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Inversion Exercises for English Grammar

The document consists of exercises focused on rewriting sentences using inversion and completing sentences with the correct forms of verbs or phrases. It includes various prompts for practicing inversion techniques, such as starting sentences with specific phrases and using appropriate verb forms. The exercises aim to enhance understanding and application of inversion in English grammar.

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cathy di rubbo
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72 views5 pages

Inversion Exercises for English Grammar

The document consists of exercises focused on rewriting sentences using inversion and completing sentences with the correct forms of verbs or phrases. It includes various prompts for practicing inversion techniques, such as starting sentences with specific phrases and using appropriate verb forms. The exercises aim to enhance understanding and application of inversion in English grammar.

Uploaded by

cathy di rubbo
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

EXERCISE 1

USING INVERSION, REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE

WORDS GIVEN.

a. You come to realise the significance of the murder only in the last few pages of the

book.

Only in the last __________________________________________________________

b. The demands of her job are such that she is rarely able to take a holiday.

Such __________________________________________________________________

c. The matter could be explained in no other way.

In ____________________________________________________________________

d. I have seldom heard such beautiful singing.

Seldom ________________________________________________________________

e. Peter didn't realize that he had lost his keys until he got home.

Not ___________________________________________________________________

f. If Mr Chan had been kinder to his employees, his business would not have collapsed.

______________________________________________________________________

g. There are no circumstances where audience members may consume alcohol.

Under no circumstances __________________________________________________

h. They started to argue soon after they had got married.

No sooner _____________________________________________________________

[Link]
i. You can't use my new car at any time.

At no time _____________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 2

REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USING INVERSION.

a. The gang didn't know that the police had them under surveillance.

Little ____________________________________________________________

b. We won't consider you for the basketball team until you grow up.

Not until _________________________________________________________

c. Nobody has won so many matches for his team since 1994.

Not since ________________________________________________________

d. You will not be allowed to enter the auditorium under any circumstances once

the play has started.

Under no circumstances ____________________________________________

e. He would never play in front of a live audience again.

Never ___________________________________________________________

f. Amy had not enjoyed herself so much since she went to the circus as a child.

Not since ________________________________________________________

g. I have never seen such a terrible performance of Hamlet before.

Never before _____________________________________________________

h. They only realized the painting had been hung upside down when someone

complained at reception.

Only when _______________________________________________________

i. I had been in the room for a few minutes when I realized that everyone was

staring at me.

Only after ________________________________________________________

[Link]
j. He discovered that he had injured his knee when he tried to run.

Only when _______________________________________________________

k. The new park was hardly finished when vandals destroyed the flowerbeds.

Hardly __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

l. You shouldn't sign a contract you haven't read thoroughly under any circumstances.

Under no circumstances ____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 3

CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION TO COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

1. _______________________ that I was speaking to someone as important as

Professor Sims.

a) Little have I known

b) Little did I know

c) Little I knew

d) I knew little

2. In no way ___________________ question his honesty, although I think that he made


some wrong decisions.

a) did I ever

b) I ever did

c) had I ever

d) I had ever

3. Hardly _____________________ we were told that it would soon be time for lunch.

[Link]
a) we had finished breakfast that

b) had we finished breakfast that

c) had we finished breakfast when

d) we had finished breakfast when

4. At no time before I accepted the job ___________________ that I would have to do so


much travelling around the country.

a) did they told

b) I was told

c) I had been told

d) was I told

5. Not since the 1960s _______________ attended an anti-war demonstration in London.

a) so many people have

b) have so many people

c) did so many people have

d) had so many people had

EXERCISE 4

COMPLETE USING THE WORDS IN BRACKETS WITH THE VERB IN THE CORRECT FORM.

a. Not until the area is made safe _______________________________________


(construction/can continue).

b. In no way ____________________________________________________ (the


announcement/affect) how strongly we felt about the situation.

c. Seldom __________________________________________________ (you/see) a vintage


car in quite such good condition these days.

d. Not only __________________________________________ (Jerry/forget) my birthday,


but he also forgot our wedding anniversary.

[Link]
e. At no time _________________________ (I/ask) my opinion on the subject.

f. Only when I checked the ticket again __________________________ (I/realise) that I had
won first prize!

g. Only if the weather is clear _________________________________ (the space shuttle/will


allow) to launch.

h. Such ____________________________ (the media interest/be) in the wedding that there


were over a dozen photographers.

EXERCISE 5

COMPLETE USING THE WORDS AND PHRASES IN THE BOX.

AT NO POINT IN NO WAY LITTLE NEVER NOT NOT ONLY NO SOONER

ONLY AFTER SCARCELY ON NO ACCOUNT RARELY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES

a. __________________________ were the security guards to blame for what


happened.

b. __________________________ once did the old woman thank me for helping her.

c. __________________________ seeing the doctor was Theresa allowed to leave


hospital.

d. __________________________ will passengers be allowed to carry more than 2 pieces


of hand luggage.

e. __________________________ were they late to work, but they also forgot to bring the
reports.

f. __________________________ during the party did anyone mention that Peter and Julie
were getting married.

g. __________________________ had Alan arrived in Mexico when he was arrested.

h. __________________________ did the passengers know that the driver was really an
undercover police officer.

i. __________________________ do you meet anyone as charming as Mr Peterson.

[Link]

Common questions

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By using inversion, 'Only when I checked the ticket again did I realize' heightens suspense through delaying the main revelation, focusing on the process of discovery to increase tension before the conclusion is revealed .

The inversion places strong emphasis on the complete lack of awareness of the gang, suggesting that their ignorance played a critical role in the eventual outcome or defeat, indicating surprise or mismatch in perceived vs. actual control .

Inversion such as 'Hardly had we finished breakfast' can quicken the narrative pace by emphasizing immediate succession of events, creating a sense of urgency or rapid unfolding of time, thus keeping the reader engaged .

Inversion emphasizes the timing and surprise aspect of realization by placing the time expression 'Only in the last chapter' at the beginning, thus drawing attention to the element of surprise and underscoring the delayed understanding of the murder's significance .

By using inversion, 'Not until' emphasizes the conditionality and necessary precondition of growing up before being considered for the team, making the requirement feel more urgent and highlighting its importance .

By starting with 'Not only,' the inversion equally positions both failures as critical, indicating that both elements are significant and interrelated, creating a sense of comprehensive neglect and balanced grievance against Jerry .

Inversion intensifies the subjective experience by placing 'Never before' at the start, prioritizing the rarity and extremity of the event and enhancing the emotional impact of the statement on the reader .

The structure highlights the immediacy of the effect following the cause, suggesting an almost direct consequence of his arrival, which enhances the dramatic tension and underscores a predicable or fateful sequence of events .

Inversion places 'Under no circumstances' at the beginning, which immediately conveys a strong prohibition and makes the restriction stand out to the reader, reinforcing the seriousness and non-negotiable nature of the rule .

An author might use inversion like 'Little did I know' to create a sense of narrative irony or foreshadowing, engaging the reader by highlighting the narrator's unawareness at a particular moment that contrasts with the eventual outcome .

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