Inversion and Negation

 Guidance will be given to enable you to (a) clearly see the linguistic structures of the following expressions; and (b) readily produce expressions with such structures.
To ensure your success, adequate examples will be further provided with clear explanation. 

Inversion

• • Had I known that, I would have helped her.
  • Were she my daughter, I would give her a much better education.
  • Even had the building been open, we would not have entered.

• • At no time must this door be left unlocked.
  • Only in this way would you be able to get a Distinction in a Master's Degree.
  • Not until he had received her letter did he fully understand her feelings.

• • Up went the flag.
  • Down came the rain.
  • He refused to apologise. Nor would he offer an explanation.

• • Especially remarkable was her oval face.
  • Equally inexplicable was his behaviour to close friends.

Negation

Inversion:

• • Not a word did he say.
  • Not a moment did she waste.
  • Not until yesterday did he change his mind.
  • Not until today (5 Nov 2013) did Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admit that he had smoked crack cocaine.

Negative in meaning though without the word not:

• • They scarcely seem to care.
  • I seldom get any sleep.
  • Hardly anyone wants that job.
  • Their protests, though vociferous, went unheard.

Local negation:

• • She is a not unattractive woman.
  • The announcement was followed by a not unexpected silence.
  • I visit her not infrequently.

Double negation:

• • No one has nothing to offer to society.
  • Nobody has nothing to hide.
  • Not many people have nowhere to live.