Inversion

1)She had to pay a fine and she lost her driving licence.

2)Not only did she have to pay a fine, but she also lost her driving licence.

• Subject and auxiliary verb is inverted (=reversed)

• If there is no auxiliary verb nor verb “to be”, use do, does, did etc.

• Used after certain negative adverbials e.g. not, not until, not once, not for one minute, only then, only later, nowhere, no way, rarely, hardly ever, hardly…when, no sooner…..than…


Examples:

I never thought about home while I was on holiday.
=
Not once did I think about home while I was on holiday.

They hardly ever complain about the amount of homework.
=
Hardly ever do they complain about the amount of homework.

As soon as I had left the house, I realised I’d forgotten my keys.
=
No sooner had I left the house, than I realised I’d forgotten my keys.