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Language B
Inversions
Basic Sentence Structure
Statement ! ! Subj + Main V + Obj + Comp + TX. Subj + Aux V + Act V + Obj + Comp + TX.
Question ! Aux V + Subj + Act V + Obj + Comp + TX?
Inversion
Inversion after adverbial of place, time or movement
Inversion after introductory adverbial of place, time or movement in order to make the sentence sound dramatic. ! ! Then the big day came and he was knocked in the rst minute. Then came the big day and he was knocked out in the rst minute.
Inversion of the verb and complement is also possible for emphasis. ! ! The issue of money is not to be forgotten. Not to be forgotten is The issue of money.
In order to use this pattern, we must rst set the scene. This pattern can not introduce a new topic.
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective
Inversion after negative adverbial/conjunctions. (Negative Emphasis)
The following negative adverbials and conjunctions can be placed rst in a sentence for [Link] subject and verb must then be inverted. If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence, the appropriate form of the auxiliary do is used as a substitute. Never / Seldom / Rarely / Little / At no time / On no account / Nowhere (else)... Only (if / then / later / when)... Not until... / Not only... but (also) Such + be... Hardly... when / Barely / Scarcely No sooner... than After as / so / neither / nor Formula ! Negative Emphasis + Aux V + Subj + Act V + Obj + Comp + TX.
Example ! ! He had ever seen such a wonderful sight. Never had he seen such a wonderful sight.
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective
Inversion in conditional sentences
This occurs in very formal English. if is omitted and an auxiliary verb (had, were or should) is placed before the subject. First Conditional sentences can invert after should. If you should get lost, contact us on the following number... Should you get lost, contact us on the following number... Second Conditional sentences can invert after were. If our team were to win, there would be a big celebration. Were our team to win, there would be a big celebration. Third Conditional sentences can invert after had. If I had known, I would have informed you earlier. Had I known, I would have informed you earlier.
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective
Activity
I) Complete the second sentence so that has a similar meaning to the rst sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! A) It was only when the ofce phoned me that I found out about the meeting. nd Not until _________________ about the meeting. B) The facts were not all made public at the time. later Only _________________ all made public. C) The response to our appeal was so great that we had to taken on more staff. response Such _________________ to our appeal that we had to take on more staff. D) Harry broke his leg, and also injured his shoulder. but Not only _________________ also injured his shoulder. E) The police didnt suspect at all that the judge was the murderer. did Little _________________ as being the murderer.
II) Complete each sentence with one of the following phrases. Little did / Under no circumstances are / Hardly had / No sooner had / Not only did ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! A) _________________ we arrived at the hotel, when there was a power cut. B) _________________ members of staff to accept gratuities from clients. C) _________________ Detective Dawson realise what she was to discover! D) _________________ the doctors seen a more difcult case. E) _________________ one missing child been found, than another three disappeared.
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective
III) Complete each sentence with a suitable phrase containing the verb in brackets in an appropriate form. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! A) Should _________________ (need) anything, could you let me know? B) Were the plane _________________ (take off), everyone in it would have been killed? C) Had _________________ (study) harder, I would probably have passed all my exams. D) Should _________________ (be) in the neighbourhood, drop in. E) Had _________________ (go) to the doctor immediately, your daughter would not be so ill.
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reective