Stylistic Inversion
Emphasis & Drama (C1)
NORMAL:
I
have
never
seen...
➜
INVERTED (Dramatic):
Never
have
I
seen...
Negative Word + Aux + Subject + Verb
Note: If there is no auxiliary, add DO/DID.
1. Negative Adverbials
Never have I seen such a beautiful temple.
មិនដែលឃើញប្រាសាទស្អាតបែបនេះទេ
Rarely do we go out at night.
កម្រណាស់ដែលយើងចេញក្រៅនៅពេលយប់
Seldom did she speak about her past.
កម្រណាស់ដែលនាងនិយាយអំពីអតីតកាល
2. "Only" Phrases
Only then did I understand the problem.
ទើបតែពេលនោះទេដែលខ្ញុំយល់ពីបញ្ហា
Not only is he rich, but he is also kind.
មិនត្រឹមតែគាត់មានទេ ថែមទាំងចិត្តល្អទៀត
The Lost Tourist 🗺️
A dramatic story.
The sun was setting. I was lost in the forest.
Tourist 🎒
Little did I know that I was walking in circles.
Suddenly, I heard a noise.
Tourist 🎒
No sooner had I stopped than a tiger appeared!
Tourist 🎒
Under no circumstances should you run from a tiger. So I stood still.
💡 Analysis:
Inversion makes the story sound more exciting and literary. It is rarely used in casual chat.
Fix the Sentence 🔧
Find the correct inversion.
"Rarely ______ such delicious food."
"Not only ______ late, but he forgot his bag."
"Little ______ that she was the winner."
Mission 📝
Be Dramatic!
Rewrite these sentences:
Make them dramatic using inversion.
-
1. I have never felt so happy.
➔ Never have I felt so happy. -
2. He rarely calls his mom.
➔ Rarely ___________________. -
3. I didn't know the truth.
➔ Little ____________________.