Subject and Verb Inversions

In most sentences, verbs follow the subjects. Sometimes, however, this word order is reversed. We can refer to this as inversion.

  •  A man sat under a tree. 
  → Under a tree sat a man. 

  •  He had rarely seen such a horrifying incident.
  → Rarely had he seen such a horrifying incident.

Inversion is usual with certain verbs of place and movement, such as climb, come, fly, go, hang, lie, run, sit, or stand. We may use inversions in the following forms:

[1] Inversion after prepositional phrases functioning as adverb of  place or direction

This kind of inversion is found particularly in formal or literary styles; for examples,
  •  Inside the village lives a family. 
  •  In the sky flies a plane.
  •  Into a hole ran a mouse.
  •  Up to the hill walks a hill.

[2] Inversion often occurs after "here" and "there"

  •  Here lies a carpet.
  •  There goes the car.

[3] Inversion in conditional sentences

The sentences with inversion are rather more formal than those with 'if'. For examples,
  •  If you should need further information, please contact me.
  → Should you need further information, please contact me.
  •  It would be a serious setback, if the talks were to fail.
  → It would be a serious setback, were talks to fail.
  •  If he had studied hard, he would have passed the exam.
  → Had he studied hard, he would have passed the exam.

[4] Inversion in comparisons with 'as' and 'than'

We prefer to use inversion after 'as' and 'than' in formal writing. For examples,
  •  The exam was difficult as was the quiz.
  •  He tried hard as his co-worker did.
  •  The crises affects us more than they do to our competitors.

[5] Inversion after negative adverbials

In formal and literary language in particular, we use negative adverbials at the beginning of a
clause.

After time adverbials: never (before), rarely, seldom; barely/hardly/scarcely...when/before; no sooner....than
  •  Never have I seen such a beautiful view.
  •  Seldom does he come on time.

Only a time expression: Only when, only after...
  •  Only when I joined the company did I learn more practical skills.
  •  Only after the crisis did we see how strong we are.

Negative expressions: Under/ In no circumstances, In no way...
  •  Under no circumstances  can you pass such sensitive information to others.
  •  In no way am I related to the suspect.

Expressions starting with Not...: Not a noun, not only.... but also, not until...
  •  Not only did he exceed the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol.
  •  Not a single word had she written since the exam had started.

Little with a negative meaning 
  •  Little do they know how lucky they are to have a kind a mother.
  •  Little did she understand what the conversation was about.

[6] Inversion after 'so + adjective... that'; 'such + be...that'; 'neither.../nor...'

  •  So surprised was she that Mary burste into tear.
  •  So easy was the test that the students could finish early.
  •  Such was loud music that I can't sleep.
  •  Such was a complicated problem that I have to discuss with my boss.
  •  He neither finished homework nor did his mates.
  •  They neither win nor do we.