Negative Inversion
Adding emphasis and drama to your writing by changing the word order.
What is it?
We use negative inversion to add emphasis (special meaning) to a sentence. It is often found in formal writing, but also used in stories to create a dramatic effect.
Key Concept: When a sentence starts with a negative adverb, the word order changes to look like a question (Auxiliary before Subject).
The Structure
Standard Order
Subject
↓
Auxiliary Verb
↓
Negative Adverb
"I had never felt..."
Inverted Order
Negative Adverb
↓
Auxiliary Verb
↓
Subject
"Never had I felt..."