Negative inversion - practice exercises
I. Invert the following sentences.
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.
Rarely did the artist pay 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.
II. Choose the correct answer.
1. .... should children be allowed to drive.
no sooner under no circumstances
2. .... after months of planning were they ready for the conference.
rarely only
3. .... had I left than I heard them laughing.
no sooner only when
4. Now .... to escape and she jumped from the window.
was the time the time was
III. Fill the gaps using the following words : has / before / than / audience / then / was / started / will / can / did / so many / had
1. Hardly ever ..has... an athlete won so many medals in such a short
time.
2. Little ...did... we realise what a social faux-pas we had committed.
3. Scarcely ...had.... the match started when the trouble began.
4. Only by standing on tip-toe ...was.. I able to see anything at all.
5. Seldom can an audience have heard a better interpretation of this
symphony.
6. Hardly had the controversial opera started when people began to
walk out.
IV. Fill the gaps using the these words : else / way / did / circumstances / nothing / such / nor / until / would / account / only / even
1. At no time did he seem to realise what an idiot he was making of
himself.
2. At no time before have I heard .such. arrant nonsense.
3. Nowhere .else. do they charge you so much for water.
4. On no account should you miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
5. Under no circumstances must this door be left unlocked.
6. Not ..until.. she apologises for what she said will I speak to her again.
7. Not even if they halved the price would I buy such a heap of old
rubbish.
V. Make inverted sentences from the sentences given, using the words in brackets.
1. You shouldn't tell him about my trip to China.
On no ....account should you tell him about my trip to China...
2. You are not going to get me to eat that!
No way ....are you going to get me to eat that!.....
3. I have seldom seen such a brilliant goal.
Seldom ..have I seen such a brilliant goal..
4. Such a hurricane has rarely happened in Hereford.
Hardly ever ....has such a hurricane happened in Hereford.
5. I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings for all the world.
Not ..for all the world would I want to hurt your feelings.
6. They were never aware of the danger that threatened them.
In no way can the shop be held responsible for customers' 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 he saw his wife's face did Tom realize the
meaning of the comment.
9. She never at any time said that she was allergic to cats.
Never at any time had 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.
5. Many a time .... plan to divorce her husband, but she never did.
she did did she
6. Only .... can we start the party.
when Jane has arrived when has Jane arrived
7. .... who borrowed the money.
Max it was It was Max
8. What .... is simply not true.
are you saying you are saying
7. Only if we leave now ..will. we be in time to catch the train.
8. Never have I seen ..so many. people turn out for this event.
9. Rarely .can. a remark have been more ill-judged.
10. Only ...then.. did it become clear what the extent of the damage
was.
11. Barely had we had time to pack up the picnic things before the
heavens opened.
12. No sooner had we asked for a quieter room ..than we were given
one.
8. Not for all the money in the world .would. I do what you're
suggesting.
9. Not ...only.. do I know you're wrong, but I can also prove you're
wrong.
10. Neither was the food up to standard .......... was the service
particularly good.
11. Everyone except me got soaked. Not for .nothing. do I always carry
an umbrella.
12. No .way. am I going to jump into that icy cold water!
At no time ..were they aware of the danger that threatened them.
7. This must not leak out to the press.
Under ...no circumstances must this leak out to the press..
8. He wasn't rich and he wasn't handsome.
Neither ...was he rich nor was he handsome..
9. We haven't often witnessed such artistry.
Rarely ....have we witnessed such artistry.
10. The bridge collapsed as soon as we managed to get across.
No sooner ...had we managed to get across than the bridge collapsed.
11. We were only able to cross the border by offering him a bribe.
Only .....by offering him a bribe were we able to cross the border.
12. Immediately he opened his mouth he started complaining about
everything.
VI. Make inverted sentences from the sentences given, using the words in brackets.
1. She has no idea what a surprise she's going to get.
Little does she know what a surprise she's going to get.
2. The bell had barely started to ring when the children rushed out of
the classroom.
Scarcely had the bell started to ring when the children rushed out of
the classroom.
3. He didn't start his speech until there was absolute silence in the hall. 15.The students had sooner arrived the class when the teacher came.
Not until there was absolute silence in the hall did he start his speech.
4. We will only be able to accept your offer if we are offered free
delivery.
Only if we are offered free delivery will we be able to accept your
offer.
5. It is with good reason that Edinburgh is known as the Athens of the
North.
Not for nothing is Edinburgh known as the Athens of the North.
6. We have never been so well wined and dined in our lives.
Never in our lives have we been so well wined and dined.
7. She didn't break the news of her engagement until after dinner.
Only after dinner did she break the news of her engagement.
8. We weren't told that we would need our passports.
At no time were we told that we would need our passports.
9. They don't charge you as much for water anywhere else.
Nowhere else do they charge you as much for water.
10. I wouldn't fly with them again even if they offered me a free flight.
Not even if they offered me a free flight would I fly with them again.
11. We had barely entered the shop when an assistant jumped on us.
Hardly had we entered the shop when an assistant jumped on us.
VII. Rewrite these sentences, using inversion with NOT.
1. He is my friend as well as yours.
Not only is he my friend but also yours.
2. He booked tickets for the afternoon performance and the evening
performance as well.
Not only did he book tickets for the afternoon performance but also
the evening performance.
3. Burglars stole a thousand pounds’ worth of electrical goods, and left
the flat in an awful mess.
Not only did the burglars steal a thousand pounds'worth of electrical
goods but also left the flat in an awful mess.
4. Tony was not only late, but he had left all his books behind.
Not only was Tony late but also he had left all his books behind.
5. You will enhance your posture and improve your acting ability on this
VIII. Rewrite these sentences, using inversion with ONLY.
1. I only realized how dangerous the situation had been when I got
home.
Only when I got home did I realize how dangerous the situation had
been.
2. It wasn’t until last week that the Agriculture Minister admitted
defeat.
Only until last week did the Agriculture Minister admit defeat.
3. I understood Hamlet only after seeing it on the stage.
Only after seeing Hamlet on the stage did I understand it.
4. They didn’t get round to business until they had finished eating.
Only until they had finished eating did they get around to business.
5. They had to wait for twelve hours before their flight left.
Only after they had waited for 12 hours did their flight leave.
Barely had he opened his mouth before he started complaining about
everything.
12. He is both charming and very rich.
Not only is he charming, but he is also very rich.
13. We have never gone to Paris before.
At no time have we gone to Paris before..
14. They had hardly come home when it started raining.
Hardly had they come home when it started raining
No sooner had the students arrived the class than the teacher came.
16. The teacher cannot become friendly until the students get along
with him.
Not until the students get along with him can the teacher become
friendly
17.He can only succeed when he tries his best to study.
Only when he tries his best to study can he succeed
18.I cannot recognise who he is before he gets in the room.
Only after he gets in the room can I recognise who he is.
19. THe inspector tried to break into robber's house so that he could
find out the blue for case.
So as to find out the blue for case did the inspector try to break into
robber's house
20. I will never say that again.
Never will I say that again
21. I have scarcely ever enjoyed myself more than I did yesterday.
Scarcely have I ever enjoyed myself more than I did yesterday
22. She rarely makes a mistake.
Rarely does she make a mistake
course.
Not only will you enhance your posture but also improve your acting
ability on this course.
6. It isn’t worth considering his suggestion for a moment.
Not worth is it considering his suggestion for a moment.
7. She didn’t shed a tear when the story ended in tragedy.
Didn't she shed a tear when the story ended in tragedy.
8. The manager not once offered us an apology.
Not once did the manager offer us an apology.
9. She made no sound as she crept upstairs.
No sound did she make as she crept upstairs.
10. He only thought about having a holiday abroad after he retired.
Only did he think about having a holiday abroad after he retired.
6. I didn’t realize who he was until later.
Only later did I realize who he was.
7. The door could not be opened without using force.
Only using force could the door be opened.
8. I won’t agree until Tom’s apologized.
Only until Tom's apologized will I agree.
9. To get the 40% discount, you must buy all twelve books at the same
time.
Only when you buy all 12 books at the same time will you get the 40%
discount.
10.The only way you can become a good athlete is by training hard
every day.
Only by training hard everyday can you become a good athlete.
IX. Rewrite these sentences, using inversion with SHOULD.
1. If the Government were forced into another election, it would be the
favourite to win.
Were the Government forced into another election, it'd be the
favorite to win.
2. If you should wish to make an appointment to see Dr Simons, she is
available between 9.00 and 11.00.
Should you wish to make an appointment to see DR Simons, she is
available between 9 and 11
3. If you should have further problems with your printer, contact your
dealer for advice.
Should you have further problems with your printer, contact your
dealer for advice.
4. If you should decide to accept the post, you will be expected to start
work on 1st April.
X. Rewrite each of the following sentences with the given words in such a way that it means the same as the sentence printed above it.
1. He spent all his money. He even borrowed some from me.
"Not only ..did he spend all his money but also he borrowed some
from me...
2. He had hardly left the office when the telephone rang.
" No sooner ...had he left the office, the telephone rang...
3. I had only just put the phone down when the boss rang back.
" Hardly ....had he left the office, the telephone rang....
4. He didn’t finish his work until the bell rang.
" Not until ...the bell rang did he finish his work....
5. We only began to see the symptoms of the disease after several
months.
" Only ...after several months did we begin to see the symptoms of the
disease..
Should you decide to accept the post, you'll be expected to start work
on 1st April.
5. If we hear any further news, we will be in touch immediately.
Should we hear any further news, we'll be in touch immediately.
6. If you wish to take advantage of the offer, kindly tick the box on your
order form.
Should you wish to take advantage of the offer, kindly tick the box on
your order form.
7. If the film should be a post office success, they may be sequel.
Should the film be a post office success, they may be sequel.
8. If you should change your mind, there will always be a job for you
here.
Should you change your mind, there'll always be a job for you there.
6. I have never seen anyone in my life drink as much as you.
" Never ..in my life have I seen anyone drink as much as you..
7. A sleeping dog was lying under the table.
" Under the table ...was lying a sleeping dog....
8. His brother had rarely been more excited.
"Rarely ....had his brother been more exited......
9. The facts were not all made public until later.
"Only .....later were the facts made public....
10. If I had realized what would happen, I wouldn’t have accepted the
job.
"Had ...I realized what would happen, I wouldn't have accepted the
job...

Explanation:
II. Câu 6 : Xem bài học (B. 1c.) với Only if, Only when trong câu có 2 mệnh đề : chỉ đảo ngữ mênh đề chính, mệnh đề phụ không đảo ngữ. Câu này,
“Only when Jane has arrived’ là mệnh đề phụ. Câu 7. Cấu trúc ‘’This/that/it +Be + who/that’’ nêu rõ KẺ/VẬT đã gây ra hành động (Chính Max là kẻ
đã mượn số tiền đó). Không hề có đảo ngữ. Câu 8. Chủ từ của ‘’is’’ là mệnh đề đứng trước nó : Đó là mệnh đề danh từ (làm chủ ngữ, object hay
complement), cho dù có ý nghi vấn, cũng không bao giờ đảo ngữ.

III. Câu 2: What: từ cảm thán + danh từ (giống như SO + tính từ/trạng từ, hoặc SUCH + danh từ). Thí dụ: What a boy! (Cái thằng!); What a lazy boy!
(Cái thằng lười!); He is SO lazy!; So sánh hai câu này (ý nghĩa như nhau) : He is SUCH a lazy boy! WHAT a lazy boy he is. (what đứng đầu câu).
Faux-pas (mượn từ tiếng Pháp) : Faux = wrong (sai); pas = step (bước, bước chân). Faux-pas (đọc là : phô pa) : sai lầm, sai nước cờ. Commit v. Phạm
phải (tội, lỗi, sai lầm). Câu 4 : Thường là ‘’Not +At all’’ (không tí nào cả); ‘’At all’’ trong câu khẳng định : Có .... chăng. “Chỉ có đứng nhón lên, mới
thấy được gì chăng.’’ Câu 5 : controversial opera (vở kịch opera gây tranh cãi – được nhiều người bàn luận); câu 9 : ill-judged (xét ẩu, bất cẩn, cẩu
thả); Câu 10. what the extent (đến mức nào); Câu 11 : the heavens opened (thành ngữ ) Trời đổ mưa.

IV. Câu 1. make a fool/an idiot of oneself : xử sự như một thằng ngốc; 2. arrant adj. hoàn toàn, hết sức. arrant nonsense : điều hoàn toàn vô nghĩa;
Câu 3. Charge for : tính tiền, lấy tiền; Câu 4. once-in-a-lifetime opportunity : Cơ hội có nghì năm một thủa; Câu 7. Have v. Chia đôi, have the price :
giảm một nửa giá; heap n. mớ, đống; Câu 8. Not for all the money in the world (thành ngữ) : Hoàn toàn không phải (dứt khoát không phải) vì tiền;
câu 10. up to standard : đúng chuẩn mực; câu 11. got soaked : ướt đẫm, ướt như chuột lột (lội).

V. 3. a brilliant goal : một bàn thắng sáng giá; 5. for all the world (thành ngữ ) : Hoàn toàn, chính xác, Not for all the world: hoàn toàn không phải,
dứt khoát không phải; 7. Leak out to (phrasal verb): rò rỉ ra cho; 9. Không dùng ‘’often’’ nữa vì đã có ‘’Rarely’’; witness n. nhân chứng; v. chứng kiến;
artistry n. tính chất nghệ thuật.; 10, động từ ‘’manage’’ ở quá khứ có nghĩa : cố/tìm cách và thành công (giống như Be+ABLE ở QUÁ KHỨ ). Như vậy,
‘’qua cầu được rồi, cầu mới sập’’. 11. bribe v. hối lộ; n. của hối lộ/đút lót. 12. ‘’Hắn vừa mở miệng là than van đủ thứ.’’

VI. 1. what : nghĩa cảm thán (không phải nghĩa nghi vấn ); 2. rush out of : nhào ra khỏi; 5. with good reason : có lý do chính đáng. not for nothing :
không phải vô cớ, không phải không có lý do; không phải không có mục đích; wine and dine so well: ăn uống thỏa thích; 7. break the news : bật mí;
10. Dù bọn nó cho không tờ vé máy bay, tớ cũng chẳng thèm....; 12. Jump on (phrasal verb) nhảy bổ ra; 12. charming adj. có duyên; 16. get along
with (phrasal verb) hòa thuận với (ai); 19. break into : đột nhập; the blue for the case : chứng cứ cho vụ án.
VII. câu 1. He is my friend as well as yours (yours=your friend) = He is my friend and he is also your friend. = He is my friend and he is your friend as
well. (as well=also, nhưng đặt cuối câu.). Chỉ dùng ‘’as well as’’ khi có hai vế : He is my friend as well as your friend. = He is my friend as well as
yours (= your friend). Như vậy ý nghĩa tương đương như : Not only is he my friend but also yours.;
Các câu 2,3,4, 5 đều có and hoặc hàm ý có and, nên đều dùng cấu trúc : Not only ... but also.
Riêng câu 4: vế sau lặp lại chủ từ (he) vì ở thì khác (past perfect) với thì của vế trước (simple past);
câu 5: enhance v. tăng cường, nâng cao; posture n. tư thế, dáng vẻ;
câu 6: cũng như ‘’busy’’, tính từ ‘’worth’’ (đáng) có V+ing theo sau;
câu 7. ‘Didn’t = Did not ; shed v. rơi, rụng (lá), lột (rắn), shed a tear: rơi một giọt nước mắt; tragedy n. thảm kịch, bi kịch, sự bi thảm;
câu 8. not once : không chỉ một lần (=nhiều lần); câu 9. creep, crept, crept v. bò, trườn; rón rén, lẻn.

VIII. Lưu ý: Các trạng ngữ đứng đầu câu trong bài (sửa) này gồm 3 dạng :
a. Đoạn câu trạng ngữ : Only until last week (câu 2), Only later (câu 6). Cả hai đều là trạng ngữ chỉ thời gian.
b. Đoạn câu phân từ (hiện tại hoặc quá khứ) – trong bài, ta chỉ thấy có phân từ hiện tại (hàm ý chủ động) – làm trạng ngữ. Đoạn câu phân từ
(participle phrase), cùng với đoạn câu ‘’động từ nguyên mẫu’’ (infinitive phrase), còn được gọi là mệnh đề không-hoàn-chỉnh (non-finite
clause), – tức là : không có chủ từ, động từ không chia ở một thì nào, mà chỉ ở dạng phân từ (participle) hoặc dạng infinitive (có ‘’to’’ hoặc
không có ‘’to’’) : Câu 3 (chỉ thời gian), 7 (chỉ phương tiện), 10 (chỉ phương tiện).
c. Mệnh đề phụ trạng ngữ hoàn-chỉnh (mệnh đề hoàn chỉnh : có chủ từ, và động từ chia ở một thì nào đó).
d. Các câu 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 đều có trạng ngữ là mệnh đề hoàn-chỉnh, nên đảo ngữ xảy ra ở mệnh đề chính. Xem những câu có gạch dưới.
Từ vựng : 1. Defeat v&n Thua, thất bại; 4. get round to something : bắt tay vào việc gì (mà trước đó đã định làm); 9. 40% discount : giảm giá 40%.

IX. CHÚ Ý QUAN TRỌNG : ĐẢO NGỮ TRONG CÂU ĐIỀU KIỆN có thể THAY THẾ ‘’IF’’ TRONG MỆNH ĐỀ PHỤ TRẠNG NGỮ CHỈ ĐIỀU KIỆN.
A. Thường chỉ dùng trong câu điều kiện loại 2 và 3, với động từ BE và HAVE (là động từ chính hoặc là trợ động từ) :
- If I were you, I would stop smoking → Were I you, I would stop smoking.
- If the Government were forced into .... → Were the Government forced into .... (câu 1)
- If we were going to have children, we would like to have a boy and a girl. →Were we going to have children, .......
- If I had money, I would go to France. →Had I money, I would ..
- If I had taken his advice, I would be rich now. →Had I taken his advice, I would be rich now (vế đầu : loại 3, ám chỉ quá khứ; vế sau: loại
2, ám chỉ hiện tại)
- If I had known the answer, I would have told you. → Had I known the answer, I would have told you (hai vế đều loại 3).
(Xem thêm câu 10, bài X.)

B. CÂU ĐIỀU KIỆN LOẠI 1 (ám chỉ hiện tại và tương lai, và có thể xảy ra hoặc sẽ xảy ra thực) :
Cần lưu ý hai dạng mệnh đề trạng ngữ chỉ điều kiện (if):
C1. IF + SUBJECT + (KHÔNG CÓ SHOULD THEO SAU) : Nêu điều kiện thường tình, không trang trọng (informal), không có hàm ý riêng
(chúng ta đã biết rồi) :
- If we hear any further news, we will be in touch immediately. → Should we hear any further news .....
Xem tiếp câu 5, 6, 7.
C2. IF + SUBJECT + SHOULD (THEO SAU) : chỉ dùng trong lối văn trang trọng (formal), có thể có hàm ý riêng (không mong xảy ra, nhưng
cũng có thể xảy ra).
- If you should you have further problems with your printer, contact your dialer for advice (Nếu chẳng may/lỡ ra quý vị gặp rắc rối gì khác
nữa về máy in của mình, hãy liên hệ nơi bán hàng để họ giúp xử lý)-(câu 3.). Các câu 2, 4, 8 mang tính trang trọng (formal).
Từ vựng : 5. get/be in touch : liên lạc; 6. take advantage : hưởng lợi; 7. office = ticket office : nơi bán vé (xem hát, tuồng, giải trí, vv); post (tiếng
Latinh) : sau, post office success : thành công mang lại xét sau khi bán được nhiều vé (= công chúng ủng hộ), sequel n. tiếp nối, làm tiếp nữa (tập 1
bán hết, ra tiếp tập 2, vv); 8. change one’s mind: đổi ý.

X. Chỉ là ôn các bài trước đó, không có gì đáng giải thích.