Inversion

1. Complete each sentence by using the phrases from the box.

Rarely have Under no circumstances are Hardly had Not only did Little did

Under no circumstances will Rarely have No sooner had Were you

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 about to discover!
d. ____________________ to pay the full amount now, there would be a ten per cent
discount.
e. ____________________ the doctors seen a more difficult case.
f. ____________________ Jane win first prize, but she was also offered a promotion.
g. ____________________ late arrivals be admitted to the theatre before the interval.
h. ____________________ had a missing child been found, than another three disappeared.
i. ____________________ so many employees taken sick leave at the same time.

2. Rewrite the sentences, putting the words in italics at the beginning, and making any other
necessary changes.

a. Miss Weaver will not be offered the job under any circumstances.

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______________________________________________________________________________

b. We had hardly entered the house when the police arrested him.

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______________________________________________________________________________

c. I never thought the consequences would be so far-reaching.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

d. I had scarcely put the phone down when it rang again.

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______________________________________________________________________________

e. She has rarely travelled more than fifty miles from her village.

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3. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using
the word given. Do not change the word given.
a. It was only when my boss phoned me that I found out about the meeting.

find

Not until __________________________________________________ about the meeting.

b. The facts were not all made public at the time.

later

Only ________________________________________________ all made public.

c. Harry broke his leg, and also injured his shoulder.

but

Not only _______________________________________________ also injured his shoulder.

d. The police didn’t suspect at all that the judge was the murderer.

did

Little _______________________________________________ that the judge was the

murderer.

e. The bus driver cannot be blamed for the accident in any way.

held

In ______________________________________________________ responsible for the

accident.

f. As soon as I got home, I realised I’d left my bag in the shops.

had

No sooner ___________________________________________ I realised I’d left my bag in the

shops.