某些副词和副词短语，主要是一些含有限定或否定意义的副词和副词短语，为了表示强调可放在句首，这时后面应跟动词的倒装（即疑问）形式。这类副词或副词短语中最重要的有：
hardly ever
on no account
hardly…when
only by
in no circumstances
only in this way
neither/nor
only then/when
never
scarcely ever
no sooner…than
scarcely…when
not only
seldom
not till
so
nowhere
例句如：
—I haven’t got a ticket．
—Neither/Nor have I．
—我没有票。
—我也没有。
I had never before been asked to accept a bribe．相当于：
Never before had I been asked to accept a bribe．
以前从来没有人试图向我行贿。
They not only rob you，they smash everything too．相当于：
Not only do they rob you，they smash everything too．
他们不仅抢劫你，而且砸烂所有的东西。
He didn’t realize that he had lost it till he got home．相当于：
Not till he got home did he realize that he had lost it．
一直到了家，他才发觉那东西丢了。
This switch must not be touched on any account．相当于：
On no account must this switch be touched．
这个开关严禁触摸。
He was able to make himself heard only by shouting．相当于：
Only by shouting was he able to make himself heard．
他只有叫喊才能让别人听到他。
He became so suspicious that…相当于：
So suspicious did he become that…
他变得这样疑心，以致……
注意：在一个句子中，第二个否定动词有时可以用nor来表达，并跟倒装语序：
He had no money and didn’t know anyone he could borrow from．
He had no money，nor did he know anyone he could borrow from．
他身无分文，也不认识任何可以借钱的人。（neither在这儿不太常用。）（关于副词和副词短语后跟动词的倒装语序和作主语的名词的情况，如Up went the rocket<火箭直升飞起>， By the door stoodan armed guard<门口站着一名手持武器的士兵>