INVERSION Name: ………………………….
1.INVERSION AFTER NEGATIVE
Note:
Inversion of the subject and verb after a negative or semi-negative (i.e., hardly, scarcely, little, seldom, rarely, never, only,
etc.) in the front position, typical of written English, is used for emphasis.
Examples:
Never shall I forget this wonderful evening.
Only then did I see what he had meant.
Exercise 106
1. I was robbed and my car was stolen.
Not only …………………………………………………….
2. We little knew about John's real problem.
Little …………………………………………………….
3. I was only introduced to Mary after a year.
Only after a year …………………………………………………….
4. One rarely sees such a beautiful girl.
Rarely …………………………………………………….
5. I seldom speak French.
Hardly …………………………………………………….
2. | INVERSION | ADVERB PHRASES WITH 'ANY'
Note: Adverb phrases with any in a non-front position change any to no in the front position.
Examples: In no way must we show how worried we are.
On no account are visitors allowed to feed the animals.
Exercise 107
1 Thank you for the wonderful holiday. I haven't been happier at any other time in my life.
Thank you for the wonderful holiday. At no …………………………………………………….
2 He cannot be invited here under any circumstances.
Under no circumstances …………………………………………………….
3 Peter wasn't aware at any time that we were preparing a surprise party for him.
At …………………………………………………….
4 You shouldn't trust that evil man on any account.
On …………………………………………………….
5 I will never lend you any money again.
Under no …………………………………………………….
3. INVERSION
IN CONDITIONAL CLAUSES
Note: In formal style we can omit the conjunction if and change the order of subject and verb, if the first verb in the if-
clause is were, should or had.
Examples: Should you meet Mary, give her my love.
Had I gone to the conference, I would have met John.
Exercise 108
1 If I were you, I should tell the truth.
…………………………………………………….
2 If you'd helped me, I wouldn't have been arrested.
…………………………………………………….
3 If she were here now, she'd know what to do.
…………………………………………………….
4 If any guests should come early, ask them to wait here.
…………………………………………………….
5 If it were true, I still wouldn't want to go there.
…………………………………………………….
4. INVERSION AFTER THERE
Note:
Inversion of subject and verb after introductory there is common when the subject is indefinite and is a long noun phrase.
Examples: There followed a long period of peace and prosperity dreamt about for years.
There entered a beautiful tall woman with dark curly hair and big blue eyes.
Exercise 109
1 A demand for new and better educational programmes developed with time.
With time there …………………………………………………….
2 Soon after the strike began a list of all the improvements necessary to rescue the factory was prepared.
Soon after the strike began there …………………………………………………….
3 After the news was announced a great flood of critical articles appeared in the newspapers.
After the news was announced there …………………………………………………….
4 When you are eighteen, a time comes when you have to decide what you want to do in the future.
When you are eighteen, there …………………………………………………….
5 A huge animal with shiny black fur and frightening white fangs suddenly appeared in the doorway.
In the doorway there …………………………………………………….
5.
INVERSION IN CONDITIONAL CLAUSES
Note: In formal style we can omit the conjunction if and change the order of subject and verb, if the first verb in the if-
clause is were, should or had. [Note: The original text contains a typo, "bad," which has been corrected to "had" in this
response].
Examples: Should you meet Mary, give her my love.
Had I gone to the conference, I would have met John.
Exercise 108
1 If I were you, I should tell the truth.
…………………………………………………….
2 If you'd helped me, I wouldn't have been arrested.
…………………………………………………….
3 If she were here now, she'd know what to do.
…………………………………………………….
4 If any guests should come early, ask them to wait here.
…………………………………………………….
5 If it were true, I still wouldn't want to go there.
…………………………………………………….
6. INVERSION AFTER SO, NOR, NEITHER
Examples:
We are Polish. And so are they.
I haven't read this book. Nor do I intend to.
Exercise 110
1. Mary hasn't got a dog. Peter hasn't got a dog either.
Mary hasn't got a dog. Neither ... …………………………………………………….
2. We don't live in London, and they don't either.
We don't live in London, and ... …………………………………………………….
3. They speak Italian. We also speak Italian.
They speak Italian and so .. ……………………………………………………..
4. I can't swim. You can't swim.
I can't swim. Nor .. ……………………………………………………..
5. Both of us are bad students.
I'm not a good student. Nor .. ……………………………………………………..
1.INVERSION AFTER NEGATIVE
Note:
Inversion of the subject and verb after a negative or semi-negative (i.e., hardly, scarcely, little, seldom, rarely, never, only,
etc.) in the front position, typical of written English, is used for emphasis.
Examples:
Never shall I forget this wonderful evening.
Only then did I see what he had meant.
Exercise 106
6. I was robbed and my car was stolen.
Not only was I robbed, but my car was also stolen.
7. We little knew about John's real problem.
Little did we know about John's real problem.
8. I was only introduced to Mary after a year.
Only after a year was I introduced to Mary.
9. One rarely sees such a beautiful girl.
Rarely does one see such a beautiful girl.
10. I seldom speak French.
Hardly ever do I speak French.
2. | INVERSION | ADVERB PHRASES WITH 'ANY'
Note: Adverb phrases with any in a non-front position change any to no in the front position.
Examples: In no way must we show how worried we are.
On no account are visitors allowed to feed the animals.
Exercise 107
1 Thank you for the wonderful holiday. I haven't been happier at any other time in my life.
Thank you for the wonderful holiday. At no other time in my life have I been happier.
2 He cannot be invited here under any circumstances.
Under no circumstances can he be invited here.
3 Peter wasn't aware at any time that we were preparing a surprise party for him.
At no time was Peter aware that we were preparing a surprise party for him.
4 You shouldn't trust that evil man on any account.
On no account should you trust that evil man.
5 I will never lend you any money again.
Under no circumstances will I lend you any money again.
3. INVERSION
IN CONDITIONAL CLAUSES
Note: In formal style we can omit the conjunction if and change the order of subject and verb, if the first verb in the if-
clause is were, should or had.
Examples: Should you meet Mary, give her my love.
Had I gone to the conference, I would have met John.
Exercise 108
1 If I were you, I should tell the truth.
Were I you, I should tell the truth.
2 If you'd helped me, I wouldn't have been arrested.
Had you helped me, I wouldn't have been arrested.
3 If she were here now, she'd know what to do.
Were she here now, she'd know what to do.
4 If any guests should come early, ask them to wait here.
Should any guests come early, ask them to wait here.
5 If it were true, I still wouldn't want to go there.
Were it true, I still wouldn't want to go there.
4. INVERSION AFTER THERE
Note:
Inversion of subject and verb after introductory there is common when the subject is indefinite and is a long noun phrase.
Examples: There followed a long period of peace and prosperity dreamt about for years.
There entered a beautiful tall woman with dark curly hair and big blue eyes.
Exercise 109
1 A demand for new and better educational programmes developed with time.
With time there developed a demand for new and better educational programmes.
2 Soon after the strike began a list of all the improvements necessary to rescue the factory was prepared.
Soon after the strike began there was prepared a list of all the improvements necessary to rescue the factory.
3 After the news was announced a great flood of critical articles appeared in the newspapers.
After the news was announced there appeared in the newspapers a great flood of critical articles.
4 When you are eighteen, a time comes when you have to decide what you want to do in the future.
When you are eighteen, there comes a time when you have to decide what you want to do in the future.
5 A huge animal with shiny black fur and frightening white fangs suddenly appeared in the doorway.
In the doorway there suddenly appeared a huge animal with shiny black fur and frightening white fangs.
5.
INVERSION IN CONDITIONAL CLAUSES
Note: In formal style we can omit the conjunction if and change the order of subject and verb, if the first verb in the if-
clause is were, should or had. [Note: The original text contains a typo, "bad," which has been corrected to "had" in this
response].
Examples: Should you meet Mary, give her my love.
Had I gone to the conference, I would have met John.
Exercise 108
1 If I were you, I should tell the truth.
Were I you, I should tell the truth.
2 If you'd helped me, I wouldn't have been arrested.
Had you helped me, I wouldn't have been arrested.
3 If she were here now, she'd know what to do.
Were she here now, she'd know what to do.
4 If any guests should come early, ask them to wait here.
Should any guests come early, ask them to wait here.
5 If it were true, I still wouldn't want to go there.
Were it true, I still wouldn't want to go there.
6. INVERSION AFTER SO, NOR, NEITHER
Examples:
We are Polish. And so are they.
I haven't read this book. Nor do I intend to.
Exercise 110
6. Mary hasn't got a dog. Peter hasn't got a dog either.
Mary hasn't got a dog. Neither ...
7. We don't live in London, and they don't either.
We don't live in London, and ...
8. They speak Italian. We also speak Italian.
They speak Italian and so ...
9. I can't swim. You can't swim.
I can't swim. Nor ...
10. Both of us are bad students.
I'm not a good student. Nor ...
Correct Answers
1. Mary hasn't got a dog. Neither has Peter.
2. We don't live in London, and neither do they.
3. They speak Italian and so do we.
4. I can't swim. Nor can you.
5. I'm not a good student. Nor am I.
