INVERSION

(Au + S + V)
Au - Auxiliary Verb: Trợ động từ, S – Subject: Chủ ngữ, V – Verb: Động từ

1. INVERSION AFTER NEGATIVE ADVERBIALS: Đảo ngữ sau trạng

ngữ mang nét nghĩa phủ định
- Time expressions: Chỉ thời gian

Never
Rarely
Seldom
Scarcely
Barely + INVERSION (Au + S + V)
Never in life
No longer
Never before
Hardly ever

Never have I heard a weaker excuse! = I have never heard a weaker excuse!
(Tôi chưa bao giờ nghe được một cái cớ nào kém hơn.)
Rarely can a minister have been faced with such a problem.
(Hiếm khi có một bộ trưởng nào phải đối mặt với một vấn đề như vậy.)
Seldom does the team give a worse performance.
(Hiếm khi đội có một buổi trình diễn kém như vậy.)
- Little: Ít/ Hiếm khi

Little (=Not) + inversion

Không

Little/Not does the government appreciate what the results will be. = The
government doesn’t appreciate what the results will be.
(Chính phủ không coi trọng kết quả.)
2. TIME EXPRESSIONS: Chỉ thời gian

Hardly
 Barely + had + S + Vpp when/before + S + V (past simple)
Scarcely
No sooner + had + S + Vpp than + S + V (past simple)
Ngay khi… thì…

Hardly had the train left the station when there was an explosion.
(Ngay khi đoàn tàu rời bến thì có một vụ nổ.)
Scarcely had I entered the room when the phone rang.
(Ngay khi tôi vào phòng thì điện thoại reo.)
No sooner had I reached the door than I realized it was locked.
(Ngay khi tôi tới cửa thì tôi nhận ra nó đã bị khóa.)

3. AFTER ONLY: Sau từ ONLY

Only by + Noun/ V-ing + Inversion Chỉ bằng…

Only + Adverb of time/Only then/ Only later + Inversion
Only when/if + Clause + Inversion Chỉ khi…/Chỉ sau khi
Only in this way + Inversion Chỉ bằng cách này

Only after posting the letter did I remember that I had forgotten to put a
stamp.
(Chỉ sau khi tôi đã gửi thư tôi mới nhận ra là mình chưa dán tem.)
Note: When Only refers “the state of being the only one”, there is no inversion.
(Khi từ Only chỉ “trạng thái của người/ vật duy nhất” thì không đảo ngữ.)
Only + S + V
Only Mary realized that the door was not locked.
(Chỉ có Mary nhận ra là cửa không khóa.)
4. PHRASES CONTAINING NO/ NOT: Các cụm từ có No/Not
Under/ In no circumstances
(Dù trong bất cứ hoàn cảnh nào cũng không)
On no account
(Không có lý do gì)
At no time
(Không bao giờ)
In no way + Inversion
(Không)
On no condition
 (Không)
No where
(Không nơi nào/ Không nơi đâu)
No longer
(Không còn nữa)

On no condition are they to open fire without a warning.

(Họ sẽ không thắp lửa mà không cảnh báo.)
5. PHRASE NOT UNTIL: Cụm từ Not until

Not until + Phrase/ Clause of time (Cụm/Mệnh đề chỉ thời gian) + Inversion
Mãi cho đến khi…

Not until I got home did I notice that I had the wrong umbrella. = I didn’t
notice that I had the wrong umbrella until I got home.
(Mãi đến khi tôi về đến nhà tôi mới nhận ra tôi cầm nhầm ô.)

6. STRUCTURE NOT ONLY… BUT ALSO…: Cấu trúc Not only… but also…

Not only + Inversion + but also + S (Noun) + V

Not only + Inversion + but + S (Pronoun: Đại từ) + also + V
Not only + Inversion + but + S + V + as well
Không những… mà còn

Not only is he good at English but he can also draw very well. = He is not
only good at English but he can also draw very well.
(Anh ấy không những giỏi tiếng Anh mà anh ấy còn vẽ đẹp.)

7. STRUCTURE SO/SUCH…THAT…: Cấu trúc so/such… that…

S+ V + so + adj/adv + that clause

=> So + adj/ adv + inversion + that clause

So interesting is the play that the theatre is likely to be full every night. =
The play is so interesting that the theatre is likely to be full every night.
(Vở kịch hay đến nỗi nhà hát gần như chật kín mỗi tối.)
 So many books did he buy that he couldn't read them all. = He bought so
many books that he couldn't read them all.
(Anh ấy mua nhiều sách đến nỗi anh ấy chẳng thể đọc hết.)
So devastating were the floods that some areas may never recover. = The
floods were so devastating that some areas may never recover.
(Những trận lũ có sức tàn phá nặng nề đến nỗi vài khu vực không thể phục
hồi như trước.)

Such (= so much/ so great) + be + S (noun phrase) + that clause

Such was the force of the storm that trees were uprooted. = The force of the
storm was so much/ so great that trees were uprooted.
(Bão mạnh đến nỗi khiến cây bật gốc.)

8. CONCESSION: Cấu trúc nhượng bộ

Although + S + V + adj/adv, main clause

 Adj/Adv + as/though + S + V, main clause

Difficult as/though it may seem/be, it is not impossible. = Although it may

seem/be difficult, it is not impossible.
(Tuy nó khó nhưng nó không phải là không thể.)
9. INVERTED CONDITIONAL SENTENCES WITHOUT IF: Đảo ngữ
câu điều kiện để lược bỏ If

Câu điều kiện thưởng Đảo ngữ câu điều kiện

If + S + V(present) , S + V(present) Should + S (+ not) + bare inf., S + V(present)
S + will + bare inf., S + will + bare inf.

If + S + V(past subjunctive), S + would + Were + S (+ not) … , S + would + bare inf.

bare inf. Were + S (+ not) + to inf.,
If + S + had + PP, S + would have + PP Had + S (+ not) + PP, S + would have + PP

Should he have cheated, he will have to be punished. = If he has cheated, he

will have to be punished.
(Nếu anh ấy đã gian lận, anh ấy sẽ bị phạt.)
Were I you, I wouldn’t do that. = If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.
(Nếu tôi là bạn, tôi sẽ không làm thế.)
 Had I known, I would have protested strongly. = If I had known, I would
have protested strongly.
(Nếu tôi mà biết, tôi đã phản đối mạnh mẽ rồi.)
10.ADVERBS OF PLACE/ PREPOSITIONS/ HERE/ THERE: Trạng từ chỉ
nơi chốn/Giới từ/Here/There
- Adverbs of place/ Prepositions: Đảo ngữ với trạng từ chỉ nơi chốn hoặc giới
từ
Adv of place + V + S = S + V + Adv of place
Prep Prep

Up in the air went the balloon. = The balloon went up in the air.
(Trên trời là quả bóng đang bay.)
Behind the bamboo forest lies my house. = My house lies behind the
bamboo forest.
(Đằng sau rừng trúc là nhà tôi.)
- Here/ There: Đảo ngữ với Here/There

Here/ There + be/ come/ go + S (noun)

Here/ There + S (pronoun) + be/ come/ go
Note: Chỉ đi với 3 động từ be/come/go.

Here comes the bus.

There goes Sally.

11.EMPHASIS: Các dạng câu nhấn mạnh. Đảo ngữ không chỉ có cấu trúc Au
+S+V
- Cleft sentence: Câu chẻ
Muốn nhấn mạnh (emphasize) phần nào thì đưa phần đó lên đầu câu theo
cấu trúc như sau:

It + be + emphasized part (S, O, Adverb of time, Adverb of place, Clause) + that…

Chính… đã…

Note: If the emphasized part is a noun indicating a person and functioning as

a subject, we can use (Nếu phần được nhấn mạnh là danh từ chỉ người và là
chủ ngữ của câu, ta dùng như sau):
 It + be + S (person) + that/ who + V

Sue borrowed my bike last night.

Câu trên có 3 cách viết lại tùy vào phần mà ta muốn nhấn mạnh:
 It was Sue who/ that borrowed my bike last night.
= The person who borrowed my bike last night last night was Sue.
(Sue là người mượn xe đạp của tôi tối qua.)
 It was my bike that Sue borrowed last night.
= What Sue borrowed last night was my bike.
= The thing which Sue borrowed last night was my bike.
(Xe đạp là thứ Sue mượn tôi vào tối qua.)
 It was last night that Sue borrowed my bike.
= The time when Sue borrowed my bike was last night.
(Tối qua là lúc Sue mượn xe đạp của tôi.)

- What- sentences: dùng để nhấn mạnh một phần hoặc cả câu

What ... + be + emphasized part

I really love having my family over for lunch.

 What I really love is having my family over for lunch.
The police interviewed all the witnesses.
 What the police did was (to) interview all the witnesses.

- All: nhấn mạnh rằng: Tất cả là như này

All ... + be + emphasized part

I want a new coat for Christmas.

 All I want for Christmas is a new coat.
I touched the bedside light and it broke.
 All I did was (to) touch the bedside light and it broke.

12.WHATEVER/ HOWEVER/ NO MATTER WHAT/ NO MATTER

HOW:

Whatever/ No matter what + noun + V , main clause

Cho dù … đi nữa S+V,
 Whatever/ No matter what + V , main clause
Cho dù … đi nữa S+V,
However/ No matter how + adj/ adv + S+ V , main clause
Cho dù … thế nào đi nữa

He can shout even louder but I still won’t take any notice.
 No matter how much louder/ No matter how louder he can shout even, I
still won’t take any notice.
 However much louder/ However louder he can shout even, I still won’t take
any notice.
(Dù anh ta có hét to thế nào tôi cũng không quan tâm).

13. AFTER AS:

This is more common in formal or written language.
(Đảo ngữ sử dụng sau as. Đảo ngữ này thường được dùng trong văn viết
trang trọng)

We were short of money, as were most people in our neighbourhood.

(Chúng tôi túng thiếu, cũng như nhiều người ở khu chúng tôi sống.)
I thought, as did my colleagues, that the recession would soon be over.
(Tôi nghĩ, và đồng nghiệp tôi cũng nghĩ vậy, rằng cuộc khủng hoảng sẽ sớm
kết thúc.)

14.AFTER SO, NEITHER AND NOR:

These are used in “echoing” statements, agreeing or disagreeing.
(Đảo ngữ sử dụng sau so, neither và nor. Những từ này được sử dụng để lặp
lại, đồng ý hoặc không đồng ý)

“I am going home.” – “So am I.”

“I don’t like meat.” – “Neither do I.”

PRACTICE
Exercise 1. Rewrite the following sentences.

1. I had no sooner gone to bed when someone rang my doorbell.

 No sooner had I gone to bed than… .
2. I have seldom stayed in a worse hotel.
 Seldom have I stayed… .
3. I have never heard such nonsense.
  Never have I heard … .
4. The economic situation has rarely been worse.
 Rarely has the economic situation been worse.
5. The manager not once offered us an apology.
 No once did the manager offer us an apology.
6. You should not send money to us under any circumstances.
 Under no circumstance should you send money… .
7. I understood Hamlet only after seeing it on the stage.
 Only after seeing it/Hamlet on the stage did I understand Hamlet/it.
8. The embassy staff little realized that Ted was a secret agent.
 Little did the embassy staff that …. .
9. It was only when the office phoned me that I found out about the meeting.
 Not until the office phoned me did I find out … .
10. The response to our appeal was so great that we had to take on more staff.
 So great was the response to our appeal that we… . cấu trúc so … that…, such …
that
11. Harry broke his leg, and also injured his shoulder.
 Not only did Harry break his leg but also injured his shoulder.
 Not only did Harry… but he also injured his shoulder.
Micheal not only plays the piano but he also sings beautifully.
 Not only does Micheal play the piano but also sing beautifully.
 Not only does Micheal play the piano but he also sings beautifully.
12. The police didn’t at all suspect that the judge was the murderer. => didn’t at all =>
not at all = little
 Little did the police suspect … .
13. The bus driver cannot be blamed for the accident in any way.
 In no way can the bus driver be … .
14. The snowfall was so heavy that all trains had to be cancelled.
 So heavy was the snowfall that all … .
15. I’ll find that man no matter how long it takes.
 However long it takes, I’ll find that man.
16. She never seems to succeed even though she studies much.
 Much as she studies, she never seems to succeed.
17. My mother doesn’t do the washing by hand any more.
 No longer does my mother do… hand.
18. Mary’s voice is so great that all members of my family, even my strict
grandmother, like her songs.
 Such is Mary’s voice that … .
 Such a great voice Mary has that all… .
It was such bad weather that we couldn’t go to swim.
  Such bad weather that …
 Such + a/an/không có + Adj + Noun + Chủ ngữ + V (theo ngữ cảnh)
19. Although she finished her project successfully, her boss was still unsatisfied.
 Successfully though/as she finished her project, … . sh, x, o, th, p, c(e), ch,
s, ss => /t/
Còn lại /d/
Laughed Finished Watched Escaped
Beloved naked wicked witch
20. Overeating caused his heart attack. => It + to be + Chủ ngữ (chỉ người hoặc
vật) + that + vế sau chủ ngữ
 It was overeating that caused his … .
21. If a new pay hadn’t offered, the workers wouldn’t have called off the strike.
 Had a new pay not offered, the workers… .
22. I am amazed by the mistakes he makes.
 What amazes me is the mistakes he makes.
23. The last thing you should do is to phone the police.
 Under no circumstance should you phone the police.
24. The only way you can become a good athlete is to train hard every day.
 Only by training hard every day can you become a good athlete.
25. I only need another $15. All + Chủ ngữ + động từ + is/was + vế sau động từ
 All I need is another $15.

Exercise 2. Choose the correct answer:

1. ____________________________, you would have succeeded in your

business.
A. If you listened to my advice B. Were you to listen to my advice
C. Had you listened to my advice D. As long as you listened to my advice
2. She doesn’t like classical music and _______________________________.
A. I don’t, too B. I don’t, either
C. neither do I D. B and C are correct
3. Little ______________ what he has caused to others.
A. does he know B. he knows
C. he can know D. he will know
4. __________ had he entered the office than he realized that he had left his
wallet at home.
A. Hardly B. Scarcely
C. No sooner D. Not only
5. ____________ a week goes by without some road accidents.
A. Hardly B. Seldom
C. Never D. Infrequently
6. I write to her almost every day.
A. Not a day goes by unless my writing to her.
B. Hardly does a day go by without my writing to her.
C. No day go by without my writing to her.
D. Almost every day goes by without my writing for her.
7. The noise next door didn’t stop until midnight.
A. It was not until midnight that the noise next door stopped.
B. Not until midnight did the noise next door stopped.
C. Only when midnight did the noise next door stopped.
D. Hardly did the noise next door stopped when it was midnight.
8. He started computer programming as soon as he left school.
A. No sooner had he started computer programming than he left school.
B. Hardly had he started computer programming when he left school.
C. No sooner had he left school than he started computer programming.
D. After he left school, he had started computer programming.
9. He spent all his money. He even borrowed some from me.
A. As soon as he borrowed some money from me, he spent it all.
B. Hardly had he borrowed some money from me when he spent it all.
C. Not only did he spent all his money but also he borrowed some from me.
D. Not only did he spend all his money but he borrowed some from me as
well.
But also + S + V… .
But S also V … .
But S V … as well.
10. She only felt relaxed after a few months working for him.
A. She used to feel relaxed working for him a few months.
B. A few months ago, she didn’t find it relaxed working for him.
C. Only after a few months working for him did she feel relaxed.
D. It was not until a few months working for him did she feel relaxed.
11. Right after his appointment to the post, he fell ill.
A. No sooner did he appointed to the post than he fell ill.
B. No sooner had he appointed to the post than he fell ill.
C. Hardly had he appointed to the post when he fell ill.
D. Hardly had he been appointed to the post when he fell ill.
12.Just after solving one problem, I was faced with another.
A. Scarcely had I solved one problem when I was faced with another.
 B. Hardly had I solved one problem when I was faced with another.
C. No sooner had I solved one problem than I was faced with another.
D. All are correct.
13.A country cannot be prosperous if it is not quite independent.
A. Unless a country is quite independent, it can be prosperous.
B. Without complete independence, a country can be prosperous.
C. Only when a country is quite independent can it be prosperous.
D. It is not until a country is quite independent can it be prosperous.
=> It is/was not until V-ing/Clause/Thời gian + that + S+V
14.I only recognized him when he came into the light.
A. Only when I recognized him, he came into the light.
B. It wasn’t until he came into the light that I recognized him.
C. Not until he came into the light I did recognize him.
D. I did not recognize him even when he came into the light.
15.We couldn’t relax until all the guests had left.
A. Not until all the guests had left could we relax.
B. It wasn’t until all the guests had left that we could relax.
C. It wasn’t until all the guests had left could we relax.
D. A and B are correct
16.The phone stopped ringing the moment I got downstairs.
A. No sooner had the phone stopped ringing than I got downstairs.
B. After the phone had stopped ringing, I got downstairs.
C. Hardly had the phone stopped ringing when I got downstairs.
D. No sooner had I got downstairs than the phone stopped ringing.
17.The light failed the moment they began work.
A. But for the light failed, they would have begun work.
B. Hardly did they begin work when the light failed.
C. Hardly had they begun work when the light failed.
D. As soon as the light failed, they began work.
18.She didn’t shed a tear as the play ended in tragedy.
A. The tragedy play wasn’t good for her to shed tear.
B. Without her tear, the play didn’t end tragically.
C. So tragic was the play that she didn’t shed a tear.
D. Not a tear did she shed when the play ended in tragedy.
19.It was not until she had arrived home ___________________ her
appointment with the doctor.
A. when she remembered B. that she remembered
C. and she remembered D. did she remember
20.Canada does not require that U.S citizens obtain passports to enter the
country, and _________.
A. Mexico doesn’t, too B. So does Mexico
C. Mexico doesn’t, either D. neither is Mexico
21.____________________, he would have been able to pass the exam.
A. If he studied harder last year B. Provided he studied hard last year
C. Studying harder last year D. Had he studied harder last year
22.___________________ will Mr. Dennis be able to regain control of the
company.
A. With hard work B. Despite his hard work
C. Only if he works hardly D. Only by working hard
23.__________ had I arrived home than it began to rain.
A. No sooner B. Hardly
C. Scarcely D. Rarely
24.My father paid my fees. _______________that, I wouldn’t be here now.
A. If there were not B. But for
C. Had it not been for D. B and C are correct
But for + N = Had it not been for + N: Nếu không có + N
25.Only after food has been dried or canned __________________________.
A. it should be stored for future use.
B. that it should be stored for future use.
C. should it be stored for future use.
D. should it store for future use.