In formal speech and writing there is a special construction when the sentence begins with a negative adverb (or one with negative meaning). The subject and the verb are inverted from the normal form to a question form. Study the examples below.
- Not only: Not only did Harry miss the train, but (he) also lost his case.
- No sooner: No sooner had Tim left, than the phone rang.
- Under no circumstances: Under no circumstances should you touch these wires.
- Seldom: Seldom have I watched a better match.
Other expressions that are followed by an inversion are: little, never, not once, only then, only after, rarely.
Exercise 1. Rewrite each sentence, using inversion, so that the meaning stays the same.
1. Tony was not only late, but he had left all his books behind.
2. I had no sooner gone to bed than someone rang my doorbell.
3. I have seldom stayed in a worse hotel.
4. I have never heard such nonsense!
5. I realized only then that I had lost my keys.
6. The economic situation has rarely been worse.
7. The manager not once offered us an apology.
8. You should not send money to us by post under no circumstances.
9. I understood Hamlet only after seeing it on the stage.
10. The embassy staff little realised that he was a secret agent.