Inversion in English

Most statements usually have a sentence structure of subject + verb + object that easily communicates the sense to the readers/listeners. However, sometimes, we as writers or speakers of the English language tend to give some break or a change to our audience by reversing the usual sentence structure/order. One of the reasons for doing this is mentioned above while the major reason is to create a literary effect in the audience and arouse/evoke some feelings/emotions to react to the speaker/writer or his mentions/characters.

What a language user does to create this effect is to put the adjectives, verbs, and adverbials of time, place, and action or a whole clause (either negative or affirmative) at the beginning of a sentence as you find them in the table below.

Young learners of the English Language are strongly encouraged to make use of this feature in English. Some examples are given below for your obvious understanding. 

SN	Simple form as used in direct/formal language	Inverted form as used in literary/stylistic language
1	Her father stood in the doorway.	In the doorway stood her father.
2	He had rarely seen such a sunset.	Rarely had he seen such a sunset.
3	He showed me his ID card. I only let him in then.	He showed me his ID card. Only then did I let him in.
4	Dave began to open the three parcels. There was a book of crosswords inside the first.	Dave began to open the three parcels. Inside the first was a book of crosswords.
5	There was a portrait of Duke above the fireplace.	Above the fireplace was a portrait of Duke.
6	His mother sat in an armchair.	In an armchair sat his mother.
7	I lit the fuse and in a few seconds the rocket went up.	I lit the fuse and in a few seconds up went the rocket.
8	It would be a serious setback if the talks were to fail.	It would be a serious setback, were the talks to fail.
9	If you should need more information, please telephone our main office.	Should you need more information, please telephone our main office.
10	If Alex had asked, I would have been able to help.	Had Alex asked, I would have been able to help.
11	The cake and coffee were excellent.	The cake was excellent, as was the coffee.
12	We believed that the plan would work well.	I believed, as did my colleagues, that the plan would work well.
13	We seldom have goods returned to us because they are faulty.	Seldom do we have goods returned to us because they are faulty.
14	I had hardly got onto the motorway when I saw the police cars following me.	Hardly had I got onto the motorway when I saw the police cars following me.
15	I had given the wrong change to the shopkeeper and later I realized it.	Only later did I realize that I had given the wrong change to the shopkeeper.
16	They didn't actually break the rules at any time.	At no time did they actually break the rules.
17	Passengers are not allowed to open the door under any circumstances.	Under no circumstances are passengers allowed to open the door.
18	The government didn't order an inquiry into the accident until August.	Not until August did the government order an inquiry into the accident.
19	She hadn't written a single word since the exam had started.	Not a single word had she written since the exam had started.
20	They know little about how lucky they are to live in such a wonderful house.	Little do they know about how lucky they are to live in such a wonderful house.
21	Then I realized little that the day would come when Subina would be famous.	Little did I then realize that the day would come when Subina would be famous
22	The government will begin to work only when the famine gets worse.	Only when the famine gets worse will the government begin to work.
23	Jay didn't find that his coat had gone until the train pulled into Guwahati Station.	Not until the train pulled into Guwahati Station did Jay find that his coat had gone.
24	Her business was so successful that Mary had to retire at 35.	So successful was her business that Mary had to retire at 35.
25	The weather condition became so dangerous that all traffic was withheld.	So dangerous did the weather condition become that all traffic was withheld.
26	The more you know the truth, the more indecisive you become.	The more the truth you know, the more indecisive you become.
27	They disappointed and disheartened him before he left the job.	Disappointed and disheartened he left the job.
28	He gradually learned to steer the airplane in the open sky.	Gradually did he learn to steer the airplane in the open sky.
29	Besides education, honesty and industry are his ornaments.	Are honesty and industry his ornaments besides education.
30	The theatre is likely to be full as the play is very popular.	Such is the popularity of the play that the theatre is likely to be full.
Major credit source: Martin Hewings, Advanced English Grammar, CUP, 2003 ed.