INVERSION , DAP AN

SUBJECT-VERB INVERSION

Inversion means putting the verb before the subject.

Here are a few guidelines:
In normal everyday English, inversion is used :

► to make questions : does he? can you?
► after so, neither, nor : so do I, neither do I, nor do I.

In written English, as well as in a very formal style, inversion is used in the following cases :

1. After negative adverbial expressions :
“ On no account /Under no circumstances , In no way , At no time ”
▪ Under no circumstances can we accept cheques.
▪ In no way can he be held responsible.
▪ At no time did she say she would come.
▪ On no account should you be absent from your seminars.
2. After adverbial expressions of place :
▪ Round the corner came the postman.
▪ On the doorstep was a bunch of flowers.
3. After “ seldom, rarely, never ” in comparisons :
▪ Seldom have I seen such a beautiful view.
▪ Rarely did he pay anyone a compliment.
▪ Never had I felt so happy.
4. After “ hardly …… when , scarcely…… when , Barely....when , no sooner …. than ” , when one thing happens after another. It is usually used with the past perfect.

▪ Hardly had I begun to speak when I was interrupted.
▪ Scarcely had we started our meal when the phone rang.
▪ No sooner had I arrived than they all started to argue.
▪ Barely had I arrived home when there was a knock on the door.

5. After adverbial expressions beginning with `only`.
▪ Only after the meeting did I realize the importance of the subject.

6. After exclamations with “ here and there ”
▪ Here comes the winner!
▪ There goes all our money!
7. Not until
e.g. Not until January will I have a holiday.
8. Nowhere e.g. Nowhere had Susan seen a more beautifully decorated room.
9. Only after This is usually used with the simple past.
e.g. Only after the film started did I realise that I`d seen it before.

10. So......that This is a common inversion, usually used with an adjective & the verb `be`, It can also be used with much.
e.g. So exciting was the soap opera, that I forgot to do my English homework.
e.g. So much did she adore John, that she would not give him up.

11. Such....that Used with the verb `be` and a noun, it means so much or so great.
e.g. Such was the popularity of the soap opera, that the streets were deserted whenever it was on.


EXERCISE 1

Ex : She at no time said she was vegetarian. →> At no time did she say (that) she was vegetarian.

1. I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed .
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. I have seldom heard such a talented singer.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. If John had known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to an Indian restaurant.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. The artist rarely paid any attention to his agent`s advice.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. He had never felt so depressed.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. The shop can in no way be held responsible for customers` lost property.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the ceremony.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. Tom only understood the meaning of the comment when he saw his wife`s face.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9. She never at any time said that she was allergic to cats.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
10. The restaurant cannot accept animals under any circumstances.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

EXERCISE 2 : Turn the following into inverted sentences.

1. The matter could be explained in no other way.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. We had hardly started when it began to rain.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. I have seldom heard such beautiful singing.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. I shall never forget your kindness.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. I saw only then the danger we were in.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. We had no sooner left the house than it exploded.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. He didn`t realize that he had lost the key till he got home.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. They not only robbed you, they smashed everything.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9. Half a dozen apples fell down.
-> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….