Toefl rules for Inverted Word Order

1.- Inverted word order is needed / possible when a sentence begins with there.

Many have known him for a long time, so there is no doubt about his honesty.

Since she accepted to be the problem, there were few excuses to be given.

After the accident, there were no news about the driver.

After the accident, there’s no news about the driver.

After the accident, there was no news about the driver.

2.- Inverted word order is needed when a sentence begins with a prepositional phrase, has
an intransitive verb as a main verb, and states location.

The man ran into the house to catch the mouse.

Into the house ran the man to catch the mouse.

Many tickets were in her pocket.

In her pocket were many tickets.

Many books lay on the shelf.

On the shelf lay many books.

A policeman stood outside her house to take care of her.

Outside her house stood a policeman to take care of her.

3.- Inverted word order is needed in conditional sentences (of types 2 and 3) without if or
unless.

If I were my dad, I would buy that car.

Were I my dad, I would buy that car.
Should I be my dad, I would buy that car.

If they invited us, we might have a good time.

Were they to invite us, we might have a good time.
Should they invite us, we might have a good time.

If he weren’t that grouchy, he would have more friends.

Were he not that grouchy, he would have more friends.
Should he not be that grouchy, he would have more friends.
If he didn’t work so hard, could he spend more time with us?
Were he not to work so hard, could he spend more time with us?
Should he not work so hard, could he spend more time with us?

If we had sent the mail, they would have sent us the information.
Had we sent the mail, they would have sent us the information.

If he hadn’t been sick, he would have done the test.

Had he not been sick, he would have done the test.

4.- Inverted word order is needed when a sentence begins with a negative word or a
expression such as never, hardly, seldom, rarely, barely, scarcely, not only, at no time,
nowhere etc.

1.-They not only sing well but they also dance well.

Not only do they sing well but they also dance well.
2.- She is barely studying her subjects.

Barely is she studying her subjects.

3.- They will never see you again.

Never will they see you again.

4.- She went nowhere after a long day at work.

Nowhere did she go after a long day at work.

5.- They said that at no time.

At no time did they say that.

5.- Inverted word order is needed when a sentence begins with only and a time expression,
the subject and the verb of the main clause are inverted.

Only at night, Only once, Only in the morning, Only at eight o’clock, Only on Sundays, Only
on vacation etc…

She has worked only at nights.

Only at nights has she worked.

They will come here only at one.
Only at one will they come here
She went to work only on Sundays.

Only on Sundays did she go to work.

The baby wakes up only once.

Only once does the baby wake up.

You can talk to her only in the morning.

Only in the morning can you talk to her.

NOTE: With Only after, the invertion will be in the main clause.

Only after Sam took the money, he knew he had made a mistake.

Only after Sam took the money, did he know he had made a mistake.
Only after you finish your homework, you may go out.

Only after you finish your homework, may you go out.

Only after she pays, she will get the receipt.

Only after she pays, will she get the receipt.

Only after we have finished doing this, we will be able to watch T.V.

Only after we have finished doing this, will we be able to watch T.V.

6.- Inverted word order is needed when an adverb such as down, in, out, up is placed at the
beginning of the sentence, the verb is placed before the subject if the subject is a noun.

The doctor walked in with his bag in hand.

In walked the doctor with his bag in hand.

The man climbed up to see the fire.

Up climbed the man to see the fire.

Marina went out when she saw her husband.

Out went Marina when she saw her husband.

David sat down and rested.

Down sat David and rested.

The rain came down and the villagers burst into tears.

Down came the rain and the villagers burst into tears.

7.- Inverted word order is needed when a sentence begins with few, such, so, little unless
this word modifies a noun.

1.- Her desire to win was such that she practiced a lot.

Such was her desire to win that she practiced a lot.

2.- Her surprise was such that she almost faints.

Such was her surprise that she almost faints.

3.- His education is so good that he will succeed.

So good is his education that he will succeed.

4.- The pollution is such that I will have to move to another city.

Such is the pollution that I will have to move to another city.

5.- She knew little that her dad was coming.

Little did she know that her dad was coming.

8.- Inverted word order is needed when a passive verb is split and the main verb begins the
sentence.

1.- Several people were held in the barn.

Held in the barn were several people.

2.- The reports were hidden in the drawer.

Hidden in the drawer were the reports.

3.- Our money is kept in that bank.

Kept in that bank is our money.

4.- Many classes were taken in that school by them.

Many classes in that school were taken by them.

5.- Messages here are taken at once.

Messages here are taken at once.