Inversion chapter

INVERSION

Definition - Verb comes before the subject

Normal sentence: Subject + Verb

Inversion: Verb/Helping Verb + Subject

Used for:

-​ Emphasis
-​ Formal English

Types of inversion -

1. Partial Inversion-

-​ Structure: Auxiliary + Subject + Main Verb

-​ Used in:
-​ Negative adverbs (Never, Rarely, etc.)
-​ Only
-​ No sooner / Hardly
-​ Conditional (Had, Were, Should)
-​ Neither / Nor

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Examples

I have never seen this.

Never have I seen this.

He rarely comes here.

Rarely does he come here

2. Complete Inversio

-​ Structure: Verb + Subject

-​ No auxiliary needed

Used in

Adverbs of place/movement

(here, there, away, out, in, into, round the corner)

The bus comes here.

Here comes the bus.

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The boy went away.

Away went the boy

Rule - 1

Structure - adverb + helping verb+ sub+ verb

-​ I have never seen this

-​ Never have I seen this

-​ He rarely visits us
-​ Rarely does he visit us

-​ They seldom agree.

-​ Seldom do they agree.

-​ I hardly reached when it rained.

-​ Hardly had I reached when it rained.

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-​ She scarcely entered when the bell rang.

-​ Scarcely had she entered when the bell rang.

-​ He had no sooner left than she arrived.

-​ No sooner had he left than she arrived.

-​ I did not know the truth.

-​ Little did I know the truth.
-​ Never did I know the truth. (Emphasises it was never known)
-​ At no time did I know the truth. (Formal phrasing)

-​ I could not find my keys anywhere.

-​ Nowhere could I find my keys.

-​ He never apologised.
-​ Never did he apologise.

-​ You should not lie under any circumstances.

-​ Under no circumstances should you lie.

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Practice questions for rule 1 -

Fill in the blanks

Q1.

Rarely ______ he come on time.

a) he does

b) Does he

c) he do

d) Did he

Q2.

No sooner ______ he reached the station than the train left.

a) he had

b) had he

c) he did

d) Did he

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Q.3 Which sentence is the correct inversion of the sentence?

Sentence - He did not enjoy the party.

(A)​Never did he enjoy the party.

(B)​Never he did enjoy the party.
(C)​Never does he enjoy the party.
(D)​Never did he enjoyed the party.

Note - “ not did he enjoy the party” is the wrong inverse.

Rule - 2 - only

-​ I realised my mistake only then.

-​ Only then did I realise my mistake

-​ He spoke only after the meeting.

-​ Only after the meeting did he speak.

-​ You can succeed only by hard work.

-​ Only by hard work can you succeed

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-​ She visited me only once.

-​ Only once did she visit me.

-​ We can solve this only in this way.

-​ Only in this way can we solve this

-​ He understood the truth only later .

-​ Only later did he understand the truth.

-​ I responded only when he called.

-​ Only when he called did I respond

( Only when he called is adverbial expression)

-​ You can improve only with practice

-​ Only with practice can you improve

-​ She rested only after finishing work .

-​ Only after finishing work did she rest.

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-​ They have moved here only recently.

-​ Only recently have they moved here.

Practice questions for rule 2 -

Direction - Which sentence is the correct inversion of the sentence?

Sentence - He understood the problem only then.

a) Only then he understood

b) Only then did he understood

c) Only then did he understand

d) No improvement

Rule - 3 Not only / So + adjective / Such

-​ He not only sang but also danced.

-​ Not only did he sing but also danced.

-​ The scene was so beautiful that we stopped .

-​ So beautiful was the scene that we stopped.

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-​ He was so tired that he slept.

-​ So tired was he that he slept.

-​ His anger was such that he shouted .

-​ Such was his anger that he shouted.

-​ The situation was such that we left.

-​ Such was the situation that we left.

Practice questions for rule - 3

Q. 1 Not only he (A) / completed the ( B) work on time, (c ) but also helped others.
(D) No error ( E)

Q.2 So beautiful she was (A) that (B) everyone (C ) admired her.(D) No error ( E)

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Rule - 4

Conditional Inversion (Without IF)

Structure - Had / Were / Should + subject

-​ If I had known, I would have helped.

-​ Had I known, I would have helped.

-​ If I were rich, I would travel.

-​ Were I rich, I would travel.

-​ If you should need help, call me.

-​ Should you need help, call me.

-​ If she had studied, she would pass .

-​ Had she studied, she would have passed

-​ If he were here, he would guide us .

-​ Were he here, he would guide us.

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Practice questions for rule - 4

Q1.

______ I known about the meeting, I would have attended it.

a) If

b) Had

c) Did

d) Were

Q2.

______ he rich, he would travel the world.

a) If

b) Had

c) Were

d) Should

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Q3.

______ you need any help, call me immediately.

a) If

b) Had

c) Were

d) Should

Rule - 5

“Neither / Nor” Inversion (Negative meaning)

Structure -

Neither / Nor + Auxiliary + Subject

Note - ( Use of nor is preferred in inversion)

He does not like tea. I do not like tea.

He does not like tea, nor do I.

She is not ready. I am not ready.

She is not ready, nor am I.

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They cannot solve it. We cannot solve it.

They cannot solve it, neither can we.

He did not attend the class. I did not attend.

He did not attend the class, nor did I.

She has not finished the work. I have not finished.

She has not finished the work, nor have I.

Note - we dont make inversion with either.

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Practice questions for rule - 5

Q1.

He doesn’t like coffee, ______ do I.

a) or

b) nor

c) either

d) both

Identify the error:

Q.1 He didn’t (P) / attend the (Q) / meeting, ( R) / nor I did. (S) / no error (T)

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Some more important inversion -

Rule -1

(1)​ Only by working hard has he cleared the UPSC.

-​ Only by working - adverb of manner

(2)​ Only yesterday did his friend buy a car.

-​ Only yesterday - adverb of time

(3)​Only this method can Rohan solve this problem.

-​ Only this method - adverb of manner

( Use inversion with - at no time , under no circumstances , in no way , on no

account,on no condition)

Some important rules for “complete Inversion”-

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Rule - 2

If sentence start with adverb of place/ direction ( on the hill, in the valley, round the
corner, under the table, outside the building, under the tree, on the bed, nowhere
else, away , here , there, out , up, indoors, outdoors) use complete Inversion-

Note - we don't use pronouns with adverbs.

-​ Under the tree, a boy was playing.

-​ Under the tree, was a boy sleeping.

-​ Round the corner, Suraj went.

-​ Round the corner, went Suraj.

-​ Into the room ,the teacher came.

-​ Into the room , came the teacher.

-​ Here goes Sachin and nobody can play confidently.

-​ Beyond that tall building stands a temple.

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-​ Beyond that tall building lies a park.

-​ A beautiful city was located beyond the tall building.

( In above mentioned sentence ‘ beyond the tall building ‘ is adverb of place hai, so
we use complete Inversion- ( adverb+ verb + subject)

-​ Beyond the tall building was located a beautiful City.

( Was located - one unit, verb phrase)

Rule- 3

if sentence structure is

“So + adverb of manner “ use inversion

-​ He ran so quickly that he won the race.

-​ So quickly did he run that he won the race.

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-So rudely he speaks that nobody wants to talk to him.

- So rudely does he behave that nobody wants to talk to him.

Rule -4

-​ Inversion with ( to such an extent, to such lengths, to such a part, to Such a

degree)

-​ To such + helping verb+ subject

-​ Not only + helping verb+ subject

-​ To such an extent he has tried that he can get any job.

-​ To such an extent has he tried that he can get any job.

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Not only can she write letters but also read well .✓

Rule - 5

NEGATIVE SENTENCE

Neither / Nor + Auxiliary Verb + Subject

-​ Kunal did not attend the seminar. Neither did I.

-​ Raghini has never visited Manali, nor has her husband.

Rule - 6 ( important)

(1)​Positive statement-

Structure - So + helping verb + subj.

(2)​Negative statement

Structure - neither/ not + helping verb+ subject

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-​ Rohan did not play the match, nor did I.

-​ Venkat has completed the task, and so has Mahesh.

Practice questions for Rule - 6

Q1. Rahul did not attend the class, nor _____ his brother.

(A)​did
(B)​was
(C)​has
(D)​do
(E)​had

Q.2 She never apologized, nor _____ she admit her mistake.

(A)​does
(B)​ did
(C)​ has
(D)​was
(E)​ had

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Q.3 Rohan cannot solve this question, nor _____ his friends.

(A)​can
(B)​ could
(C)​ did
(D)​have
(E)​ were

Q.4 Rahul has completed the work, and so _____ Rohan.

(A)​do
(B)​ did
(C)​has
(D)​ had
(E)​was

Q. 5 I enjoy reading novels, and so _____ my sister.

(A)​do
(B)​does
(C)​ has
(D)​did
(E)​is

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Fill in the blank -

Q. 6. Ragini has never visited Manali, nor …………………….

(A)​Have her brothers

(B)​Has her brother
(C)​ Option (A) or Option (B)
(D)​Had her brothers
(E)​ None of the options is correct.

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