GRAMMAR REVISION
There are two types of inversion: with auxiliary verb and without
auxiliary verb.
WITH AUXILIARY VERBS
INVERSION OF
NEGATIVE CLAUSES OF
THE MAIN CONDITIONALS
WORDS RESULT
CLAUSE
Not only ... Only after ...
Such ...
Little ... Only if ... Should I (Type 1)
So ...
No sooner ... Only by ... Were I (Type 2)
To such a degree
than Only when ... Had I (Type 3)
...
... Not until / till ...
WITHOUT AUXILIARY VERBS
After adverbs of place After the quoted words
or in
verbs of movement Direct Speech
There goes Tom! “I’ve just done it,” said Jake.
Here comes the Queen!
Up went the balloon!
ONLY AFTER; ONLY BY; ONLY IF; ONLY WHEN; NOT UNTIL/ TILL
when placed at the very beginning of the sentence for emphasis require the inversion of
the subject and the auxiliary verb in the main sentence, e.g.
Only after I arrived home did I realise that I had forgotten my wallet.
Only if you finish your project can you go on holiday.
Only by standing on a ladder could he reach the top shelf of the
bookcase.
Not till the last guest had left could we start doing the dishes.
GRAMMAR REVISION
Finish the following sentences without changing the meaning of the first
sentence.
1. All her jewels had been taken and all her equipment had disappeared as
well.
Not only _________________________________________________________________________________________
2. As soon as he got promoted, he started to fall behind with his work.
No sooner _______________________________________________________________________________________
3. As soon as she had received a pay rise, she bought a new car.
Scarcely _________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Larry had no idea that his wife was having a love affair.
Little _____________________________________________________________________________________________
5. It was such a huge surprise for him that he nearly fainted.
Such _____________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Jerry finished writing his essay and then began cleaning his room.
Only after _______________________________________________________________________________________
7. She will not lie to him for any reason.
On no account __________________________________________________________________________________
8. You must not open this present before Christmas.
Under no ________________________________________________________________________________________
9. If I had known about your plans, I would have tried to dissuade you from doing that.
Had I _____________________________________________________________________________________________
10. She has never heard such a ridiculous explanation.
Never ____________________________________________________________________________________________
11. She talks so much that nobody can listen to her anymore.
So much _________________________________________________________________________________________
12. He will not take part in this craziness for any reason.
On no account __________________________________________________________________________________
13. He didn’t help the victim of the accident and he didn’t call the ambulance as well.
Not only _________________________________________________________________________________________
14. The train had left the station and then there was a huge explosion.
Hardly ___________________________________________________________________________________________
15. I posted the letter and then I realised that I had forgotten to put a stamp on.
Only after _______________________________________________________________________________________
16. The drought was so terrible that some areas may never recover.
So ________________________________________________________________________________________________
17. If they were to take part in this tournament, they would have to fill in the forms.
Were _____________________________________________________________________________________________
18. If you should need any more information, do not hesitate to call me.
Should ___________________________________________________________________________________________
19. They had absolutely no idea what to do.
Little _____________________________________________________________________________________________
GRAMMAR REVISION
20. They speak English and German. Moreover, they speak French very well.
Not only _________________________________________________________________________________________
21. After Jerry had arrived at the office, he was given a notice.
Not till ___________________________________________________________________________________________
22. We entered the house and at that moment the phone rang.
No sooner _______________________________________________________________________________________
23. If you were more disciplined, you would understand how important it is to listen to
the instructions.
Were _____________________________________________________________________________________________
24. He was such a wonderful singer that everybody wanted to listen to him.
Such _____________________________________________________________________________________________
25. If you should see him, let him know that I am looking for him.
Should ___________________________________________________________________________________________
26. If I had been there before, I would have given you some more information.
Had ______________________________________________________________________________________________
27. She remembered well the last time she saw him.
Well ______________________________________________________________________________________________
28. The burglar ran away.
Away _____________________________________________________________________________________________
29. Mark ate so much that he couldn’t move afterwards.
So much _________________________________________________________________________________________
30. They had no idea how to tackle this problem.
Little _____________________________________________________________________________________________
31. Lilian has never read such a terrible novel.
Never ____________________________________________________________________________________________
32. You cannot talk to anybody about this matter. It’s strictly confidential.
Under no circumstances _____________________________________________________________________
33. They could only get to the island by hiring a boat.
Only by __________________________________________________________________________________________
34. As soon as they landed in Spain, they texted their parents.
Scarcely _________________________________________________________________________________________
35. If they had won the lottery, they would have bought that mansion.
Had ______________________________________________________________________________________________
36. If he has cheated during the exam, he will have to be punished.
Should he have _________________________________________________________________________________
37. His son ran so fast that he couldn’t catch him.
So ________________________________________________________________________________________________
38. They remembered well the night they met for the first time.
Well _____________________________________________________________________________________________
39. They are blogging about fashion and writing articles for the newspaper.
Not only ________________________________________________________________________________________
40. The police seldom use the violence against the public.
Seldom __________________________________________________________________________________________
