INVERSION AFTER NEGATIVE ADVERBS

When we begin a sentence with a negative adverb or adverbial phrase, we sometimes have to change the usual word order or subject and verb (often using and auxiliary verb such as do):

For example: 

• I had never seen so many people in one room (NORMAL WORD ORDER)
• Never had I seen so many people in one room. (INVERSION)

We use inversion when we move a negative adverb (Never, Nowhere, Not Only, etc.) to the beginning of a sentence. We do this because we want to emphasise the meaning of the adverb.

 

In the paper we wrote, "In no way we conceive that Daniels considers adolescents (...)", but the correct form would be "In no way do we conceive that Daniels considers adolescents (...)".

 

Source: Side, R & Wellman, G (2002) Grammar and vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency. Harlow, Longman.

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