.
(You can only play after you have finished your homework.)
Only by guessing
can you solve
this puzzle.
(You can only solve this puzzle by guessing.)
Only if everybody agreed
would I accept
this position.
(I would only accept this position if everybody agreed.)
Only in this way
does this machine work
.
(This machine only works in this way.)
Only then
did they discover
his secret.
(They only discovered his secret then.)
Only when he needed some help
did he call
me.
(He only called me when he needed some help.)
Only when I filled my glass
did I notice
that it was broken.
(I only noticed that my glass was broken when I filled it.)
The last sentence can be rephrased as:
Not until I filled my glass
did I notice
that it was broken.
(I didn't notice that my glass was broken until I filled it.)
If only is followed by the subject at the beginning of the sentence, there is no inversion:
Only you can
understand.
(No one else can understand.)
Quotes:
Only in grammar can you be more than perfect. - William Safire
Subject-auxiliary inversion after SO + adverb / adjective and SUCH
When adverbial or adjectival phrases starting with so are placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphatic effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:
So quickly
did he run
that the others couldn't catch up with him.
(He ran so quickly that the others couldn't catch up with him.)
So strong
was the wind
that we couldn't open the window.
(The wind was so strong that we couldn't open the window.)
So + adjective can be replaced with such:
Such
was the wind
that we couldn't open the window.
(The wind was such that we couldn't open the window.)
Subject-auxiliary inversion in questions
Questions are formed from statements by inverting the subject and auxiliary. In the present and past simple, the auxiliaries do/does and did come before the subject, which is followed by the bare infinitive. Be as a main verb can also come before the subject:
You can
help me.
Can you
help me?
You have
lived here for some time.
How long
have you
lived here?
You would
have done the same.
Would you
have done the same?
You are
staying at this hotel.
Are you
staying at this hotel?
She likes
skating.
Does she like
skating?
They arrived
yesterday.
When
did they arrive
?
I am
late.
Am I
late?
Related topics:
Form: past simple
Form: past continuous
Form: past perfect
Form: past perfect continuous
Form: present simple
Form: present continuous
Form: present perfect
Form: present perfect continuous
Form: future simple
Form: future continuous
Form: future perfect
Form: future perfect continuous
Types of modals
Form: passive voice
Subject-auxiliary inversion in question tags
Question tags are placed after declarative sentences and are usually used in spoken language to keep up the flow of conversation. Affirmative sentences are usually followed by negative tags and expect the answer yes:
"You are hungry,
aren't you
?" "Yes, I am."
Negative sentences are usually followed by affirmative tags and expect the answer no:
"You cannot stay longer,
can you
?" "No, I really can't."
We use rising intonation in the tag to ask for information. But if we don't really expect an answer because the statement is obviously true, we use falling intonation:
You are hungry,
aren't you
?
(with rising intonation = Are you hungry?)
You are hungry,
aren't you
?
(with falling intonation = I know you are hungry.)
Sometimes we use affirmative tags after affirmative sentences to express interest or concern or to ask for confirmation:
So you've inherited a mansion,
have you
?
(interest)
I must get there by ten,
must I
?
(asking for confirmation)
A negative statement with an affirmative tag can also express disapprovaclass="underline"
You don't really think I'll let you get away with it,
do you
?
(I hope you don't think I'll let you get away with it.)
In negative tags, not can come after the pronoun in formal styles or for emphasis:
I am right,
am I not
?
That's my pen,
is it not
?
They placed an order,
did they not