In formal and literary English, certain adverbs with a negative or limiting meaning are placed at the start of the sentence for emphasis. The subject and auxiliary then swap places, as in a question (Never have I…). If there is no auxiliary, we add do / does / did.
Form
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| Never / Rarely / Seldom + auxiliary + subject + verb | Never have I seen such a mess. |
| Not only + auxiliary + subject … but also | Not only did she win, but she also broke the record. |
| No sooner … than · Hardly … when | No sooner had I left than it rained. |
| Only after / Only when + auxiliary + subject | Only then did I understand. |
When to use it
- Never, rarely, seldom, hardly ever: Seldom do we eat out.
- Not only … but also: Not only is she clever, but she is also kind.
- No sooner … than / Hardly … when: Hardly had he spoken when she interrupted.
- Only + time expression: Only after the exam did I relax.
- Little, under no circumstances, at no time: Under no circumstances should you open it.
Examples
- Never have I felt so happy.
- Rarely does he complain.
- Not only did he forget, but he also lied.
- No sooner had we arrived than it started to rain.
- Hardly had she sat down when the phone rang.
- Only then did I realise my mistake.
Common mistakes
- Normal word order after the adverb: Never I have seen → Never have I seen.
- Missing do/did: Rarely he complains → Rarely does he complain.
- Inverting the “but also” part: Not only did he win, but he also… (no inversion after but).