Syntax

Inversion in statements

Subject-verb inversion is a feature of questions, but it also occurs in statements after certain phrases.

Inversion after negative adverbial expressions

Some negative adverbial expressions can be put at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. These structures are usually found in formal, written contexts.

• Not only does she speak English, she also speaks fluent French.

Inversion of the subject and auxiliary is needed after these expressions when they start a sentence.

Not only + auxiliary + subject (+ main verb)

• Not only does she speak English, …

Other expressions that can be used in this way are never, rarely, seldom, hardly … when, scarcely … when, no sooner … than, and a number of expressions including no. Only can also be used in this way.

• Never had I felt so bad in my life.
• Hardly had I finished eating when they told me the restaurant was closing.
• No sooner does he sit down than he starts shouting at the waiters.
• Under no circumstances will late work be accepted.
• Only now do I understand the importance of what I read.

Inversion after neither, nor, so and as

Neither, nor, so and as can be used to say that two things are the same. Inversion of the subject and auxiliary is needed after these phrases when they are used in this way.

• I don't like parties and neither does my wife.
• "I don't speak French." "Nor do I."
• He was surprised, and so were we.
• She works long hours, as do most doctors.

Inversion after had in conditional sentences

In formal, written English, inversion can be used to replace if in third-conditional sentences.

• Had I known it was so expensive, I would have eaten somewhere else.
  (= If I had known it was so expensive, …)

Inversion after expressions of place

After expressions of place, inversion of the subject and the verb, not an auxiliary, is possible when the expression starts the sentence.

• On the top of the hill stood a small stone church.
• There goes the bus. We've missed it!