Diana Szewczyk

Certain adverbs and adverbial phrases can be put at the beginning of a sentence or clause with an inversion of the following verb, for emphasis. The position of the subject and verb is the same as in question forms. These structures are often in formal and literary contexts. 

STRUCTURES:

1) Adverbial + auxiliary + subject + (other auxiliaries) + main verb

e.g. Hardly had I started writing when she interrupted me. 

e.g. Never have I been introduced to so many people in a single night. 

2) Adverbial + do / did + subject + main verb (with present / past)

e.g. Never did he consider he might be discovered. 

3) Adverbial + to be + subject (with the verb to be)

e.g. Rarely was she at home.

COMMON ADVERBIALS:

Little did I ever imagine that I would one day be working here myself.

Never have I seen anything more remarkable. 

No sooner had she walked into the room than everyone fell silent.

Not only did he cook dinner for everyone but he also tidied the kitchen.

On no account am I going to tell him what I think of him.

Seldom have I encountered such rudness!

Under no circumstances could we ever agree to such an arrangement.

EXCEPTIONS (followed by different patterns of inversion):

So alarmed was he that he fell from his horse.

Only after this project is completed could we contemplate taking on something new.

Not until you convince me that you are committed will I give you my agreement.