INVERSION

ENGLISH - INVERSION
A . Inversion after negative adverbs
Inversion in this case means that the verb is in a question form and is necessary if a negative adverb (or one with negative meaning ) begins the sentence . This only occurs in formal speech and writing .
1.Not only ; Henry not only missed the train , but also lost his case .
Not only did Henry miss the train , but (he) also lost his case .
2. No sooner … than / Hardly….. when / Scarcely … when : the main verb is always in the Past Perpect .
Tim had no sooner left than the phone rang .
No sooner had Tim left than the phone rang .
3. Under no circumstances
You should not touch these wires under any circumstances .
Under no circumstances should you touch these wires .
4. Seldom : I have seldom watched a better match .
Seldom have I watched a better match .
5. “ SO” in the structure “so … that “.
She is so beautiful that everyone turns to look at her .
So beautiful is she that everyone turns to look at her .
He drove so carelessly that his car crashed into the tree .
So carelessly did he drive that his car crashed into the tree.
6. “ IF “ : 1. If I were you , I would not do that .
Were I you , I would not do that .
2. If it had not been for your help , I would not have succeeded .
Had I not been for your help , I would not have succeeded .
3. If anyone should call , please take a message .
Should anyone call , please take a message .
7. Other expressions :
Which are followed by inversion are : little ,never , not once , only then , only after , rarely ,at no time , not until , on no account.. nowhere,hardly ever …
B . Inversion for Emphasis
The verb comes before the subject if the adverb begins the sentence .
1.Come and Go : --These are mainly used with adverbs of place . In this way more emphasis is put on the subject in an exclamation
Here comes Jack ! There goes my money !
Up went the plane into the cloud ! Along the road came Tim !
2. Other expressions : Live and Stand are used in formal writing . Now is used with to be
In this house lived Charles Dickens .
On a bill outside the town stands the castle .
Now is the best time to visit the channel Islands .
C . I / Rewrite each sentence , beginning as shown , so that the meaning stays the same .
1. Tony was not only late , but he had left all his books behind . Not only …….
2. I had no sooner gone to bed than someone rang my doorbell . No sooner ….
3. She has seldom stayed in a worse hotel . Seldom …… 4. I realised only then that I had lost my keys . Only then…
5. The economic situation has rarely been worse . Rarely …
6. The manager not once offered us an apology . Not once …
7. You should not send money to us by post under any circumstances .Under no circumstances .
8. I understood Hamlet only after seeing it on the stage . Only after …
9. The embassy staff little realised that Ted was a secret agent . Little ….
10. You should not start the exercise program until you have had a medical check-up. Not until…
11. They will be able to continue their research only when the institute is given funding . Only when ..
12 . Steve and Jan have never invited us to their house . Not once ……
13 . I realised later that I had made a big mistake . Not until then …
14. They did not know that they had passed the final exam .Little..
15 . You can not find so many happy people anywhere else . Nowhere else ….
II / Rewrite each sentence so that it begins with the word or words underlined .
1.The best time to buy a house is now . 5. Winston Churchill lived in this house .
2. The bus came round the corner . 6. The price of petrol went up .
3. The Parthenon stands on the top of the Acropolis . 7. The flag went down .
4. The wheels of the engine went round and round . 8 . The best part of the story comes now .
III / Fill the gaps in the following sentences with suitable words , using the verbs in brackets :
1.Not only ……… the piano brilliantly but she ………. beautifully as well . ( play / sing )
2.Never in my life …….. so humiliated . (be)
3.