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Do you know how to use inversion after negative adverbials like Not only, Barely and Only? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.
In formal English, we can use a negative or restrictive adverb at the beginning of a sentence to make it more emphatic or dramatic. When we do this, the adverb is then followed by an inversion: auxiliary verb + subject (+ verb). See the example below: I could find my keys nowhere. ⇒ Nowhere could I find my keys.
Fourteen-question multiple-choice exercise on negative and limiting adverbials in English. Includes examples with inversion beginning <i>Never, Only, Not,</i> and <i>Rarely</i>. Suitable for learners of English (ESL) at advanced level.Print-friendly version available.
In formal English, and in written language in particular, we use negative adverbials at the beginning of the sentence to make it more emphatic or dramatic. The word order is inverted: the negative adverbial is placed first, an auxiliary verb follows it and the subject of the sentence comes next.
What is an inversion with a negative adverbial? In formal English, we can use a negative or restrictive adverb at the beginning of a sentence to make it more emphatic or dramatic. When we do this, the adverb is then followed by an inversion: auxiliary verb + subject (+ verb). See the example below:
Negative Adverbs. The negative adverbs such as not, never, hardly, seldom, scarcely, and only should not be used with other negatives, such as none or nothing. If you use a contraction made with n’t, do not use any other negatives in the sentence. Here are some other negatives to watch out for: Incorrect: I do not want nothing.
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The best way to use an inversion correctly is to practice creating questions by switching the subject and verb and using auxiliary verbs. The use of past participles and negative adverbs is also a good tip to remember. Use the inversion practices below to master these skills.
