Inversion Lesson

Inversion

Used 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

Inversion for Emphasis 2

• 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 / scarcely ................. when

• no sooner...................than

Multiple Choice

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

• had I reached

• I had reached

The inversion is 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

The man thought at the top of the mountain.

At the top of the mountain thought the man.

​At, on, in, under...

Many trees were here a long time ago.

Here were many trees a long time ago.

​Here, there...

Inversion of adverbs

She will only accept his hand when he apologizes to her mother.

Only when he apologizes to her mother, will she accept his hand.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Inversions with ONLY

Multiple Choice

What is the correct inversion of the sentence:

Carla only took the job after she discussed the salary.

• Only after discussed she the salary, Carla took the job.

• Only after she discussed the salary, did Carla take the job.

• Only Carla took the job, after discussed the salary.

Inversion with SO and SUCH

He was so sure he would win the trip to Paris, that he bought a suitcase.

So sure was he that he would win the trip to Paris, that he bought a suitcase.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Inversion with conditionals: had, should, were

If she had saved money, she would have bought the bike.

Had she saved money, she would have bought the bike.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Summary

S-V inversion with Question Words

​S-V inversion with Place Expressions

​S-V inversion with Negatives

​S-V Conditionals

​S-V Comparisons

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

How long it has been since you arrive in the United States?

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

Do you know why he wants to take an extended leave of absence?

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

In the cave was a vast treasure of gems and jewels.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

In the cave was a vast treasure of gems and jewels.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

At te Italian restaurant was the food too spicy for my taste.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

Seldom their secretary has made such mistakes.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

No sooner had she hung up the phone than it rang again.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

I would like to know could you help me pack these boxes.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

Should you ever visit this town again, I would be delighted to show you around.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Indicate if the sentence is correct or incorrect.

The final speaker gave us more details than had any of the previous speakers.

• Correct

• Incorrect