5.5 Negative adverbial expression

When a negative adverbial expression goes before the subject, the verb form is the same as in a question, with the auxiliary verb before the subject.

I have never heard such nonsense. (Nunca he oído tantos galimatías.) Compare Never have I heard such nonsense. (Nunca he oído tantos galimatías.)

I had hardly begun when the lights went out. (Apenas había empezado cuando las luces se apagaron.) Compare Hardly had I begun when the lights went out. (Apenas había empezado cuando las luces se apagaron.)

Only plus a clause has a similar effect, e.g.:

We will be able to decide only after we have studied the report. (Lo podremos decidir sólo después de haber estudiado el informe.) Compare Only after we have studied the report will we be able to decide. (Lo podremos decidir sólo después de haber estudiado el informe.)

	See also adverbs, comparison and also not only ... (but) also.