🙃 “Flipping English: The INVERSIONS Newsletter” 🙃

Where word order goes rogue, but make it classy.

🤔 What are Inversions?

Normally, English sentences follow this word order:

✅ Subject + Verb
"Lewis teaches English."

But sometimes, to sound more formal, dramatic, or just bloody impressive, we flip the order around like this:

🔁 Inversion: Verb + Subject
"Rarely does Lewis teach without a cup of tea in hand." ☕🎓

🎩 Why Use Inversions?

We use them when we want to:

Sound formal or literary 📜
Add emphasis or drama 🎭
Show off a bit (let’s be honest) 😏
Follow certain fixed expressions

💥 Common Inversion Triggers (a.k.a. Fancy Starters)

Expression	Example
Never	“Never have I seen such chaos.”
Rarely	“Rarely does she complain.”
Not only... but also	“Not only is he funny, but he’s also clever.”
No sooner... than	“No sooner had I sat down than the doorbell rang.”
Hardly... when	“Hardly had I arrived when it started raining.”
Seldom	“Seldom do we get sunny weather in March.” ☁️
Little did I know	“Little did I know, the cat had already peed on my bed.” 🐱🛏️
Only then/after	“Only after the meal did we realise it was raw chicken.” 🍗😬

🧠 Inversion Structures – Quick Guide

Expression	Inversion Form
Negative adverbs (never, rarely, hardly, etc.)	Auxiliary + subject + verb “Never have I seen...”
Conditionals without if	“Had I known...” instead of “If I had known...”
With "so" or "such"	“So loud was the music that...”
After "Not only..."	“Not only did he lie, but...”

🕵️‍♂️ INVERSION DETECTIVE: A MYSTERY UNFOLDS 🕵️‍♀️

Featuring over-the-top drama and grammatical flips

"A Strange Case at Grammar Manor"

Seldom had the villagers seen such thick fog roll over the hills of Yorkshire. 🌫️

Not only was the manor surrounded by mist, but also by a suspicious smell of burnt toast. 🍞🔥

No sooner had Inspector Bellamy arrived than a scream echoed through the halls. 😱

“Hardly had I unpacked my suitcase,” he muttered, “when the power went out.”

Only after the lights flickered back on did they notice that the statue of Queen Victoria was missing! 👑😨

“Little did I know,” said the butler, “that she was filled with gold coins.”

So mysterious was the case that even the village gossip took a vow of silence. 😶

In the end, the mystery was solved by Mrs Tweedle — the nosy neighbour.
Not until she spilled her tea did the key to the secret passage fall out. ☕🗝️

🤓 Inversion vs Normal – Flip 'n' Learn

Normal	Inversion
I had never seen such a mess.	Never had I seen such a mess.
If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone.	Had I known, I wouldn’t have gone.
She rarely calls her mum.	Rarely does she call her mum.
We only realised after leaving.	Only after leaving did we realise.

🎉 Mini Inversion Quiz!

Which of these are correct? (Answers below ⬇️)

Seldom I go to the gym.
Rarely does he eat vegetables.
Had I studied, I would have passed.
Never I have seen that film.
Only then did I understand.

✍️ Try These Yourself! (Just for Fun)

Finish these dramatic sentences using inversions:

Never in my life ______________________.
Only after trying it ____________________.
No sooner had I spoken __________________.
Little did she know _____________________.
Seldom ____________________________.

✅ Quiz Answers:

❌ Seldom do I go to the gym.
✅ Correct
✅ Correct
❌ Never have I seen that film.
✅ Correct

That’s a Wrap! 🎁

You now know how to flip your sentences like a grammar gymnast. 🤸‍♂️
Use these inversions when you want to:

Impress in writing 🖋️
Add some dramatic spice 🌶️
Sound a bit posh at parties 🎩

Thanks so much for reading once again, cheers mate!

Lewis