Inversion
Never have I…, No sooner had…, Not until…, On no account…, Had I known…
Inversion sounds formal and very C1. After a negative or limiting expression at the start of a sentence, the auxiliary comes before the subject – just like in a question.
The basic rule
negative expression + auxiliary + subject + main verb. If there is no auxiliary, use do / does / did.
One thing straight after another
Not until, only when, only after
The inversion goes in the main clause, after the time expression.
Strong negatives and warnings
Conditionals without if
Formal conditionals drop "if" and invert.
How it comes up in Part 4
In Part 4 you complete the second sentence with the key word, so that it means the same as the first one (3–6 words).
SOONER
No sooner had the film started than the lights went out.
No sooner + had + subject + past participle … than.
ACCOUNT
On no account should you share your password with anyone.
'Never' becomes 'on no account', followed by inversion (should you / must you).
HAD
Had I known about the problem, I would have helped.
A third conditional without 'if': Had + subject + past participle.
Common mistakes
- ✗ Never I have seen such a mess.✓ Never have I seen such a mess.The auxiliary comes before the subject.
- ✗ Not until I got home I realised.✓ Not until I got home did I realise.The inversion goes in the main clause.
- ✗ No sooner had we arrived when it rained.✓ No sooner had we arrived than it rained.No sooner … than; Hardly … when.
- ✗ Rarely he complains.✓ Rarely does he complain.No auxiliary? Add do / does / did.
If the key word is SOONER, HARDLY, ACCOUNT, CIRCUMSTANCES, ONLY, UNTIL or LITTLE, expect inversion. Write it like a question: had we…, did I…, should you…
Quick check
Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use the key word and write 3–6 words.
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