Inversion Emphasis Adapted from "Advanced Language Practice" by Michael Vince
if they were to escape, there would be an outcry.
Were they to escape, there would be an outcry
If the police had found out, I would have been in trouble.
Were the police to have found out, I would have been in trouble.
If you should hear anything, let me know.
Should you hear anything, let me know.
if he has cheated, he will have to be punished,
Should he have cheated, he will have to be punished.
if I had known, I would have protested strongly
Had / known, / would have protested strongly
b. Inversion after as
This is more common in formal or written language.
We were short of money, as were most people in our neighborhood.
I thought, as did my colleagues, that the recession would soon be over.
C. Inversion after so, neither and nor
These are used in 'echoing' statements, agreeing or disagreeing.
A: I am going home. B: So am I.
A: I don't like meat. B: Neither do I.
as did
Rarely have
Exercise 1
Complete each sentence by using the phrases from the box.
Rarely have
No sooner had
Under no circumstances are
Not only did
Under no circumstances will
Were you Hardly had
Little did
1.
we arrived at the hotel when there was a power cut.
2.
members of staff to accept gratuities from clients.
3.
Detective Dawson realize what she was to discover.
4.
to pay full amount now, there would be a ten per cent discount.
5. I supposed,
most people, that I would be retiring at 60.
6.
the doctors seen a more difficult case.
7.
Jean win first prize but she was also offered a promotion.
8.
late arrivals be admitted to the theater before the interval.
9.
one missing child been found that another three disappeared.
10
so many employees taken sick leave at the same time.
Exercise 2
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence using the word given. Do not
change the word given.
1. It was only when the office phoned me that I found out about the meeting
find
Not until
about the meeting.
2. The facts were not all made public at the time.
later
Only
all made public.
3. The response to our appeal was so great that we had to take on more staff.
response
Such
to our appeal that we had to take on more staff.
4. Harry broke his leg and also injured his shoulder.
but
Not only
also injured his shoulder.
5. The police didn't suspect at all that the judge was the murderer.
did
Little
as being the murderer.
6. The bus driver cannot be blamed for the accident in any way.
held
In
responsible for the accident.
7. If the government raised interest rates, they would lose the election.
raise
Were
interest rates, they would lose the election.
8. As soon as I got home, I realized I'd left my bag in the shops.
had
No sooner
I realized I'd left my bad in the shops.
9. It was only when I asked a passer-by that I realized where I was.
did
Not until
where I was.
10. The minister was interrupted just after starting his speech.
when
Hardly
he was interrupted.
Exercise 3
Decide which sentences are inappropriate in the contexts given.
1. Guest to host: 'So nice was that pudding that I would like to have some more.
2. Witness to court: 'No sooner had I turned out the light then I heard the nose outside.'
2