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Watch! WATCH LESSON

1 FORMING QUESTIONS

For special verbs like be, have and modal/auxiliary verbs, we

change the order of the subject + verb:

He is a doctor → Is he a doctor?
It is cold→ Is it cold?
I am tired → Am I tired?
She can play the guitar → Can she play the guitar?
You might go → Might you go?
They will ask → Will they ask?
You have been → Have you been?
You have got a brother → Have you got a brother?

For normal verbs, we start with the word do / does / did:

You eat fish → Do you eat fish?

3rd person (he/she/it): He plays golf → Does he play golf?
Past: She motivates me → Did she motivate me?

2 EXPRESSIONS USED IN SENTENCES WITH INVERSION

Not only…

Only later…

Only by...

Only in this way…

Only then…

No sooner…

Never…

Nowhere on earth…

In no way…

On no account…

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3 INVERSION SENTENCES

We use this structure of inversion for dramatic effect to emphasise

the expression that we use at the beginning of the sentence:

No sooner had I arrived, than it started to rain.

Emphasising the fact that the rain happened as soon as I arrived

In no way could I have travelled without renewing my passport.

Emphasising ‘in no way’ / it was impossible

Here are some more examples...

Only in this way could I get a passport!

Only then did I get excited about going to England.

Not only did I see my family but I met my friends too.

Nowhere on earth would I rather be, than in an English pub with my friends.

On no account will I make the same mistake again.

4 EXPRESSIONS WITH PREPOSITIONS

Inversion comes in the second part of the sentence when the initial
expression ends with a preposition:

Only after booking the flights did I realise that my passport was not valid.

Only by going to the embassy could I get a passport to go home.

Not until I was in England did I truly believe I was going to see my friends.

Not since Pete got married have I seen Jonny.

Only when we were all in London did I feel relaxed.

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5 TEST!
1. Never ____________ such a beautiful sunset before.

a. she had seen

b. had she seen
c. she saw

2. Only later ___________ about the consequences of her actions.

a. did she think

b. she did think
c. she thought

3. Not since David moved abroad __________ someone so much.

a. I missed
b. I had missed
c. had I missed

4. In no way __________ with what you're saying.

a. do I agree
b. I do agree
c. I agree

5. Only when we'd all arrived home ___________ how tired I was.

a. I did realise
b. I realised
c. did I realise

6 ANSWERS

5.C 4.A 3. C 2. A 1.B

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