INVERSION

Exercise 1: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences:
1. No longer ……… to do all her housework with her husband because our family now owns some
new labour-saving devices.
A. my mother has B. has my mother C. does my mother has D. does my mother have
2. No sooner had he sat down to lunch ……… there was a knock at the door.
A. than B. that C. as D. when
3. They hardly found her number when they called her.
A. They called her sooner or lather. B. They called her as soon as they found her number.
C. They found her number as soon as they called her. D. They found her number sooner or later.
4. Never before ……… such a beautiful girl.
A. have I met B. have I meet C. I have met D. did I meet
5. Rarely ……... out after 9.00.
A. does my sister go B. did my sister go C. my sister goes D. my sister does go
6. Hardly ……… asleep when the phone woke him up.
A. the doctor fell B. the doctor had fallen C. did the doctor fall D. had the doctor fallen
7. Edward ……… goes to bed before midnight.
A. hardly never B. seldom never C. hardly ever D. almost ever
8. She had only just put the telephone down when the boss rang.
A. She put the telephone down and the boss rang.
B. Hardly had she put the telephone down when the boss rang.
C. The boss rang back, but she put the telephone down.
D. She had put the telephone down, so she let it ring when the boss rang.
9. No sooner ………than the boss came in.
A. he had left B. had he left C. he was leaving D. was he leaving
10. Not only ……… to take the medicine, but he also hit the nurse.
A. he refused B. does he refuse C. he was refused D. did he refuse
11. As soon as he waved his hand, she turned away.
A. He saw her turn away and he waved his hand.
B. He waved his hand and at once she turned away.
C. She turned away because he waved his hand.
D. No sooner had he waved his hand than she turned away.
12. Hardly had he left home ……… the telephone rang.
A. than B. that C. as D. when
13. Not only ……… the book, but he had seen the film as well.
A. he had read B. has he read C. had he read D. he did read
14. No longer ……… them to go to the music club.
A. their parents allow B. does their parents allow
C. do their parents allow D. has their parents allow
15. Only because she had to support her family ……… to leave school.
A. that Alice decides B. did Alice decide C. does Alice decide D. Alice decided
16. Hardly ……… at the bus stop when the next bus came.
A. they had arrived B. do they arrive C. arrived they D. had they arrived
17. So surprised at the news ……… that he couldn’t say anything.
A. did he become B. he became C. does he become D. did he became
18. Not only ……… shade and beauty, but they also reduce carbon dioxide.
A. trees provide B. provide trees C. do trees provide D. trees do provide
19. My grandfather ……… sleeps more than an hour a night.
A. hardly never B. has ever C. is always D. hardly ever
20. Not only ……… profits, but it also had to lay off workers.
A. did the company lose B. the company lose C. had the company lose D. lost the company
21. ……… so many people been out of work as today.
A. In the past, there never have B. Never before have
C. More than ever before D. Formerly, there never were
22. It was only then ……… how much I owed to her.
A. had I realize B. that I realized C. did I realize D. I did realize
23. Only by booking in advance ……… stay ion the room you like.
A. can you B. you can C. you will D. you
24. As soon as he arrived at the airport, he called home.
A. He arrived at the airport sooner than he had expected.
B. No sooner had he arrived at the airport than he called home.
C. Calling home, he said that he had arrived at the airport.
D. He arrived at the airport and called me to take him home.
25. In no time ……… know the result of the recognition.
A. the public will B. will the public C. the public D. does the public
26. ……… in medicine relieve distress but they also prevent and cure illness.
A. Do computers B. computers C. Computers not only D. Not only do computers
27. ……… reptiles hunt at temperatures of 120C or below.
A. Seldom do B. Do seldom C. Do D. Seldom
28. ……… learn during their sleep by listening to tape records.
A. People rarely can B. Can people rarely C. Rarely can people D. Can rarely people
29. ……… continental crust older than 200 million years.
A. It is nowhere the B. Nowhere is the C. Is nowhere the D. Is the nowhere
30. Not only ……… in the field of psychology but animal behavior is examined as well.
A. human behavior is studied B. is human behavior studied
C. is studied human behavior D. human behavior
31. ……… but he also wants to marry her.
A. Not only he loves her B. Not he only loves her
C. He not only loves her D. Not only does he love her
32. Never ……… so much protest against pollution. It won't be long before we have a better
environment.
A. has there been B. there has been C. has it been D. it has been
33. No sooner had I started off ……… it began to rain.
A. then B. than C. that D. as
34. We didn't have them repaired. ……… .
A. Nor we know who did it B. Nor we had idea who did it
C. Nor did we know who did it D. We do not know who did it, either
36. Everyone started complaining the moment the announcement was made.
A. No sooner did everyone start complaining than the announcement was made.
B. As soon as the announcement made, everyone started complaining.
C. No sooner had the announcement been made, everyone started complaining.
D. Everyone started complaining that the announcement was made.
37. The worker only called off the strike after a new pay offer.
A. Not until a new pay was offered, the workers called off the strike.
B. The worker called off the strike only when a new pay offer.
 C. A new pay was offered, which made the strike call off.
D. Not until a new pay was offered did the workers call off the strike.
38. My uncle didn't recognize me until I spoke.
A. My uncle recognized me not until I spoke
B. Not until I spoke did my uncle not recognize me.
C. Not until I spoke did my uncle recognize me.
D. Only when my uncle recognized me did I speak.
39. Helen wrote a novel and made a cowboy film.
A. Helen wrote not only a novel but also made a cowboy film.
B. Helen both wrote a novel as well as made a cowboy film.
C. Helen either wrote a novel or made a cowboy film.
D. Not only did Helen write a novel but she also made a cowboy film.
40. Not until I met Jack did I get some news about you.
A. I didn't get any news about you until I met Jack.
B. Jack shouldn't have told me news about you.
C. Until I met Jack I got some news about you.
D. As soon as I got news about you, I met Jack.
41. It is rare that my sister goes to the cinema.
A. My sister is rare of going to the cinema.
B. Rarely does my sister go to the cinema.
C. That my sister goes to the cinema rarely.
D. Going to the cinema is rare to my sister.
42. Soon after they sold their house, they were offered a better price for it.
A. No sooner they sold their house were they offered a better price for it.
B. They were offered a better price for their house, and they sold it.
C. They had no sooner sold their house than they were offered a better price for it.
D. No sooner had they sold their house and they were offered a better price for it.
43. It was only when I left home that I realized the meaning of "family".
A. I realized the meaning of "family" before I left home.
B. Only when I left home I realized the meaning of "family".
C. Not until I left home did I realize the meaning of "family".
D. I didn't leave home until I realized the meaning of "family".
44. No sooner had I put down the receiver, ………
A. than the phone rang again B. when the phone rang again
C. then the phone rang D. did the phone ring again
45. Never before ……… so happy.
A. has he been B, he has been C. was he D. he was
Exercise 2: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences:
1. Not only…………………………………………..
a. he refused to help me but he also made fun of me
b. did he refuse to help me but he made fun of me also
c. did he refuse to help me but he also made fun of me
d. he did refuse to help me but also made fun of me
2. ………………………..had she open the cupboard than she stood in front of it petrified
a. No sooner c. Hardly
b. As soon as d. The fact
3. …………………….with enough life-boats she wouldn’t have caused so heavy casualties
a. Were the Titanic to be equiped b. The Titanic were to be equiped
 c. The Titanic was to be equiped d. Had the Titanic been equiped
4. It was not until the doctors asked him to comment on his death……………recognised their
craziness
a. when he c. that he
b. and he d. he
5. George would certainly have attended the meeting…………………
a. if he didn’t get a flat tire c. had he not had a flat tire
b. if the flat tire hadn’t happened d. had the tire not flatterned itselt
6. ………………………..received law degrees as today
a. Never so many women have c. The women aren’t ever
b. Never have so many women d. Women who have never
7. ……………..during his dinner with us
a. Not did my grandfather say single word
b. Not said a single word did my grandfather
c. Not my grandfather said a single word
d. Not a single word did my grandfather say
8. There is no water on the moon , nor …………………..an atmosphere around it
a. there is c. there is not
b. it is d. is there
9. …………………the work when his wife came in with two policemen
a. Had he hardly finished c. Hardly he had finished
b. Had hardly he finished d. Hardly had he finished
10. Not until the first land plants developed………………
a. land animals appeared c. would land animals appear
b. did land animals appear d. the land animals appeared
Exercise 3: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences:
1. Not only…………………in the field of psychology but animal behavior is examined as well
a. is studied human behavior c. did human behavior study
b. is human behavior studied d. human behavior studied
2. It was not until she had arrived home …………………remembered her appointment with the
doctor
a. when she c. and she
b. that she d. she
3. Not until a student has mastered algebra…………………the principles of geometry,
trigonometry, and physics
a. he can begin to understand c. he begins to understand
b. can he begin to understand d. that he can begin to understand
4. ……………………………………they go to the threater
a. Only on rare occasions c. On rare occasions only
b. Only on rare accasions do d. Only do on rare occasions
5. ………………………….pleased with himself
a. Only after John received the first was he
b. Only after John received the first prize he was
c. After John received the first prize only was he
d. After John receivd the first prize only he was
6. ………………………..the lights went out
a. Hardly had the performance begun when
b. Hardly the performance had begun when did
 c. Hardly had the performance begun than
d. Hardly the performance had begun than did
7. ……………..visited her
a. Had I know she was sick, I would have
b. No sooner had I know she was sick, I would have
c. No sooner had I know she was sick than I
d. Hardly had I know she was sick when I
8. ………………………………..I would give a party
a. Were she to come next month
b. She were to come next month
c. She comes next month
d. She would come next month
9. …………………more help , I could call my neighbour
a. Needed c. I have needed
b. Should I need d. I should need
10. …………………… my father sat down for lunch than there was a knock at the door
a. Hardly had c. At no time had
b. No sooner had d. Never before had
Exercise 4: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences:
1. ……………………………the book , please return it to me
a. Should you find c. Will you find
b. Will you be finding d. Will you have found
2. …………………………graduated from college
a. Nowhere does he found a job after he had
b. Nowhere did he find a job after he had
c. Not anywhere did he find a job after had he
d. Nowhere did he find a job after had he
3. ………………………… he sold the house
a. Hardly did he have time to settle down when
b. Hardly has he had time to settle down when
c. No sooner had he had time to settle down when
d. No sooner had he had time to settle down than
4. ……………………………………lost all his clothes
a. Before arriving in New York had he spent all his money
b. No sooner had he arrived in New York than had he spent all his money
c. Not only had he spent all his money before arriving in New York but he also
d. Not only had he spent all his money before arriving in New York but had he also
5. ………………………….to speak to his wife about his ex-girlfriend !
a. Never has he again dared c. Again never has he dared
b. Never again has he dared d. Never again did he have dare
6. ………………………..to say too much about oneself
a. Seldom does it wise c. Seldom wise it is
b. Seldom is it wise d. Seldom wise is it
7. Not until…………………………………………………………
a. I approached the flat did I realized that it was completely empty
b. did I approach the flat that I realized it was completely empty
c. I approached the flat that I realized was it completely empty
d. did I approach the flat I realized that it was completely empty
 8. ………………………………..most of the soldiers gave up!
a. So was the exercise difficult that
b. So difficult was the exercise that
c. So was the exercise difficult that did
d. So difficult was the exercise that did
9. …………………be impolite to our parents
a. Not in any circumstances should we
b. In any circumstances shouldn’t we
c. In no circumstances should we
d. No circumstances permit us to
10. …………………… send the telegram.
a. No sooner the train should be delayed shall I
b. No sooner should the train be delayed than shall I
c. Should the train be delayed , I shall
d. Should the train is delayed shall I
Exercise 5. Choose the most suitable words underlined.
1. Jim promised that he would never/ never would he tell anyone else.
2. Not until it was too late I remembered / did I remember I call Susan.
3. Hardly had we settle down in our seats than/when the lights went out.
4. Only after checking three times I was/was I certain of the answer.
5. At no time I was aware/was I aware of anything out of usual.
6. Only Mary sang Sally passed/ did they pass the final examination.
7. So the waves were high/ So high were the waves that swimming was dangerous.
8. Only when Peter has arrived / has Peter arrived can we begin the program.
9. No sooner had it stopped raining than/when the sun came out.
10. If should you leave early/ should you leave early could you leave me a lift?
Exercise 6. Complete each sentences with a suitable word or phrase.
1.…………..had we arrived at the hotel, when there was a power cut.
2………..are members of staff to accept gratuities from clients.
3. ……….Detective Dawson realized what she was to discover!.
4. ………….so many employees taken sick leave at the same time.
5. ……… to pay the full amount now, there would be a ten per cent discount.
6. I supposed, as……….most people, that I would be retiring at 60.
7. ………………..the doctor seen more difficult case.
8. ………….Jean win first prize, but she was also offered a promotion.
9. ……….will late arrival be admitted to the theatre before the interval.
10. …………one missing child been found, than another three disappeared
key

Exercise 5. Choose the most suitable words underlined.

1. he would never 6. passed
2. did I remember 7. so high were the waves
3. when 8. Peter has arrived
4. was I 9. than
5. was I aware 10. should you leave early

Exercise 6. Complete each sentences with a suitable word or phrase.

1. Hardly/ Scarcely 6. do
2. Under no circumstances 7. Never had /have
3. Little did 8. Not only did
4. Never had / Rarely had 9. Under no circumstances
5. Were you 10. No sooner had