Inversion'

Open Ended

Look at the photo. What crossed your mind?

How do you feel when you look at it?

Write ONE short sentence.

ICE ICE ICE

I've never been to Antarctica before.

I've never been there.

It looks really cold.

If I'd had the money, I'd have gone there.

It's so beautiful I can't look away.

It's one of

the place I won't go.

Penguins are so cute.

A bit boring, isn't it?

Try using inversion.

The place was so cold that many creatures couldn't survive.

&

So cold was the place that many creatures couldn't survive.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I have never seen such a beautiful scenery.

&

Never have I seen such a beautiful scenery.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I (do) rarely see penguins these days.

&

Rarely do I see penguins these days.

So difficult was German language that I gave up learning it.

Not only did I study German language, but I also studied German history.

Had I known a third language, I'd have travelled to many other places.

• The way you add EMPHASIS to formal sentences

• The words are reordered in inverted sentences.

What is inversion?

I have never seen such a beautiful scenery.

Never have I seen such a beautiful scenery.

same meaning, different emphasis

• I (do) rarely see penguins.

Inverted sentences

• Rarely do I see penguins.

Normal sentences

More examples

• So difficult was German language that I gave up learning it.

• German language was so difficult that I gave up learning it.

• I had never felt so excited.

• Never had I felt so excited.

• negative adverbials + auxiliary (is/am/are/was/were/do/did/had/etc.) + S

so/such

Negative adverbials and so

Put these first in sentences using inversion

• Not only ..., (but I also ...)

• No sooner ... (than ...)

• Never / Rarely / Only then

• In ... / On ... / At ... / Under ... / other preps.

‘Learning colloquial expressions in English is great.

Not only do you suddenly understand more, but you

also feel you can finally talk like a native speaker.

But you need to be careful. One day I was at a

friend’s house in Liverpool. So proud was I of my

colloquial English that I used it all the time. On a

sofa sat an old man – my friend’s grandfather. I

introduced myself and started talking. He asked me

about English food. That’s when I said something

I shouldn’t have. Had I known how rude it was, I’d

never have said it. No sooner had it left my mouth

than I realised it was a mistake because everyone

stared at me. Never had I felt so embarrassed in all

my life.’

Find sentences that use inversion.

‘Learning colloquial expressions in English is great.

Not only do you suddenly understand more, but you

also feel you can finally talk like a native speaker.

But you need to be careful. One day I was at a

friend’s house in Liverpool. So proud was I of my

colloquial English that I used it all the time. On a

sofa sat an old man – my friend’s grandfather. I

introduced myself and started talking. He asked me

about English food. That’s when I said something

I shouldn’t have. Had I known how rude it was, I’d

never have said it. No sooner had it left my mouth

than I realised it was a mistake because everyone

stared at me. Never had I felt so embarrassed in all

my life.’

Find sentences that use inversion.

Dropdown

‘Learning colloquial expressions in English is great.

​ ​ ​

Select answer

suddenly understand more, ​

Select answer

feel you can finally talk like a native speaker.​ ​

Reorder

Reorder the following

• So nervous

• was I

• that I couldn't

• remember

• my lines.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Reorder

Reorder the following

________________, I wouldn't have said it.

• Had

• I

• known

• she could hear

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Reorder

Reorder the following. (no capital letters and punctuation this time)

My brother and I left out hotel for a walk, and soon realised we were lost. ______________that I'd left my phone behind.

• only

• then

• did

• I

• realise

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Open Ended

Write a sentence about yourself, starting with "Never have I ..." OR "Not only ...".

Draw

Draw an animal. Any animal.

Open Ended

Write a sentence containing the name of the animal you just drew. Use inversion.

Open Ended

Tell the class briefly about a time when you were really happy. (1-2 sentences)

Use inversion (1 more sentence.)

(Total: 2-3 sentences)