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Comparison & Emphasis

Quick rule

Put a negative or restrictive adverbial first, then invert subject and auxiliary: Not only did she…, Rarely have I…, No sooner had we….

Never before had the team missed a deadline.

Seldom does an offer like this come along.

Only by testing it ourselves did we find the fault.

Common mistake

✗ Not only she apologised… → ✓ Not only did she apologise…

Short practice

Invert: 'I have never seen anything like it.' → Never have I seen anything like it.

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