INVERSION
It takes place when a negative adverb or expression is placed at the
beginning of the sentence
o Negative adverbs at the beginning of the sentence: hardly ever,
under no circumstances, never, No sooner…….than…….., least of all,
not frequently, in no way, not enough, rarely, scarcely, still less, not
a word, not till, neither/nor, no longer, seldom, etc.
Eg: Hardly ever does she go to the club nowadays.
Never again will I do that
No sooner had she entered the place than the telephone rang.
He seldom answers the emails from work. Seldom does he
answer….
She accepted the invitation as soon as she learnt about the event.
No sooner had she learnt about the event than she accepted the
invitation
o The inversion construction is also used with the following sentence
opening:
She worked so hard that she……..
Eg: So hard did she work that she had a nervous breakdown
(so+adverb/adjective)
So good was the film that we saw it twice. ( so+adj)
o Only in England can you see red double deckers
Only if you take a taxi, will you get to the station.
Only when he comes, will I read the story
Only + complement + inversion
Only by practicing, will you pass the test
o It is also used in short sentences beginning with neither- nor-so
He doesn´t like terror films
Neither does she ADDITION
He didn´t watch that movie
Nor did she
He can swim well
So can I
o It is used in conditional 3 and conditional 2( only cases with the verb
to be as the main verb)
If I were on vacation, I would be in Ireland
Were I on vacation, I……
If I had seen her, I would have told her that….
Had I seen her, I would…..
Eg: Had I known, I would have….. If I had known I would…..
Were I you, I would……. If I were you I would…..
And……
I f she should come, tell her…..
Should she come, tell her……… ( should + imperative, In case she
should come/came…)
Note:
Inversion is mainly used in written language because it is highly
formal
o With phrasal verbs for emphasis (orally)
Eg: Down she went!
Off he went!
And…..
Here come the soldiers!
There is Mary!
PRACTICE:
Rewrite the following beginning with the word in thick type
I have rarely heard such a fine performance
I have seldom met such a busy man
He little realized what would happen ( Little did he realize……)
She has never lost her temper like that before
Candidates aren´t allowed to talk to their neighbours under
no circumstances
They did not sell better meat anywhere. Nowhere
That is not true. ( Begin: By no means…is that true.)
And he did not steal your handbag either.( Begin: Nor…)
He works hard and he also plays hard.( Begin: Not
only…..but…..)
She was so furious that she went out of the room without
saying goodbye
They jumped up and ran off
He had no sooner left the house than it was blown.
Rewrite the following sentences using the inversion construction:
He worked so hard that he was given an extra bonus. So hard..
The floods are becoming so dangerous that whole villages are being
evacuated.
She speaks English so well that everybody thinks she is British.
He had just left his flat when the fire broke out.
They will, under no circumstances, agree to our plan.
She cleaned the room very badly and also broke a vase.
I haven´t seen a rarer specimen anywhere.
If the doctor had not come, the patient would have died.
If I were rich, I would live in a bigger house.
