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    Inversion 2bach

    Uploaded by

    Marta Carnero
    This document discusses inversion in English grammar. It begins by explaining that inversion occurs when a negative adverb or phrase is placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. It provides examples of sentences with and without inversion. It then lists common adverbs and phrases used with inversion, such as "hardly", "never", and "seldom". The document also notes that inversion is used in the second part of sentences introduced with "not until" or "only after". Finally, it states that inversion can be used instead of "if" in conditional sentences containing "had", "were", or "should" to create a more formal tone.

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    Inversion 2bach

    Uploaded by

    Marta Carnero
    60 views3 pages
    This document discusses inversion in English grammar. It begins by explaining that inversion occurs when a negative adverb or phrase is placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. It provides examples of sentences with and without inversion. It then lists common adverbs and phrases used with inversion, such as "hardly", "never", and "seldom". The document also notes that inversion is used in the second part of sentences introduced with "not until" or "only after". Finally, it states that inversion can be used instead of "if" in conditional sentences containing "had", "were", or "should" to create a more formal tone.

    Original Title

    INVERSION 2BACH

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    This document discusses inversion in English grammar. It begins by explaining that inversion occurs when a negative adverb or phrase is placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. It provides examples of sentences with and without inversion. It then lists common adverbs and phrases used with inversion, such as "hardly", "never", and "seldom". The document also notes that inversion is used in the second part of sentences introduced with "not until" or "only after". Finally, it states that inversion can be used instead of "if" in conditional sentences containing "had", "were", or "should" to create a more formal tone.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    60 views3 pages

    Inversion 2bach

    Uploaded by

    Marta Carnero
    This document discusses inversion in English grammar. It begins by explaining that inversion occurs when a negative adverb or phrase is placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. It provides examples of sentences with and without inversion. It then lists common adverbs and phrases used with inversion, such as "hardly", "never", and "seldom". The document also notes that inversion is used in the second part of sentences introduced with "not until" or "only after". Finally, it states that inversion can be used instead of "if" in conditional sentences containing "had", "were", or "should" to create a more formal tone.

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    INVERSION

    2nd BACH
    2019-2020

    1: When we use a negative adverb or adverb phrase at the beginning


    of the sentence.

    Usually, we put the expression at the beginning of the sentence to emphasise


    what we're saying. It makes our sentence sound surprising or striking or
    unusual. It also sounds quite formal. If you don't want to give this impression,
    you can put the negative expression later in the sentence in the normal way:

    ● Seldom have I seen such beautiful work.


    ('Seldom' is at the beginning, so we use inversion. This sentence
    emphasizes what beautiful work it is.)
    ● I have seldom seen such beautiful work.
    ('Seldom' is in the normal place, so we don't use inversion. This is a
    normal sentence with no special emphasis.)

    Here are some negative adverbs and adverb phrases that we often use with
    inversion:

    Hardly… when Hardly had I got into bed when the telephone rang.

    Never Never had she seen such a beautiful sight before.

    Seldom Seldom do we see such an amazing display of dance.

    Rarely Rarely will you hear such beautiful music.

    Only then did I understand why the tragedy had


    Only then
    happened.

    Not only does he love chocolate and sweets but he


    Not only ... but
    also smokes.

    No sooner… No sooner had we arrived home than the police rang


    than the doorbell.
    Scarcely… Scarcely had I got off the bus when it crashed into
    when the back of a car.

    Only later Only later did she really think about the situation.

    Nowhere Nowhere have I ever had such bad service.

    Little Little did he know!

    Only in this Only in this way could John earn enough money to
    way survive.

    In no way In no way do I agree with what you're saying.

    On no account should you do anything without


    On no account
    asking me first.

    In the following expressions, the inversion comes in the second part of the
    sentence:

    Not until I saw John with my own eyes did I really believe
    Not until
    he was safe.

    Not since Lucy left college had she had such a wonderful
    Not since
    time.

    Only Only after I'd seen her flat did I understand why she
    after wanted to live there.
    Only
    Only when we'd all arrived home did I feel calm.
    when

    Only by Only by working extremely hard could we afford to eat.

    We only use inversion when the adverb modifies the whole phrase and not when
    it modifies the noun: Hardly anyone passed the exam. (No inversion.)

    2: We can use inversion instead of 'if' in conditionals with 'had'


    'were' and 'should'. This is quite formal:

    ● Normal conditional: If I had been there, this problem wouldn't have


    happened.
    ● Conditional with inversion: Had I been there, this problem wouldn't have
    happened.
    ● Normal conditional: If we had arrived sooner, we could have prevented
    this tragedy!
    ● Conditional with inversion: Had we arrived sooner, we could have
    prevented this tragedy!

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