / Rarely / SeldomNever have I seen such a mess.I've never seen such a mess.
Not only… but alsoNot only did he lie, but he also stole.He lied and he also stole.
Hardly / Scarcely… whenHardly had I arrived when it started to rain.I had just arrived when it started to rain.
No sooner… thanNo sooner had she left than he called.He called just after she left.
Under no circumstancesUnder no circumstances should you open it.You must never open it.
Only then / Only whenOnly then did I understand.I understood only then.

Test yourself

  1. Rewrite: I have never heard such nonsense. (Never…)
    Show answer
    Never have I heard such nonsense.
  2. Rewrite: He didn't only forget, he also lied. (Not only…)
    Show answer
    Not only did he forget, but he also lied.
  3. Complete: No sooner ___ we sat down than the phone rang.
    Show answer
    had
  4. Complete: Only later ___ I realise my mistake.
    Show answer
    did