English exercise: inversion (C1)

When a sentence starts with a negative or limiting word such as never, rarely, seldom, little, hardly, no sooner, not only, not until, only after or under no circumstances, English swaps the subject and the auxiliary verb, just as in a question: "Never have I seen such a view", "Not only was he late, but...". If there is no auxiliary, add do, does or did: "Little did she know", "Rarely do we see this." Hardly is followed by when and no sooner by than: "Hardly had I arrived when the phone rang", "No sooner had we sat down than the music started."

Conditional sentences can also drop if and invert instead, which sounds formal and is common in letters, emails and exams: "Should you need help" means "If you need help", "Had I known" means "If I had known", and "Were he to resign" means "If he resigned". These structures add emphasis or formality to writing and speeches, and they are tested in advanced exams such as C1 Advanced and IELTS.