Definition & Meaning of "negative inversion"

What is "negative inversion"?

Negative inversion is a grammatical construction where the normal word order is reversed after a negative expression, often for emphasis or to form a question. In this structure, the auxiliary verb or modal verb appears before the subject, creating a more formal tone. For example, instead of saying "She has not finished her homework," one might say "Not only has she not finished her homework, but she also has not started it." Another example is "Never have I seen such beauty," where "never" leads to the inversion of the subject and verb. Negative inversion is typically used in written or formal contexts and can add emphasis or dramatic effect to a statement. Understanding this construction is important for recognizing variations in sentence structure and meaning.