Nguyễn Thị Mai _ K69E2_Mã sinh viên : 695711034

READING & WRITING 2: INVERSION

WHAT IS INVERSION?
When we put some negative adverbial words and phrases at the beginning of a sentence
for emphasis, the subject and the verb “invert”. This means we use the question form of
the verb, even though the sentence is not a question. Inversions are quite formal and are
not usually used in conversation.
Form: negative adverbial word/phrase + question form
No sooner had I accepted the job than they hold me I had to work
weekends.
Negative adverbial Example
Never Never had I worked so hard in all my life.
Rarely Rarely have I worked so hard in all my life.
Seldom Seldom have I worked so hard in all my life.
No sooner (…than) No sooner had Matt started work than he resigned.
Hardly (…when) Hardly had Matt started work when he resigned.
Not only (…but also/too) Not only were you late for work, but you had also forgotten the
report.
Under no circumstances Under no circumstances are employees allowed to leave the
building without permission.
At no time/point At no time/point was I told what the job involved.
Not until Not until the next day did I hear that I had got the job.
Only Only at the end of the interview did I think I had a chance of
getting the job.
With not until and only, you have to be careful about which
verb to invert.
 Not until I had finished my homework was I allowed to go out.

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 Not until had I finished my homework I was allowed to go out.
 Only when I had finished my homework was I allowed to go
out.
 Only when had I finished my homework I was allowed to go
out.
Other inversions
Use Example
The manager was nervous about the director’s visit, as were the
After as, so and such rest of the staff.
So late was it that there was no one in the office.
Such a hot day was it that no one wanted to work.
Were our staff better trained, we might make a larger profit.
In conditional sentences (= If our staff were better trained, we might make a larger profit.)
Had I known about the vacancy, I would have applied.
(= If I had known about the vacancy, I would have applied.)

2. PRACTICE

EX 1: Choose the correct answer

1. No sooner ………..down than the phone rang.

A. I had sat C. had I sat
B. do I sit D. was I sitting
2. Never ……….. a greater day in the history of mankind.
A. Did there be C. there was
B. Was there D. there has been
3. At no time ……….. that he was the killer.
A. I didn’t suspect C. I had suspected
B. Was I suspect D. did I suspect
4. At no point ……….. that I knew his secret.
A. Did John know C. was John know
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B. John did know D. John knew
5. Not until ……….. her did I realize how beautiful she was.
A. I saw C. was I saw
B. Did I see D. saw I
6. Not only ……….. my keys, I’ve lost my wallet, too.
A. I have lost C. are I lost
B. I did lose D. have I lost
7. Rarely ……….. about the environment enough to give up their car.
A. Do people care C. are people care
B. People care D. care people
8. Only when ………..may vehicles cross the train tracks.
A. Is the green light on C. did the green light be on
B. The green light is on D. on is the green light
9. Seldom ………..such a rude person!
A. Have I met C. I have met
B. Did I met D. am I meeting
10. Only after going his chores ………..to go to meet his friends.
A. Jason was allowed C. was allowed Jason
B. Did Jason allow D. was Jason allowed

EX 2: Complete the sentences so that the meaning remains the same

Example: Women don’t often get promoted in some industries.
 Rarely do women get promoted in some industries.

1. Photographs are not permitted under any circumstances.

Under no circumstances are photograps permitted
2. We’ve never faced such a serious problem as this.
Never have we faced such a serious problem as this
3. I only realized it was Susan when she removed her hat.

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Only when she removed her hat did I realize it was Susan
4. I can play chess so badly that I almost never agree to have a game
So badly can I play chess that I almost never agree to have a game
5. As soon as Patrick had finished the email, he sent it.
No sooner had Patrick finished the email than he sent it
6. It wasn’t clear who was going to win the match until the last few minutes.
Not until the last few minutes was it clear who was going to win the match
7. Dennis passed his driving test and had an accident almost immediately afterwards.
Hardly had Dennis had an accident when he passed his driving test
8. I didn’t learn the result of the match until I read the evening paper.
Only when I read the evening newspaper did I learn the result of the match
9. It was such a long way that we decided to go by train.
Such a long day was it that we decided to go by train
10. The accused showed no emotion at any time during the trial.
At no time did the accused show emotion during the trial

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences in inversion

Example: She at no time said that she was vegetarian.
 At no time did she say that she was vegetarian.
1. I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed.
=> Hardly had I begun to apologize when the door closed
2. I have seldom heard such a talented singer.
=> Seldom have I heard such a talented singer
3. If John had known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to an Indian
restaurant.
=> Had John known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to an Indian
restaurant
4. The artist rarely paid any attention to his agent's advice.

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=> Rarely did the artist pay any attention to his agent’s advice
5. He had never felt so depressed.
=> Never had he felt so depressed
6. The shop can in no way be held responsible for customers' lost property.
=> In no can the shop be held responsible for customer’lost property
7. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the ceremony.
=> No sooner had the couple arrived than the priest started the ceremony
8. Tom only understood the meaning of the comment when he saw his wife's face.
=> Only when Tom saw his wife’s face did he understand the meaning of the comment
9. She never at any time said that she was allergic to cats.
=> At no time did she said that she was allergic to cats
10. The restaurant cannot accept animals under any circumstances.
=> Under no circumstances can the restaurant accept animals

Exercise 4: Complete using the words in brackets with the verb in the correct form

1. Not until the area is made safe do they leave their children at home

2. So cold was it last winter that we were off for 4 months

3. Seldom have I seen a vintage car in quite such good condition these days.

4. Not only did my husband forget my birthday, but he also forgot our wedding
anniversary.

5. At no circumstance are they allowed to live in the countryside

6. Only when I checked the ticket again can I get on the train

7. Only if the weather is clear can we play outsides

8. Such a big surprise was it that there were over a dozen photographers.

9. Had I gone to Hongkong with my friends , I would have finished my assignments on

due date.

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10. Such a pity was it that I had no choice but staying at home.

Exercise 5: Write down a short paragraph (100-120 words) using AT LEAST 3

inverted sentences for one topic.
 An English class
 A part-time job
 A holiday
There are a number of different kind of part-time jobs that you can apply for .
Although it has a lot of advantages for students , there are tons of disadvantages
while taking part-time jobs . For some students, it might be beneficial for them to do
a part-time job because they can pay for tuition fees, academic fees, or as extra
money in pocket. Not until you take a part-time jobs can you know how to manage
your time wisely , handle your finances . Only when you get unemployed do you
have to take up a part- time job . It also help you to boost self-esteem , create a
sense of community, understand the work culture . However, it can effect your study
, you can lose your balance between work and study . Not only can you lack your
extra benefits , but you can also get laid off at any time. It is up to you to choose any
kind of part-time jobs but it’s important to balance your work and study as well .