Never + inversion ‘Never have I…’

Here are two identical B2 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.

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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

(this is not inversion.  “I never thought I would ….” = ellipted subject)

Never thought I would say it,

but I‘m a genius 

for making you stay outside

 and do a menial task.

listen

3 . NEVER HAVE I BEEN 165
4 . NEVER HAVE I HAD 127
5 . NEVER DID I THINK 118

Never did I think she would like me,

 let alone agree to marry me.

listen

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