S3 Grammar: Inversion

S3 Grammar: Inversion

Sentence structure

for emphasis

Inversion for Emphasis

• Adverbs of frequency with a negative meaning: never/hardly ever/rarely/seldom e.g. Rarely had the kids been so excited.

• Not only..., but also... - when not only refers to the verb or the object of a sentence e.g. Not only does she play the piano, but she also paints beautifully.

Multiple Choice

Francesca seldom loses her temper.

• Seldom Francesca loses her temper.

• Seldom does Francesca lose her temper.

Multiple Choice

Not only ........... a number of children's books, but she has also written a screenplay.

• she's written

• has she written

• little, neither, never again, never before, nowhere, so e.g. Never again will we book a holiday through that travel agency.

• not for one moment, on no account, under no circumstances

• e.g. Not for one moment did I doubt your dedication.

Multiple Choice

Under no circumstances ........... to your classmates during the exam.

• must you speak

• you must speak

Multiple Choice

Nowhere ........ more polite staff than at this restaurant.

• you will find

• will you find

To emphasise how quickly one action occured after another one had been completed

• Hardly had she eaten her sandwich when she realised she didn't brush her teeth.

• No sooner had she eaten her sandwich than she realised she didn't brush her teeth.

Multiple Choice

Hardly ........... work when the earthquake struck.

• had I reached

• I had reached

These inversions are NOT in the main clause:

• Not until

• Only after / by / if / when

• Only on one occasion

• e.g. Not until she arrived in Tokyo did she realise she had left the documents at home.

Multiple Choice

Only if all staff members agree ............. abolished.

• will school uniform be

• school uniform will be

Multiple Choice

Only at the age of seventeen ......... for a driving license in the UK.

• you can apply

• can you apply