UNIT 1 INVERSION

Only when the sun is shining will a good friend lend you an umbrella ...

but he wants it straight back when it starts to rain!

A NEGATIVE ADVERBS
rarely . seldom . little

hardly/barely/scarcely (ever) ... = only just = almost no

hardly/barely/scarcely ... when/before ... = used to say that sth happened

immediately after sth else happened

never (before/again)

He didn't know/had no idea what was going to happen.

 Little did he know what was going to happen.

I had only just entered the room when I was asked to wait outside

 Hardly had I entered the room when I was asked to wait outside

I had scarcely sat down when the phone rang.

 Scarcely had I sat down to eat when the phone rang.

Now that we have a baby, we seldom get the chance to go to the cinema.

 Seldom do we get the chance to go to the cinema now that we have a baby.

We seldom receive any apology when mistakes are made.

 Seldom do we receive any apology when mistakes are made.

A government proposal can rarely have been subjected to a stormier passage.

 Rarely can a government proposal have been subjected to a stormier passage.

She didn’t know he had cheated on her for many years

 Little did she know that he had cheated on her for many years.

B ADVERBIAL EXPRESSIONS
at no + point, time

on no account, occasion
in no + way, town, place ...

in/under no circumstances

in (very) few (cases)

by no means = not at all

The outcome of the match was never in doubt.

 At no time was the outcome of the match in doubt.

The customer would on no account pay the added cost.

 On no account would the customer pay the added cost.

Whatever happens, don't tell them.

 Under no circumstances should you tell them.

It is by no means certain that we'll finish the project by June.

 By no means is it certain that we'll finish the project by June.

It is by no means clear what the president can do to end the strike.

 By no means is it clear what the president can do to end the strike.

These injustices can be blamed on a corporation in very few cases.

 In very few cases can these injustices be blamed on a corporation.

That party represents more than half of those who voted in very few cases.

 Yet in very few cases does that party represent more than half of those who
voted.

C CLAUSES OF RESULT
so/such ... (that)

to such a degree/an extent/lengths/ = so much

a pitch/a point/extremes ... that

The runner was so exhausted that he couldn't breathe.

 So exhausted was the runner that he couldn't breathe.

He was so afraid of confined spaces that he never took the lit

 Such/To such a degree was his fear of confined spaces that he never took the
fift.
D NOT ONLY ...BUT ALSO ... / BUT ... AS WELL
He set fire not only to the car, but also to the house.

 Not only did he set fire to the car, but also to the house.

 Not only did he set fire to the car, but to the house as well.

Vietnam is a member of ASEAN. Thailand is a member too.

 Vietnam is a member of ASEAN, as is Thailand.

She worked so hard that she forget to have dinner.

 So hard did she work that she forget to have dinner.

E NO SOONER ...THAN
I'd no sooher contacted the agency than I received your offer.

 No sooner had I contacted the agency than I received your offer.

Immediately after his election, he was assassinated.

 No sooner had he been elected than he was assassinated.

F INVERTED CONDITIONALS
1st ● If you (should) ...  Should you ...

2nd ● If it were ...  Were it ...

3rd ● If they had ... Had they ...

If you (should) come first, leave the keys on the table.

 Should you come first, leave the keys on the table.

If the boat were mine, I wouldn't hire it out.

 Were the boat mine, I wouldn't hire it out.

If they had known, they would have told us.

 Had they known, they would have told us.

G OTHER EXPRESSIONS
in vain (with no success / vô vọng), nowhere, not often,

not a word/soul (Don't say anything) , no longer,

in none of, not for, not since,

not even once, neither ... nor,

neither/nor/so/as (with aux. verbs)

I wasn't afraid of his threats any more.

 No longer was I afraid of his threats.

The chemist's will not be open either today or tomorrow.

 Neither today nor tomorrow will the chemist's be open

Both he and his brother play the piano well.

 He plays the piano well, as does/and so does his brother

He tried in vain to open the locked door.

 In vain did he try to open the locked door.

If you say a word of this to the boss, we will all wind up getting fired.

 Not a word of this to the boss, or we'll all wind up getting fired.

He hasn’t called me, not even once, since he left.

 Not even once has he called me since he left.

I will not let you down for a moment.

 Not for a moment will I let you down.

My sister doesn’t like durians. I don’t like durians.

 My sister doesn’t like durians and neither/nor do I.

 My sister doesn’t like durians and I don’t, either.

The cost of living in the city is higher than the one in the countryside is

 The cost of living in the city is higher than is the one in the countryside.

He is much hardworking than I am

 He is much hardworking than I am

The new plan is no better than the one we are executing would be
 The new plan is no better than would be the one we are executing

 The new plan is no better than the one we are executing (would be)

H HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR/ BUT FOR/ WITHOUT

(CHANGES IN PARTS OF SPEECH)
The only reason the concert wasn't a success was the rain.

 Had it not been for the rain, the concert would have been a success.

 But for/Without the rain, the concert would have been a success.

If he hadn't advised her, she wouldn't have accepted the job.

 Had it not been for his advice, she would not have accepted the job.

I ONLY ... (inversion in main clause)

only then, only by chance/luck, only

in this way/with difficulty, only

yesterday/on (rare) occasions

ONLY (inversion in main clause)

only when, only if,

only after, only by

I heard only by chance that his father had passed away.

 Only by chance did I hear that his father had passed away.

He gave in only after we had (had) a long argument.

 Only after we had (had) a long argurent did he give in.

The only way to learn is by practice.

 Only by practice/ practising can/will you learn.

J ONLY WHEN ... (THAT) .../ NOT UNTIL ...

(THAT) ...
I didn't realise how violent the film was until I saw it.
 It was only when/not until I saw the film that I realised how violent it was.
(emphatic, no inversion)

 Only when/Not until I saw the film did I realise how violent it was. (emphatic,
inversion in main clause)

K ONLY IF/NOT UNLESS (inversion in main clause)

You can see the doctor only if you have an appointment

 Only if you have an appointment can you see the doctor.

 Not unless you have an appointment can you see the doctor.

L INVERSION based on (PASSIVE, OPPOSITES)

There are not many newspapers which covered the accident in detail.

 In few newspapers was the accident covered in detail. (passive)

You will only fail your exam if you don't study hard.

 Only if you study hard will you pass your exam. (opposites)

SPECIAL TRANSFORMATIONS
Not many cities (have) ... In (very) few cities do they (have) ...
The only way to find out is to ask. Only if we (ask) can/will we find out.
You'll achieve your goals only if you Only with patience will you achieve
are patient. your goals.
It's unusual to (see) ... Seldom do you (see) ...
As soon as I (arrived) … No sooner had I (arrived) ...
It was the first time that I (had Never before had I (been) ...
been) ...
I've often (wanted) to ... Many is the time I've (wanted) to ...

ORAL PRACTICE
1. Whatever you do, don't leave me alone.

 Under ...

2. The robbers did not realise that armed police were waiting for them.

 Little ...

3. Immediately after Paul heard from Angela, her sister dropped in.

 No sooner ...
4. She was so anxious about the exam that she couldn't sleep.

 Such ...

5. I would have given him the job if he hadn't been so rude.

 Had it not …

6. Had it not been for her support, he wouldn't have passed the exams.

 Without ...

7. Had it not been for his hard work, he wouldn't have succeeded.

 But for ...

8. I forgot about the appointment until I received the call.

 Not until ...

9. The public is allowed in very rarely.

 Only on ...

10. The only way you wori't lose your job is by accepting his conditions.

 Only by ...

Answer

1. Under no circumstances should you leave me alone.

2. Little did the robbers realise that armed police were waiting for them.
3. No sooner had Paul heard from Angela than her sister dropped in.
4. Such was her anxiety about the exam that she couldn't sleep.
5. Had it not been for his rudeness, I would have given him the job./ Had he
not been so rude, I would have given him the job.
6. Without her support, he wouldn't have passed the exams.
7. But for his hard work, he wouldn't have succeeded.
8. Not until I received the call did I remember the appointment.
9. Only on very rare occasions is the public allowed in.
10. Only by accepting his conditions will you keep your job.

A KEY WORD TRANSFORMATION (based on

Inversion)
1. Smoking is strictly forbidden in this building. (should)
 Under … smoke in this building.
2. The moment I walked in there was a power cut. (sooner)
 No … there was a power cut.
3. Patients rarely make a full recovery from this disease. (cases)
 In very … a full recovery from this disease.
4. It was my first time at a rock concert. (been)
 Never … a rock concert.
5. I had no idea that we were supposed to keep a record of all our expenses.
(know)
 Little … we were supposed to keep a record of all our expenses.
6. We finished on time because Karen gave us a hand. (given)
 Had Karen not … finished on time.
7. They did not decide to move to a bigger house until after the birth of their
second child. (been)
 Only when their second child … to a bigger house.
8. He didn’t refer to the incident at all. (point)
 At … the incident.
9. The two sides never looked likely to reach an agreement. (time)
 At … likely to reach an agreement.
10. The reason they didn't give him the job was because he couldn't use a
computer. (inability)
 Had it not … a computer, they would have given him the job.

Answer

1. Under no circumstances should you smoke in this building.

2. No sooner had I walked in than there was a power cut.
3. In very few cases do patients make a full recovery from this disease.
4. Never before had I been to a rock concert.
5. Little did I know that we were supposed to keep a record of all our expenses.
6. Had Karen not given us a hand, we wouldn't have finished on time.
7. Only when their second child had been born did they decide to move to a
bigger house.
8. At no point did he refer to the incident.
9. At no time did the two sides look likely to reach an agreement.
10. Had it not been for his inability to use a computer, they would have
given him the job.
B DERIVATIVES
Your Stars
You're in a … (rest) mood this week and must make sure you control your …
(patient). You might well feel in the circumstances that a partner is being …
(obstruct), though most probably they feel that you should be paying them more
… (attend). So try your best to avoid a row in the next few days and you will
definitely see an … (improve) in your close personal … (relate). It would appear
that some aspects of your work this week are … (profession) challenging, and
when you make your … (decide) concerning whether it would be wise right now to
take your career in a different … (direct), be easy. People close to home might
give you selfish … (advise), which will be far more … (benefit) to them than to
you.

Answer Your Stars

You're in a restless mood this week and must make sure you control your
impatience. You might well feel in the circumstances that a partner is being
obstructive, though most probably they feel that you should be paying them
more attention. So try your best to avoid a row in the next few days and you will
definitely see an improvement in your close personal relationship. It would
appear that some aspects of your work this week are professionally challenging,
and when you make your decision concerning whether it would be wise right now
to take your career in a different direction, be easy. People close to home might
give you selfish advice, which will be far more beneficial to them than to you.

A GUIDED CLOZE TEST – FILL IN

STOPPING A JUMBO JET
In the early day of aviation, pilots had more important things … (to/ for/ than)
worry about than braking. Their main problem was getting into the air. … (Even/
Only/ Not) by using all available horsepower … (were/ should/ could) they able to
work up enough speed to take off. When they landed again, their machines had so
little weight and momentum that they rolled to a halt on the grass only a few
metres … (when/ by/ after)
Those days, … (despite/ however/ although), are long gone. As aircraft weights
have risen, … (so/ and/ also) have landing speeds, which has meant that
undercarriage brakes … (have/ would/ had) had to become more effective. Today,
airlines travelling at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hous are … (being/ about/
to) brought down to taxiing speed in a … (few/ matter/ lack) of seconds. A jumbo
coming in to land can weigh more than 200 tons, so its wheels are … (placed/
equipped/ found) with a complete set of disc brakes. … (Although/ Were/ If) it
simply allowed to roll to a halt, it qould need a runway twice the normal length.
Airlines, therefore, have a second braking system which, … (like/ as/ because) a
passenger, you cannot fail to hear during landing. Hardly have the tyres made …
(touch/ contact/ communication) with the ground … (than/ that/ when) the
engines start roaring again. This is the system known as reverse thrust … (be/
being/ is) applied, the effect of which is to slow down the aircraft well before it …
(gets/ reaches/ arrives) the end of the runway.

Answer
STOPPING A JUMBO JET
In the early days of aviation, pilots had more important things to worry about
than braking. Their main problem was getting into the air. Only by using all
available horsepower were they able to work up enough speed to take off. When
they landed again, their machines had so little weight and momentum that they
rolled to a halt on the grass only a few metres after.

Those days, however, are long gone. As aircraft weights have risen, so have
landing speeds, which has meant that undercarriage brakes have had to become
more effective. Today, airlines travelling at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per
hour are being brought down to taxiing speed in a matter of seconds. A jumbo
coming in to land can weigh more than 200 tons, so its wheels are equipped with
a complete set of disc brakes. Were it simply allowed to roll to a halt, it would
need a runway twice the normal length.

Airlines, therefore, have a second braking system which, as a passenger, you

cannot fail to hear during landing. Hardly have the tyres made contact with the
ground when the engines start roaring again. This is the system known as reverse
thrust being applied, the effect of which is to slow down the aircraft well before it
reaches the end of the runway.

PAPER 3

B Fill each of the numbered blanks in the

passage with one suitable word.
THE CONCEPT OF TIME
Astronomy was one of the earliest of the sciences. Primitive man saw the sun
rising at different times, but always on the (1) .................. horizon. He saw it set,
but always on the opposite
horizon, and so he recognised the rising in the east and the setting in the west.
Given (2) .................. fixed point of refererice - a pillar, a tree or a pole - he
noticed that the shadows that moved (3) .................. it were longer in the morning
and evening, and at their shortest when the sun was highest in the sky at noon.
He acquired a sense of timekeeping (4) .................. the shortest shadow
conveniently divided his working day (5) .................. morning and afternoon,
(6) .................. the heat of the noonday sun to emphasise this division. Thousands
of years ago, (7) .................. astronomy was in (8) .................. infancy, it was
realised that the movements of the stars followed a consistent pattern, in
(9) .................. groups of stars appeared to change their positions as the night
progressed, just (10) .................. the sun did during the day. In the Northern
Hemisphere the observer (11) .................. notice that (12) .................. star (the
Pole Star) would always be seen (13) .................. the same point on the horizon at
sunrise and sunset, (14) .................. the other stars revolved about the fixed star
from east to west. So, (15) .................. the “shadow clock” of the daytime he
added the "star clock" of the night.

Answer

Astronomy was one of the earliest of the sciences. Primitive man saw the sun
rising at different times, but always on the (1) same horizon. He saw it set, but
always on the opposite horizon, and so he recognised the rising in the east and
the setting in the west.

Given (2) a fixed point of reference – a pillar, a tree or a pole – he noticed that the
shadows that moved (3) around it were longer in the morning and evening, and
at their shortest when the sun was highest in the sky at noon.

He acquired a sense of timekeeping (4) as the shortest shadow conveniently

divided his working day (5) into morning and afternoon, (6) with the heat of the
noonday sun to emphasise this division.

Thousands of years ago, (7) when astronomy was in (8) its infancy, it was
realised that the movements of the stars followed a consistent pattern, in (9)
which groups of stars appeared to change their positions as the night progressed,
just (10) as the sun did during the day.

In the Northern Hemisphere the observer (11) would notice that (12) one star
(the Pole Star) would always be seen (13) at the same point on the horizon at
sunrise and sunset, (14) while the other stars revolved about the fixed star from
east to west. So, (15) to the “shadow clock” of the daytime he added the “star
clock” of the night.

DO EXPRESSIONS
Vocabulary
Do expressions Meaning Example
1. Do credit to s.o to bring praise and The teacher’s fairness to
respect to someone all her students does her
credit.
2. Do business with s.o/ to buy or sell goods or Our firm does a lot of
sth services business with overseas
customers.
He cautions against
doing business with
contractors who promise
to make repairs but ask
to be paid up front.
3. Do s.o a favour To help Could you do me a
favour - would you feed
my cat this weekend?
Please do me a favour
and send me your email
address.
4. Do damage to sth to cause harm or injury Exposure to the sun does
to something damage to the cells of
your skin.
Whatever course of
action we take will do
damage to some section
of society.
5. Do s.o harm To cause harm or injury Missing a meal once in a
to s.o while never did anyone
any harm.
I failed most of my school
exams, but that has done
me no harm in my career.
6. Do s.o good To be good for s.o I think it would do him
some good to socialize a
bit more.
You can't work all the
time - it does you good to
go out and enjoy yourself
sometimes.
7. That will do To mean you don’t want "Do you need more
sth any more potatoes peeled?" "No,
that'll do, thanks."
That will do, Charles. I
don't want to see any
more of that kind of
 behaviour.
8. Do/ take the minutes Write sth was said in the Chris was taking the
meeting minutes of the meeting.
9. Do everything in one’s To try one’s best I've done everything in
power to my power to help him.
10. Do sb a good turn do something nice for sb She's so helpful; she
else always likes to do a good
turn for people.
11. Do the honours act as host/hostess; Excuse me a moment,
perform the phone's ringing. Paul,
a social duty/ceremony will you do the honours
and pour
everyone a drink?
12. Do the sights go sightseeing We did all the sights
when we were in Lisbon.
13. Do justice to do or show something in The photograph does not
the best light do full justice to the
colours of the painting.
14. Do the trick work, succeed in doing If you've got a headache,
something these pills will do the
trick.
15. Do the donkey work do most of the heavy Although he does all the
work donkey work, she takes
the credit.
16. Do wonders/ have a very good effect You work too hard; a long
miracles on holiday would do
miracles for you.
17. Do one’s best try as hard as possible She always does her best
to please everyone.
18. Do the best one can try as hard as one can You should do the best
you can if you want to
succeed.

Key Word Transformation

Question
1. Why do I have to do all the hard work? (donkey)

Why … work?

2. The photograph does not show all her good points. (do)

 The photograph … her.

3. The medicine produced excellent results on my grandmother. (miracles)

 The medicine … grandmother.

4. Sue is always ready to help you out. (good)

 Sue is … turn.

5. When we went to London, we visited all the interesting places. (sights)

 We … when we went to London.

6. I'll try as hard as I can not to be late. (best)

 I'll … late.

7. These tools will accomplish the task in half the time. (trick)

 These tools … in half the time.

8. I'll do everything I possibly can to help you. (power)

 I'll … to help you.

Answer
1. Why do I have to do all the donkey work?

2. The photograph does not do justice to her.

3. The medicine did miracles for my grandmother.

4. Sue is always ready to do you a good turn.

5. We did all the sights when we went to London.

6. I’ll do my best/the best I can not to be late.

7. These tools will do the trick in half the time.

8. I’ll do everything (with)in my power to heip you.

(BE) AT EXPRESSIONS

A Disastrous Weekend
Last weekend I was at rather a low ebb, so I decided to call a few of my friends to
see if any of them were at a loose end, in which case we could have gone out
somewhere. Luckily, my father's car was at my disposal so there was no problem
with transportation. First I phoned my best friend Henry, but he refused to come
out because he was at loggerheads with our other friends for some reason or
other. When I phoned them they said the same thing and wouldn't have been at
ease if we'd all gone out together. I was at my wits' end. Then I called Olga but
she didn't want to go out because she was making a new dress. In the end, I spent
the evening watching TV.
(Be) at expressions
(Be) at expressions Meaning Dịch nghĩa
at a low ebb worse than usual; Chán nản và mệt mỏi
depressed
at a loose end having nothing to do Rãnh rỗi
at one's disposal available for use Có sẵn cho ai đó sử dụng
at loggerheads in disagreement Bất hòa, mâu thuẫn
at ease completely relaxed Thoải mái, dễ chịu
at one's wits' end not knowing what to do Hoàn toàn bất lực và rối
or say because one is trí
very worried
at a loss confused, uncertain Cứng họng
at a standstill not moving, stopped Ngưng trệ, đứng yên
at odds with in disagreement Bất hòa, mâu thuẫn
at the forefront leading position Đang dẫn đầu
at large escaped and still free Đang bỏ trốn
at its/one's best in the best state or form ở trạng thái tốt nhất, thời
kì đỉnh cao nhất
at a dead end a point at which one can Đi vào ngõ cụt
make no further progress
Example
Consumer confidence is currently at a low ebb.
I was recently divorced and feeling at a very low ebb.
If you find yourself at a loose end, you could always clean the bathroom.
I would take you if I could, but I don't have a car at my disposal this week.
Having sold the house she had a large sum of money at her disposal (=
to spend as she wanted).
The government will use every tool at its disposal to provide relief for
the affected area.
The last thing I wanted as a teenager was for my parents to be at loggerheads.
The two sides are at loggerheads on just about every aspect of the debate.
The issue put the government at loggerheads with the EU.
He felt completely at ease.
She was at her wits’ end trying to figure out how to control her 14-year-old son.
I’m at a loss to explain what happened.
I was so embarrassed that I was at a loss for words (= I didn’t know what to say).
Labour negotiations are almost at a standstill.
She often found herself at odds with family and friends.
Overconfident workers can easily set themselves at odds with their managers.
Her version of events was at odds with the police report.
His team is at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines.
She was one of the politicians in the forefront of the campaign to free the prisoners.
Voters still had economic concerns at the forefront of their minds.
Every new product helps keep the brand in the forefront of consumers' minds.
This group is not representative of the population at large.
The escaped prisoners are still at large.
The food was bland at best, and at worst completely inedible.
These treatments will bring only moderate pain relief at best.
The documentary was an example of investigative journalism at its best.
To watch these films is to see animation at its best.
A OPEN CLOZE TEST
I have my uncle’s villa in the South of France at my (1) disposal, and I am
presently at a (2) loose end, so I decided to fly down and make use of it. That part
of the world is at (3) its best in spring, but I was at a (4) loss as to know who to
invite to come along with me. My brother is at a (5) low ebb at the moment
following his divorce, and is at odds (6) with most of the family, so I invited him. I
didn’t realise he was (7) at loggerheads with my uncle too, until my uncle made it
clear that neither of us was welcome to use the villa. Now I’m at my wits’ (8) end
as to what to do. I think I’ll stay at home.
B COLLOCATIONS (MATCH)
Genuine signature, antique, article, painting,
interest
Authentic signature, document, painting, story
Real silk, love, friend, gold, name, problem,
possibility
True love, friend, story, concern; likeness