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Grammar: Inversion / Emphatic

constructions.

Grammar Reference: Inversion / Emphatic Constructions.
Inversion means putting the verb before the subject. We use Inversion
when there is a negative adverb or adverb phrase *hardly, seldom, rarely,
not only, only later, never, only in this way, etc.) at the beginning of the
sentence. We put the expression at the beginning of the sentence to
emphasise what we're saying. It makes our sentence sound surprising or

striking or unusual.
Hardly had he got to the office, when the director announced an urgent
meeting.
Never have I seen such beautiful flowers.
Only later did they understand what had happened.

Not only does he love chocolate, but he also drinks too much coffee.
Only in this way can we earn money to survive.
So beautiful was the girl that nobody could talk of anything else.
Grammar Reference: I wish / If only.
We use the verb ‘wish’ or the phrase ‘if only’ to talk about things which
we want but which are not possible. If we talk about the present or future
situation, the phrase is followed by the verb in the Past Simple Tense:

I wish I could see you next week, but unfortunately, I will be away.
I wish I was/were taller. If I was taller, I would join the basketball club.
If only I knew German. If I knew German, I would easily translate this
article.
She wishes she had a big house and a new car.
If we talk about the present or future, the phrase is followed by the verb

in the Past Perfect Tense:
I wish I had worked harder when I was at University. If I had worked
harder, I would have obtained the degree.
They wish they had visited their parents at Christmas.