Inversion is changing the normal position of the subject and predicate, or the normal position of the members of the sentence. When the predicate changes its position, we call it full inversion.

INVERSION

Inversion is changing the normal position of the subject and predicate, or the normal position of the members of the sentence. When the predicate changes its position, we call it full inversion. E.g. Up flew the sparks. Partial inversion involves partial change. E.g. No do I recollect.

Inversion serves different purposes. It is a means of forming questions and specific syntactic constructions. This type of conversion is called grammatical.

Where are you going?

There is nothing marvelous.

Neither did he.

May you never feel sad.

Be it so.

The inversion which serves to emphasize various members of the sentence is called emphatic. It is mainly used in formal style, though some patterns are frequent in oral conversations.

1. Inversion occurs after negative adverbial modifiers rarely, not only, in vain, seldom, little, in no time, never before, on no occasion, under no condition, on no account, in no way, at no time, not a word, hardly, scarcely, barely, no sooner, etc at the beginning of a sentence. The predicate in this case is used with an auxiliary verb.

Mum looked pleadingly at him but not a word was said between any of us until he was opening the door to leave and Dad said, ‘Bloody good riddance, an' don't bang the door when you go, I've only just mended it.’

At no time had there been any hint that France should try to benefit from the British embarrassment during this critical period, though the press published sharp attacks on the British policy of reprisals after the Mutiny was over.

At no time will the report be sent to us without your consent, but without the report we would be unable to proceed with your application.

2. The adverbial modifiers only when, only after, not until cause inversion in the principal clause.

Only when I saw it with my own eyes did I realize it.

Not until they come down will people begin to crawl out from under their loads of debt.

3. The negative conjunction nor joins two negative sentences.

He did not realized it, nor did he care.

But it was clear that they had not given the subject much thought, nor did they feel there was any need to.

Gloria didn't pause to say anything to the cheery porter at the gates, nor did he call out to them.

4. Inversion, both full and partial, also occurs in emphatic clauses of concession.

Strange as was his reaction…

Cold though the weather was

5. Subjunctive mood patterns can be inverted without the conjunction If. Only the subjunctive auxiliaries can be placed in the first place.

Were I to become President…

Were I to praise Love in a hundred thousand languages, Love's beauty far surpasses such stammerings.

I would be treading a tightrope — or at the least could be accused of insensitivity — were I to speak more of this particular sister-in-law.

Should he call you…

Had I more time…

Had I known beforehand…

6. Partial or full inversion is found with predicates placed in the initial position. The type of inversion depends on the form of the subject. When it is expressed by a pronoun the inversion is partial.

Violent was Mr. White’s indignation.

A strange place it was.

Such is life.

So devastating were the floods that some areas may never recover.

7. Adverbial particles at the beginning of a sentence and the expression here is cause inversion also depending on the form of the subject.

On we go.

Well, then out came the champagne, but not for him — for the press and for his friends.

Out came the jewels and bare shoulders, the silk georgette and gold tissue.

Here you are.

Here is the book.

8. An adverbial modifier at the beginning of the sentence can cause inversion to balance rhythmically a lengthy subject.

In an open barouche stood a stout gentleman.

9. Adverbial modifiers thus, so, now, then cause inversion if the subject is expressed by a noun.

Thus spoke Mr. Pickwick, Thus he thought.

Now comes his turn.

Thus might some fretful merchant have ventured through the medieval forest, nerves braced for the sudden twang of bow strings, the murderous rush from ditch or thicket.

10. Objects and adverbial modifiers of manner cause inversion mainly in poetic style.

Passage after passage did he explore the manuscript.

Of his love he would tell nothing.

Home I had none.

Flock I have none.

11.After many a time.

Many a time did I ask him.

Many a time they had drunk thus together, as boys, as youths, as men, and come out under the same starlit sky to walk beside each other up the familiar High Street where every house was a landmark and every face part of a shared history.

Many and many a time have we looked, have I alone in more recent years looked, for certain things thus revealed to us in passing.

Many a time I have wanted to ask her about this, and thought it wrong.

12. Inversion is also used in the patterns with as

He realised, as did later choreographers, that the steps and patterns of such material had to be properly displayed to the audience, not just danced for themselves.

This hit carpets and furniture retailing particularly hard, as did new furniture fire regulations brought in by the European Commission piecemeal.

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