Inversion after negative adverbials

Rules

• Rule 1: Negative adverb + question order

  Normal sentence: *I have never seen …* Inverted: Never have I seen … The auxiliary (have, is, can, will …) moves in front of the subject, just like in a question.

  Pattern: Never / Rarely / Seldom + auxiliary + subject + verb

  Example: Seldom have we laughed so much.

  Example: Never will I forget our trip to Cappadocia.

• Rule 2: No auxiliary? Use do / does / did

  In the present and past simple, the auxiliary is hidden. For inversion we add do / does / did, just like in a question, and the main verb stays in the base form. The verb be moves by itself.

  Pattern: Rarely + do / does / did + subject + base verb · Rarely + is / was + subject

  Example: Rarely does my grandpa use a computer.

  Example: Seldom was the classroom so silent.

• Rule 3: Not only … but … also

  When Not only starts the sentence, only the first part is inverted. The second part starts with but and keeps normal order, usually with also.

  Pattern: Not only + auxiliary + subject …, but + subject + also …

  Example: Not only did Can score a goal, but he also saved a penalty.

  Example: Not only is this app free, but it's also easy to use.

• Rule 4: No sooner … than / Hardly … when

  Two patterns for “as soon as”: No sooner had + subject + V3 than … and Hardly / Scarcely / Barely had + subject + V3 when … The first part is past perfect and inverted; the second is past simple in normal order.

  Pattern: No sooner had + subject + V3 than + past · Hardly had + subject + V3 when + past

  Example: No sooner had we left the house than it started to hail.

  Example: Hardly had the concert begun when the power went off.

Common mistakes

• Never I have seen such a big dog. → Never have I seen such a big dog.

  Negative adverb first → auxiliary before the subject.

• Rarely my mom drinks coffee. → Rarely does my mom drink coffee.

  No auxiliary? Add does; the main verb is base form: drink.

• Not only did she sang, but she also danced. → Not only did she sing, but she also danced.

  After did, use the base form.