SUBJECT-VERB INVERSION • Inversion means putting the verb before the subject. Here are a few guidelines: • In normal everyday English, inversion is used : ► to make questions : does he? can you? ► after so, neither, nor : so do I, neither do I, nor do I. • In written English, as well as in a very formal style, inversion is used in the following cases : 1. After negative adverbial expressions : “ On no account /Under no circumstances , In no way , At no time ” ▪ Under no circumstances can we accept cheques. ▪ In no way can he be held responsible. ▪ At no time did she say she would come. ▪ On no account should you be absent from your seminars. 2. After adverbial expressions of place : ▪ Round the corner came the postman. ▪ On the doorstep was a bunch of flowers. 3. After “ seldom, rarely, never ” in comparisons : ▪ Seldom have I seen such a beautiful view. ▪ Rarely did he pay anyone a compliment. ▪ Never had I felt so happy. 4. After “ hardly …… when , scarcely…… when , Barely when , no sooner …. than ” , when one thing happens after another. It is usually used with the past perfect. ▪ Hardly had I begun to speak when I was interrupted. ▪ Scarcely had we started our meal when the phone rang. ▪ No sooner had I arrived than they all started to argue. ▪ Barely had I arrived home when there was a knock on the door. 5. After adverbial expressions beginning with 'only'. ▪ Only after the meeting did I realize the importance of the subject. 6. After exclamations with “ here and there ” ▪ Here comes the winner! ▪ There goes all our money! 7. Not until e.g. Not until January will I have a holiday. 8. Nowhere e.g. Nowhere had Susan seen a more beautifully decorated room. 9. Only after This is usually used with the simple past. e.g. Only after the film started did I realise that I'd seen it before. 10. So that This is a common inversion, usually used with an adjective & the verb `be`, It can also be used with much. e.g. So exciting was the soap opera, that I forgot to do my English homework. e.g. So much did she adore John, that she would not give him up. 11. Such that Used with the verb `be` and a noun, it means so much or so great. e.g. Such was the popularity of the soap opera, that the streets were deserted whenever it was on. EXERCISE 1 Ex : She at no time said she was vegetarian. →> At no time did she say (that) she was vegetarian. 1. I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed . -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 2. I have seldom heard such a talented singer. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 3. If John had 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. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 5. He had never felt so depressed. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 6. The shop can in no way be held responsible for customers' lost property. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 7. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the ceremony. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 8. Tom only understood the meaning of the comment when he saw his wife's face. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 9. She never at any time said that she was allergic to cats. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 10. The restaurant cannot accept animals under any circumstances. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. EXERCISE 2 : Turn the following into inverted sentences. 1. The matter could be explained in no other way. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 2. We had hardly started when it began to rain. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 3. I have seldom heard such beautiful singing. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 4. I shall never forget your kindness. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 5. I saw only then the danger we were in. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 6. We had no sooner left the house than it exploded. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 7. He didn't realize that he had lost the key till he got home. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 8. They not only robbed you, they smashed everything. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 9. Half a dozen apples fell down. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 10. If an emergency should arise, dial 999. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 11. If Rex were a little more hardworking, he would not have failed. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. 12. If Mr Chan had been kinder to his employees, his business would not have collapsed. -> ……………………………………………………………………………………………… …………. KEY- INVERSION EXERCISE 1 1. Hardly had I begun to apologize when the door closed. 2. Seldom have I heard such a talented singer. 3. Had John known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to an Indian restaurant. 4. Rarely did the artist pay attention to his agent's advice. 5. Never had he felt so depressed. 6. In no way can the shop be held responsible for customers' lost property. 7. No sooner had the couple arrived than the priest started the ceremony. 8. Only when he saw his wife's face did Tom realize the meaning of the comment. 9. Never at any time had she said (that) she was allergic to cats. 10. Under no circumstances can the restaurant accept animals. EXERCISE 2 1. In no other way could the matter be explained. 2. Hardly had we started when it began to rain. 3. Seldom have I heard such beautiful singing. 4. Never shall I forget your kindness. 5. Only then did I see the danger we were in. 6. No sooner had we left the house than it exploded. 7. Not till he got home did he realize that he had lost the key. 8. Not only did they rob you, they smashed everything. 9. Down fell half a dozen apples. 10. Should an emergency arise, dial 999. 11. Were Rex a little more hardworking, he would not have failed. 12. Had Mr Chan been kinder to his . questions : does he? can you? ► after so, neither, nor : so do I, neither do I, nor do I. • In written English, as well as in a very formal style, inversion is. no account /Under no circumstances , In no way , At no time ” ▪ Under no circumstances can we accept cheques. ▪ In no way can he be held responsible. ▪