Ready for C1 p 164 Ex 3. Inversion

 This exercise focuses on negative inversion, where a negative or restrictive adverbial phrase at the beginning of a sentence requires a question-like word order (auxiliary verb + subject + main verb).








Complete:




1 No sooner __________________________home than my mother phoned.














KEY





No sooner had I arrived / got home than my mother phoned.







Grammar note: "No sooner... than" usually pairs the past perfect with the simple past.







2. Only when _______________________the news on television did she realise the full scale of the tragedy.

 

 

 KEY

 

 

 

Only when she saw / watched the news on television did she realise the full scale of the tragedy.






Grammar note: With "Only when", the inversion happens in the main clause ("did she realise"), not the time clause.







3. Never before in all my working life_______________________ such an incompetent boss.

 

 

 

 

KEY 

 

Never before in all my working life had/have I encountered / met / worked for such an incompetent boss.


Grammar note: "Never before" typically pairs with the present perfect when you are talking about your life experiences up to the present moment and with the past perfect to talk about an experience up to a point in the past. 







4. Not until you’ve tidied your room __________________ you to go out and play with your friends! 

 

 

 

 

KEY 

 

 

Not until you’ve tidied your room will I allow you to go out and play with your friends!






Grammar note: Because the final part uses "to go", an auxiliary like will paired with allow fits perfectly (e.g., "will I allow you to go"). With let we use infinitive without to: "will I let you go".




5 Hardly _______________________________his new job when the company ran into problems and made him redundant.

 

 

 

 

KEY 

Hardly had he started / begun his new job when the company ran into problems and made him redundant.






Grammar note: "Hardly... when" follows the same past perfect pattern as "No sooner... than".




6. At no point in the marathon _________________________of giving up: I had promised myself I would finish it.

 

 

 

 

 

KEY 

At no point in the marathon did I think of giving up: I had promised myself I would finish it.



Grammar note: "Did I think of" fits the grammar smoothly here. With consider, the structure is "did I consider giving up".




7. Never again _______________________her advice – I’m in more trouble now than I was before.

 

 

 

 

 

KEY 

Never again will I take / listen to her advice – I’m in more trouble now than I was before.



Grammar note: The second half is in the present/past tense regarding current trouble, meaning they are making a firm resolution for the future ("will I...").




8. Little __________________________that someone was recording their conversation. 

 

 

 

 

KEY 

 

 

Little did they know / suspect that someone was recording their conversation.



Grammar note: "Little did [someone] know/realize/suspect" is a fixed idiomatic inversion used to show complete lack of awareness.

Ready for C1 p 164. Inversion

 

INVERSION - EXPLANATION

Inversion. More Extra Grammar

Inversion. Extra Exercises

Inversion. Key Word Transformations

Inversion. Key Word Transformations 2

Empower p 33. INVERSION - EXPLANATION

INVERSION -  EXPLANATION

We invert the subject and auxiliary verb in the sentence to give emphasis. This happens:

• After certain expressions when they are at the beginning of a sentence:  

Expressions that require inversion:

• Never
  Not once
  Under no circumstances
  At no time
  Rarely
  Only twice
  By no means
  Barely
  Scarcely
  Only once in a blue moon
  Seldom
  Hardly
  In no way
  On no account
  On no condition
  Nowhere
  No sooner
  Not only
  Not until
  Only if/after/then/when/later
  Little
  So/ Such
  As
  Neither/So
  In vain
  +some conditional sentences 

Seldom	Under no circumstances
Rarely	Never
Scarcely (ever)… when	Nowhere
Hardly (ever)… when	Never before
No sooner… than	Not only… but also
On no occasion	In no way
Nor / Neither	Not even once
On no account	Only in this way
Little	Barely

Rarely do we see him these days.

No sooner had we got into the house than he phoned us.

• When the following expressions begin a sentence, we use inversion in the main clause.

Only after, only by, only if, only when, not till / until, not since.

Only after he had graduated, did he start looking for a job.

Only if you invite her, will she come to your party.

Not until all tests had been completed, were we told the results.

• After so, such, to such a degree (in result clauses) when they are at the beginning of a sentence.

So careful is he that he never makes any mistakes.

Such a brilliant student was he that he was offered a scholarship.

• With should, were, had in conditionals at the beginning of the sentence when “if” is omitted.

Type 1: Should you see him, tell him to call me. (= If you should see him…)

Type 2: Were I you, I would cancel my trip. (= If I were you…)

Type 3: Had he known, he would have made arrangements. (= If he had known…)

• After so, neither / nor, as when expressing agreement.

“I hate horror films.” “So do I.” (“So” is used to agree with an affirmative statement.)

“Jane hasn’t returned our calls.” “Neither / Nor has her husband.” (“Neither / Nor” are used to agree with a negative statement).

His colleagues respected him as did his boss.

The subject and the main verb are also usually inverted in the following structures:

• After adverbs of place or time

Here comes the bride!

Away ran the thief!

• In Direct speech when the reporting verb comes after the quote and the subject is a noun.

“I’ve never seen him,” said Helen

Empower p 33. Inversion. More Extra Grammar

Inversion is used to give emphasis.
Common phrases are: not only, no sooner, ...

INVERSION

Inversion involves reversing the normal order of subject and verb. There are two types of inversion:

1- an auxiliary verb is placed before the subject, and the rest of the verb comes after:

Only yesterday did I realize what was going on.

2- the whole verb comes before the subject. This happens:

2.a) mainly after adverbial expressions of place (only for literary or descriptive writing)

On the big bed lay a young boy.

Under a tree was sitting one of the peasants.

Round the corner came the thief.

2.b) in literary or formal style after as (when the subjects are different):

France is a founder member of the EU. Belgium is a founder member too.

France is a founder member of the EU, as is Belgium.

2.c) after here and there in spoken English:

Here is your watch.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when a big decision has to be taken.

2.d) after direct speech (especially when the subject is not a pronoun):

“Let's go,” shouted the boy.

Inversion is common:

A- in ordinary spoken and written English in:

→ Questions:

→ after: here, there, neither / nor and so.

→ to add dramatic effect in expressions such as:

Did you go climbing last weekend?

Here is your watch.

I opened the door and there stood Michael, all covered in mud.

I love bungee jumping. So do I.

The unions do not want a strike and neither / nor do the management.

No way would I ever go on a trip like that!

Not in a million years would I agree to cross Africa on a motorbike!

B- in written English or in a very formal spoken style of speaking (public speeches, for ex) in the following cases:

→ After expressions which have a negative or restrictive meaning when they are at the beginning of a sentence to give emphasis. These expressions are:

- little
Little did she understand what the conversation was about.

- To express that one thing happened immediately after another:

hardly*...when
Hardly had I arrived when I had a problem to cope with.

scarcely ... when

barely...when

no sooner... than
No sooner had I arrived than I had a problem to cope with.

* We only use inversion when the adverb modifies the whole phrase and not when it modifies the noun:

Hardly anyone passed the exam. (No inversion)

- with seldom , rarely and never when used in comparisons:

seldom
Seldom had I seen such a remarkable creature.

rarely
Rarely could she have been faced with so difficult a choice.

never (before)
Never have I felt better.

- with expressions containing the word only:

Only
Only after a year did I begin to see the results.

Only then did he understand what she meant.

Only now do I see what you mean.

Only later did she really think about the situation.

Only by working extremely hard could we afford to eat.

Not only..., but (also)
Not only did we lose all our money, but we also came close to losing our lives.

- with expressions containing the word no or not:

At no time
At no time was the President aware of what was happening.

In no circumstances
In no circumstances can customers' money be refunded.

Under no circumstances
Under no circumstances can customers' money be refunded.

In no way
In no way can she be held responsible.

On no account
On no account are visitors allowed to feed the animals.

On no condition
On no condition will the company bear responsibility for lost property.

No longer
No longer will she accept these poor conditions.

Nowhere
Nowhere have I ever had such bad service.

Not since
Not since Lucy left college had she had such a wonderful time.

Not until
Not until I heard my name did I believe I had won the race.

→ After so, such, to such a degree (in result clauses) when they are at the beginning of a sentence:

She was so exhausted that she went straight to bed.

So exhausted was she that she went straight to bed.

He played the tune so badly that nobody recognised it.

So badly did he play the tune that nobody recognised it.

The extent of the damage was such that the car was a total write-off.

Such was the extent of the damage that the car was a total write-off.

→ in conditional sentences with the omission of if:

Should you change your mind, let us know.

Were she my daughter, I would suggest the following course of action.

Had I known what was going to happen, I would never have left her alone.

→ to express hopes and wishes starting with may:

May the force be with you!




transformation exercises and key.

Ready for C1 p 164 . Inversion. Extra Exercises

INVERSION

1. I have never before been asked to accept a bribe.
Never before
2. He had hardly left the house when the storm broke.
Hardly
3. As soon as he had left the house the storm broke.
No sooner
4. This switch must not be touched on any account.
On no account
5. She rarely has any money to spare.
Rarely
6. He hardly speaks to anyone.
Hardly
7. The nation has seldom been faced with such difficulties.
Seldom
8. They had hardly started playing tennis when it began to rain.
Hardly
9. A father has seldom sacrificed so much for his child.
Seldom
10. You may not return after midnight on any account.
On no account
11. He would not give up writing his satires under any circumstances.
Under no circumstances
12. He realized the danger he had been in only after he had read the newspaper the following morning.
Only after
13. They were not able to assess the damage until the floods had subsided.
Not until
14. He only stays in bed if he is seriously ill.
Only if
15. We  only then realized how much he had suffered.
Only then
16. He was only able to do the exercise with a great deal of effort.
Only
17. He didn’t manage to get permission until she had calmed down.
Not until
18. No director has made such an intellectually challenging sci-fi movie since Kubrick’s 2001.
Not since
19. He became so suspicious that he didn’t even trust his family.
So suspicious
20. He was so anxious to start a new life that he actually changed his name.
So anxious
21. He could only make himself heard by shouting at the top of his voice.
Only by
22. He laughed so much that tears rolled down his cheeks.
So much
23. Her business was so successful that Marie was able to retire at the age of 50.
So successful
24. If you were less than delighted with our product, we would refund your money immediately.
Were
25. If you were to accept our offer, we could avoid the costs of a court case.
Were
26. If the builders were to finish their work to schedule, they would receive a bonus.
Were
27. If the tickets should fail to arrive before the departure date, we would arrange to have duplicates waiting at the airport.
Should
28. If the film had been released in the summer, it would not have been so successful.
Had
29. He had no money and his sister didn’t have any either.
He had no money, neither / nor
30. They have no intention of paying and we don’t either.
They have no intention of paying and nor / neither
31. I couldn’t face my father and Jane couldn’t either.
I couldn’t face my father and neither / nor
32. Tom came in.
In
33. Two large dogs jumped up.
Up
34. Half a dozen apples fell down.
Down
35. The body of our late lamented sovereign lies here.
Here 
36. As soon as Springsteen had gone on stage, it started to rain.
No sooner 
37. We only very rarely go to the cinema these days. 
Only very rarely  
38. I have never seen such a terrible performance of Hamlet before. 
Never before
39. Bags must not be left unattended at any time.
At no time 
40. The identity of the murderer is not revealed until the very last page. 
Not until
41. They only realized the painting had been hung upside down when someone complained at reception. 
Only when  
42. He would never play in front of a live audience again 
Never again 
43. She had hardly sat down to watch her favourite programme when the phone rang. 
Hardly 
44. You will not be allowed to enter the auditorium under any circumstances once the play has started.
Under  
45. We not only went to the National Gallery, but we also saw a West End musical.
Not 
46. John had not enjoyed himself so much since he went to the theme park as a child.
Not 

47. We won’t give in to their demands in any way.

In

 



KEY
INVERSION
1. I have never before been asked to accept a bribe.



Never before HAVE I BEEN ASKED TO ACCEPT A BRIBE.



2. He had hardly left the house when the storm broke.



Hardly HAD HE LEFT THE HOUSE WHEN THE STORM BROKE.



3. As soon as he had left the house the storm broke.



No sooner HAD HE LEFT THE HOUSE THAN THE STORM BROKE.



4. This switch must not be touched on any account.



On no account MUST THIS SWITCH BE TOUCHED.



5. She rarely has any money to spare.



Rarely DOES SHE HAVE ANY MONEY TO SPARE.



6. He hardly speaks to anyone.



Hardly DOES HE SPEAK TO ANYONE.



7. The nation has seldom been faced with such difficulties.



Seldom HAS THE NATION BEEN FACED WITH SUCH DIFFICULTIES.



8. They had hardly started playing tennis when it began to rain.



Hardly HAD THEY STARTED PLAYING TENNIS WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN.



9. A father has seldom sacrificed so much for his child.



Seldom HAS A FATHER SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR HIS CHILD.



10. You may not return after midnight on any account.



On no account MAY YOU RETURN AFTER MIDNIGHT.



11. He would not give up writing his satires under any circumstances.



Under no circumstances WOULD HE GIVE UP WRITING HIS SATIRES.



12. He realized the danger he had been in only after he had read the newspaper the following morning.



Only after HE HAD READ THE NEWSPAPER THE FOLLOWING MORNING DID HE REALISE THE DANGER HE HAD BEEN IN.



13. They were not able to assess the damage until the floods had subsided.



Not until THE FLOODS HAD SUBSIDED WERE THEY ABLE TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE.



14. He only stays in bed if he is seriously ill.



Only if HE IS SERIOUSLY ILL DOES HE STAY IN BED.



15. We  only then realized how much he had suffered.



Only then DID WE REALISE HOW MUCH HE HAD SUFFERED.



16. He was only able to do the exercise with a great deal of effort.



Only WITH A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT WAS HE ABLE TO DO THE EXERCISE.



17. He didn’t manage to get permission until she had calmed down.



Not until SHE HAD CALMED DOWN DID HE MANAGE TO GET PERMISSION.



18. No director has made such an intellectually challenging sci-fi movie since Kubrick’s 2001.



Not since KUBRICK’S 2001 HAS ANY DIRECTOR MADE SUCH AN INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGING SCI-FI MOVIE.




19. He became so suspicious that he didn’t even trust his family.



So suspicious DID HE BECOME THAT HE DIDN’T EVEN TRUST HIS FAMILY.



20. He was so anxious to start a new life that he actually changed his name.



So anxious WAS HE TO START A NEW LIFE THAT HE ACTUALLY CHANGED HIS NAME.





21. He could only make himself heard by shouting at the top of his voice.



Only by SHOUTING AT THE TOP OF HIS VOICE COULD HE MAKE HIMSELF HEARD.




22. He laughed so much that tears rolled down his cheeks.



So much DID HE LAUGH THAT TEARS ROLLED DOWN HIS CHEEKS.



23. Her business was so successful that Marie was able to retire at the age of 50.



So successful WAS HER BUSINESS THAT MARIE WAS ABLE TO RETIRE AT THE AGE OF 50.



24. If you were less than delighted with our product, we would refund your money immediately.



Were YOU LESS THAN DELIGHTED WITH OUR PRODUCT, WE WOULD REFUND YOUR MONEY IMMEDIATELY.



25. If you were to accept our offer, we could avoid the costs of a court case.



Were YOU TO ACCEPT OUR OFFER, WE COULD AVOID THE COSTS OF A COURT CASE.



26. If the builders were to finish their work to schedule, they would receive a bonus.



Were THE BUILDERS TO FINISH THEIR WORK TO SCHEDULE, THEY WOULD RECEIVE A BONUS.



27. If the tickets should fail to arrive before the departure date, we would arrange to have duplicates waiting at the airport.



Should THE TICKETS FAIL TO ARRIVE BEFORE THE DEPARTURE DATE, WE WOULD ARRANGE TO HAVE DUPLICATES WAITING AT THE AIRPORT.



28. If the film had been released in the summer, it would not have been so successful.



Had THE FILM BEEN RELEASED IN THE SUMMER, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.



29. He had no money and his sister didn’t have any either.



He had no money, neither / nor DID HIS SISTER.



30. They have no intention of paying and we don’t either.



They have no intention of paying and nor / neither DO WE.



31. I couldn’t face my father and Jane couldn’t either.



I couldn’t face my father and neither / nor COULD JANE.



32. Tom came in.



In CAME TOM.



33. Two large dogs jumped up.



Up JUMPED TWO LARGE DOGS.



34. Half a dozen apples fell down.



Down FELL HALF A DOZEN APPLES.



35. The body of our late lamented sovereign lies here.



Here LIES THE BODY OF OUR LATE LAMENTED SOVEREIGN.



36. As soon as Springsteen had gone on stage, it started to rain.



No sooner had Springsteen gone on stage than it started to rain. 



37. We only very rarely go to the cinema these days. 



Only very rarely do we go to the cinema these days. 



38. I have never seen such a terrible performance of Hamlet before. 



Never before have I seen such a terrible performance of Hamlet.


 
39. Bags must not be left unattended at any time.



At no time must bags be left unattended



40. The identity of the murderer is not revealed until the very last page. 



Not until the very last page is the identity of the murderer revealed
 


41. They only realized the painting had been hung upside down when someone complained at reception. 



Only when someone complained at reception did they realize the painting had been hung upside down.



42. He would never play in front of a live audience again 



Never again would he play in front of a live audience.



43. She had hardly sat down to watch her favourite programme when the phone rang. 



Hardly had she sat down to watch her favourite programme when the phone rang.



44. You will not be allowed to enter the auditorium under any circumstances once the play has started.



Under no circumstances will you be allowed to enter the auditorium once the play has started.



45. We not only went to the National Gallery, but we also saw a West End musical.



Not only did we go to the National Gallery, but we also saw a West End musical.



46. John had not enjoyed himself so much since he went to the theme park as a child.



Not since John went to the theme park as a child had he enjoyed himself so much.

 

 

47. We won’t give in to their demands in any way.

 

 

In no way will we give in to their demands.

 

 




More exercises:
Here
Here
Here

Empower p 33. Inversion. Key Word Transformations

1. After the class finished, students started to go home.
DISMISSED
Only _________________________________________ to go home.
2. Just after the policy had been announced the government presented a new and better idea.
CAME
Hardly __________________________________________________________ with a new and better idea.
3. You shouldn't buy products from companies which exploit workers under any circumstances.
TAKE
Under ______________________________________________________________ of workers.
4. We too often see people trying hard to get by.
STRUGGLING
Too ____________________________________________________________________ meet.
5. We could only relax in the evening.
ABLE
Only __________________________________________________________________ out.
Write two more sentences using words and expressions from our last session:
6. ______________
7._______________
 


KEY
 

1. After the class finished, students started to go home.
DISMISSED
Only _________________________________________ to go home.
 

 

KEY

 

1.  Only when the class was dismissed did students start to go home.


2. Just after the policy had been announced the government presented a new and better idea.
CAME
Hardly __________________________________________________________ with a new and better idea.

KEY

2. Hardly had the policy been announced than the government came up with a new and better idea.


3. You shouldn't buy products from companies which exploit workers under any circumstances.
TAKE
Under ______________________________________________________________ of workers.

 

 

KEY

 

3. Under no circumstances should you buy products from companies which take advantage of workers.

4. We too often see people trying hard to get by.
STRUGGLING
Too ____________________________________________________________________ meet.

KEY

 

 

4. Too often do we see people struggling to make ends meet.


5. We could only relax in the evening.
ABLE
Only __________________________________________________________________ out.

KEY

5. Only in the evening were we able to chill out.

Empower p 33. Inversion. Key Word Transformations 2

1. Women do not have equal rights with men at any level of society.
NO
At________________________________________________equal rights with men.
2. It occurred to me later that I was being teased
UNTIL
Not _______________________________________________________________ pulled. 
3. He felt so lonely that he would start conversations with total strangers
STRIKE
So _____________________________________________________________ conversations with total strangers.
4. They didn't know that the sheriff was about to draw his revolver.
BRINK
Little _______________________________________________________________ his revolver.
5. The police were able to catch the thieves after a long search.
AFTER
Only ___________________________________________________________ arrested.



KEY

 

 
1. Women do not have equal rights with men at any level of society.
NO
At________________________________________________equal rights with men.

KEY

1. At no level of society do women have equal rights with men

2. It occurred to me later that I was being teased
UNTIL
Not _______________________________________________________________ pulled. 

KEY

2. Not until later did it occur to me that I was having my leg pulled. 

 

 

3. He felt so lonely that he would start conversations with total strangers
STRIKE
So _____________________________________________________________ conversations with total strangers.
 

 

KEY

3. So lonely did he feel that he would strike up conversations with total strangers.

 

 

4. They didn't know that the sheriff was about to draw his revolver.
BRINK
Little _______________________________________________________________ his revolver.

 

 

KEY

 

4. Little did they know that the sheriff was on the brink of drawing his revolver.

 

5. The police were able to catch the thieves after a long search.
AFTER
Only ___________________________________________________________ arrested.

KEY

5. Only after a long search were the thieves arrested.