INVERSION

a) Time relationships
1. In conditionals after should, had.
a) We can use should in if-clauses and it - We use inversion after ‘negative’ adverbs
suggests that the condition is possible but which emphasise a time relationship at the
unlikely. We use will or would or other beginning of a sentence:
modals in the main clause: No sooner had I put the phone down than it
If they should agree the contract, we’d have to rang again.
work twice as hard. Hardly/Scarcely/Barely had I got my breath
In more formal contexts we can also omit back when it was time to go again.
if or other conditional words and start the - We use inversion after phrases that use
sentence with should: not:
Should you change your mind, please let me Not until he apologises will I speak to him
know. again.
b) In the third conditional we can omit if Not since I was little have I had so much fun.
Not for one minute do I imagine they’ll come
and start with HAD.
back.
Had I believed her for one moment, I wouldn’t
have refused to help. - We use inversion after some time phrases
that use only:
2. Result clauses. Only after several weeks did she begin to
recover.
Only later did she realise what had happened.
a) The main ways of introducing result Only then did he remember he hadn’t got his
clauses are: keys.
so…(that) Only when I’ve finished this will I be able to
So comes at the beginning of the result think about anything else.
clause. Only in the last few days has the truth started
There were nine of us so we had to bring more to emerge.
chairs. b) Frequency
We also use so before adjectives and - We use inversion after negative adverbs
adverbs followed by a that-clause (we can which emphasise frequency at the
omit that): beginning of a sentence:
He was so fed up (that) he decided to resign. Never have I been so taken aback.
So disgusted were they by the bad language Rarely do they fail to get away for a holiday.
(that) they walked out. (=formal) Seldom is that pop group out of the news.
such…(that) Hardly ever did he wear a suit.
We use such before a noun or an adjective Little did she realise what was about to
+ noun followed by a that-clause (we can happen.
omit that): Nowhere was a replacement to be found.
They had such a great time (that) nobody c) General emphasis
wanted to go home. - We use inversion for general emphasis
Such was our annoyance (that) we refused to with phrases that use only:
cooperate further. (=formal). Only by patience and hard work will we find a
solution.
3. After negative adverbs. Only in this way do we stand a chance of
success.
We use inversion when we move a - We can also use it with phrases that use
negative adverb to the beginning of a no: In no way should this be regarded as an
sentence. We do this because we want to end of the matter.
emphasise the meaning of the adverb. On no account (under no circumstances) are
you to repeat this to anyone.
 Practice a. learn how to switch on the vacuum cleaner.
b. should you try to solve his problems for him.
1. Tick the sentences which do not c. without the assurance that next time he will do it
contain inversion. himself.
d. you may take what he says seriously.
e. it is in his own interest to do so.
1. Nowhere have I seen anything like this.
f. he is prepared to lend a hand with the washing
2. Never give up until you have tried all the
up.
alternatives.
g. be disturbed while watching a football match on
3. Only by paying the fees in full can we guarantee
television.
a place on the course.
h. persuaded to pick his clothes up off the floor.
4. Hardly anyone applied for the job.
i. he should also be deluded into thinking you agree
5. Not since the 1940s has there been such poverty.
with him.
j. you let him realise he isn’t the boss.
2. Underline all the phrases (a-i) that
can start sentence 1 below. 5. Fill each blank with a suitable word.
a. Rarely if ever We have a problem. Rarely……………… we had
b. Not only a student population like this one.
c. Only if it’s convenient …………….since the 1980s can I remember
d. Hardly anyone expects that so many troublesome students in our school at any
e. Under no circumstances one time. Not only ………….. some of them treat
f. Under such circumstances the staff with absolute scorn, …………. they are
g. Only by asking her directly also clearly ………….. on causing as much trouble
h. There’s no way as possible among their peers.
i. Unless something unusual happens No………….. has one broken window been
1…she will come. repaired ……………another is mindlessly
smashed. …………….has our handyman painted
3. Underline all the phrases (a-i) that can over one piece of graffiti ………….another
start sentence 2 below. appears. On ………… account can such behaviour
be …………….to continue. And not for one
a. Little did anyone notice ……………should the ringleaders think they will
b. Only if he wasn’t available not be punished. Only ………….. such punishment
c. Barely had I sat down when is carried out will confidence return to the student
d. On no occasion I recall body and …………..then will school life return
e. Only when it was convenient to some kind of normality. Under no ……….. will
f. Not until we were all ready we allow the present state of affairs to continue.
g. Never did she knock before
h. Only then 6. Complete the second sentence so it has a
i. It was then that similar meaning with the first one, using the
2…did she come in. word given. You must use between three and
eight words including the given one.
4. Match the first (1-10) and second (a-j)
parts. 1. Shortly after Sue and Brian met, he announced they
were getting married. HAD
Advice about a new husband! Scarcely ..............................................................................
he announced they were getting married.
1. On no account should 2. You are not staying out tonight. NO
2. Not only should he be allowed to give his Under..................................................................................
opinions, Stay out late tonight!
3. Under no circumstances is he to 3. They left their car and almost immediately heard a
4. Only by constantly nagging will he be deafening crash. SOONER
5. Only after weeks of rigorous training will he No........................................................................................
6. Rarely will a man respond to a request the first they heard a deafening crash.
4. Kerry didn’t send us any postcards during her travels
time unless through Argentina. ONE
7. No way should his laundry be done for him Not......................................................................................
unless she was travelling in Argentina.
8. Only very rarely should a garment be ironed for 5. That week the train was late every day except for
him Friday. RUN
9. In exceptional circumstances Only....................................................................................
10. But, only if he seems really desperate that week and that was Friday.
 Practice a. learn how to switch on the vacuum cleaner.
b. should you try to solve his problems for him.
1. Tick the sentences which do not c. without the assurance that next time he will do it
contain inversion. himself.
d. you may take what he says seriously.
e. it is in his own interest to do so.
1. Nowhere have I seen anything like this.
f. he is prepared to lend a hand with the washing
2. Never give up until you have tried all the
up.
alternatives.
g. be disturbed while watching a football match on
3. Only by paying the fees in full can we guarantee
television.
a place on the course.
h. persuaded to pick his clothes up off the floor.
4. Hardly anyone applied for the job.
i. he should also be deluded into thinking you agree
5. Not since the 1940s has there been such poverty.
with him.
j. you let him realise he isn’t the boss.
2. Underline all the phrases (a-i) that
can start sentence 1 below. 5. Fill each blank with a suitable word.
a. Rarely if ever We have a problem. Rarely………have… we had
b. Not only a student population like this one. …Not..
c. Only if it’s convenient …….since the 1980s can I remember
d. Hardly anyone expects that so many troublesome students in our school at any
e. Under no circumstances one time. Not only …do…….. some of them treat
f. Under such circumstances the staff with absolute scorn, …but……. they are
g. Only by asking her directly also clearly …intent….. on causing as much trouble
h. There’s no way as possible among their peers.
i. Unless something unusual happens No……sooner….. has one broken window been
1…she will come. repaired …than………another is mindlessly
smashed. …Barely/hardly…….has our handyman
3. Underline all the phrases (a-i) that can painted over one piece of graffiti …when..another
start sentence 2 below. appears. On …no…… account can such behaviour
be …allowed/permitted….to continue. And not for
a. Little did anyone notice one …moment…should the ringleaders think they
b. Only if he wasn’t available will not be punished. Only …when/if….. such
c. Barely had I sat down when punishment is carried out will confidence return to
d. On no occasion I recall the student body and …only…..then will school life
e. Only when it was convenient return to some kind of normality. Under no …
f. Not until we were all ready circumstances….. will we allow the present state of
g. Never did she knock before affairs to continue.
h. Only then 6. Complete the second sentence so it has a
i. It was then that similar meaning with the first one, using the
2…did she come in. word given. You must use between three and
eight words including the given one.
4. Match the first (1-10) and second (a-j)
parts. 1. Shortly after Sue and Brian met, he announced they
were getting married. HAD
Advice about a new husband! Scarcely ....had Sue and Brian met when/before ..............
he announced they were getting married.
1. On no account should j 2. You are not staying out tonight. NO
2. Not only should he be allowed to give his Under..no circumstances are you to ...stay out late
opinions, i tonight!
3. Under no circumstances is he to g 3. They left their car and almost immediately heard a
4. Only by constantly nagging will he be h deafening crash. SOONER
5. Only after weeks of rigorous training will he a No..sooner had they left their car then/when/before..........
6. Rarely will a man respond to a request the first they heard a deafening crash.
4. Kerry didn’t send us any postcards during her travels
time unless e through Argentina. ONE
7. No way should his laundry be done for him Not...one postcard did Kerry send us while .................
unless f she was travelling in Argentina.
8. Only very rarely should a garment be ironed for 5. That week the train was late every day except for
him c Friday. RUN
9. In exceptional circumstances d Only.....once did the train run on time ...............that week
10. But, only if he seems really desperate b and that was Friday.
Finish the sentences using your own ideas and
tenses specified.

1. Never before......present perfect