Skip to main content

Inversion: auxiliary verb before subject

We put an auxiliary verb (and non-auxiliary have and be) directly before the subject of a clause in several different structures.

Questions​

  • Have your father and mother arrived? (not Have arrived your father and mother?)
  • Where is the concert taking place? (not Where is taking place the concert?) or Where the concert is taking place?

Spoken questions do not always have this word order (see here).

  • You’re coming tomorrow?

Indirect questions do not usually have this order (see here).

  • I wondered what time the film was starting. (not … what time was the film starting.)

However, in formal writing inversion is sometimes used with be in indirect questions after how, especially when the subject is long.

  • I wondered how reliable was the information I had been given.

Exclamations​

Exclamations (see here) often have the form of negative questions (see here).

  • Isn’t it cold?
  • Hasn’t she got lovely eyes?

In spoken American English, exclamations often have the same form as ordinary (non-negative) questions (but with different intonation).

  • Have you got a surprise coming!
  • Was I mad!

In a rather old-fashioned literary style, inversion is sometimes found in exclamations after how and what.

  • How beautiful are the flowers!
  • What a peaceful place is Skegness!

With may​

May can come before the subject in wishes.

  • May all your wishes come true!
  • May he rot in hell!

After so, neither, nor​

In ‘short answers’ and similar structures, these words are followed by auxiliary verb + subject.

  • ‘I’m hungry.’ ‘So am I.’
  • ‘I don’t like opera.’ ‘Neither/Nor do I.’
note

For more details of these structures, (see here).

After as, than and so​

Inversion sometimes happens after as, than and so in a literary style.

  • She was very religious, as were most of her friends.
  • City dwellers have a higher death rate than do country people.
  • So ridiculous did she look that everybody burst out laughing.

Conditional clauses: Were she my daughter …​

In formal and literary conditional clauses, an auxiliary verb can be put before the subject instead of using if (see here).

  • Were she my daughter … (= If she were my daughter …)
  • Had I realised what you intended … (= If I had realised …)

Negatives are not contracted in this case.

  • Had we not spent all our money already, … (not Hadn’t we spent …)

After negative and restrictive expressions: At no time was he …​

If a negative adverb or adverbial expression is put at the beginning of a clause for emphasis, it is usually followed by auxiliary verb + subject. These structures are mostly rather formal.

  • Under no circumstances can we accept late payment.
  • At no time was the President aware of what was happening.
  • Not until much later did she learn who her real father was.

The same structure is possible after a complete clause beginning not until …

  • Not until he received her letter did he fully understand her feelings.

Inversion is also used after restrictive words like hardly (in BrE), seldom, rarely, little and never, and after only + time expression. This is formal or literary.

  • Hardly had I arrived when trouble started. (BrE)
  • Seldom have I seen such a remarkable creature.
  • Little did he realise the danger he faced.
  • Never … was so much owed by so many to so few. (Churchill)
  • Only then did I understand what she meant.
  • Only after her death was I able to appreciate her.
  • Not only did we lose our money, but we were nearly killed.
  • Not a single word did he say.

Inversion is not used after not far … and not long …

  • Not far from here you can see foxes. (not Not far from here can you …)
  • Not long after that she got married.