Adverbs 56 Negation 18

Here are two identical points in the English Grammar Profile.  Point 56 in ADVERBS and Point 18 in NEGATION are defined by FRONT POSITION or INVERSION WITH ‘NEVER’ followed by an inverted subject (most commonly ‘I’) + main verb, to give focus.  This is quite a rare structure, so it stands out as being learnt at upper-intermediate.

. Never _v _p _v

1 . NEVER HAVE I SEEN 234

2 . NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD 206
3 . NEVER HAVE I BEEN 165
4 . NEVER HAVE I HAD 127
5 . NEVER DID I THINK 118
6 . NEVER HAS IT BEEN 102
7 . NEVER WOULD I HAVE 96
8 . NEVER LET IT BE 88
9 . NEVER HAVE I FELT 80
10 . NEVER HAVE I HEARD 57