Grammar - negative words at the beginning of a sentence

Negative words or words of exclusion at the  
                 beginning of a sentence



In writing or very formal speaking sometimes we use negative words or words of exclusion at the beginning of a sentence. When this happens, the sentence changes its structure and adopts a structure similar to that of a question.

E.G.:

• Only for Valeria will Gabriel kneel

In this sentence the phrase only for Valeria is excluding all the rest of people that exist and that is why we change the position of will and put it before the subject Gabriel.

This is an affirmative sentence, not a question, and it is used to emphasize that Gabriel will do that action only for one person in this world.

When the sentence is in a simple tense where there isn’t an auxiliary we have to add an auxiliary:

E.g.:

• No sooner did Carina arrive that she called diego.
• Not only did Juan Carlos hold Maria Elena’s hand but he also kissed her.

Some other examples of inversion are:

•  Never has Lizbeth had such a dreadful experience as when she fell down dancing and twisted her ankle.
• Hardly had Meche and John gotten to the station that the train departed and their honeymoon started.
• Seldom do Diego and Carina go out with other couples. They prefer their privacy.

MSR/mbs