Bach 2
INVERSION
Videos:
https://www.engvid.com/english-grammar-inversion/
Subject-Verb Inversions - English Grammar Lesson
Grammar explanation
What is inversion?
Inversion is the reversal of the normal word order in a sentence or phrase. There are two types of
inversion:
1. Subject-verb inversion, where the subject and the main verb switch positions and the
word order becomes verb + subject:
On the top of the hill stood an old oak tree.
2. Subject-auxiliary inversion, where the subject and the auxiliary switch positions and the
word order becomes auxiliary + subject (+ verb):
Hardly had I arrived home when my phone rang.
When does the bus leave?
You're hungry, aren't you?
1. SUBJECT-VERB INVERSION
1.1.SUBJECT-VERB INVERSION AFTER PLACE ADVERBIALS
When an adverb or an adverbial expression of place comes in the initial position (at the beginning
of the sentence), the subject and verb are inverted:
Down the hill rolled the children.
Round the corner was a nice café.
This is a rhetorical device used mainly in formal and literary styles; however, it may also occur in
everyday conversation:
Here comes the bus.
There goes Sally.
Here's my number.
But if the subject is a personal pronoun, there is no inversion:
Here it comes.
There she goes.
Here it is.
1.2. SUBJECT-VERB INVERSION IN DIRECT SPEECH
In direct speech, if the quotation precedes the reporting verb, the subject and the reporting verb
can be inverted:
"I'm so sorry," Maria said / said Maria.
If the subject is long, usually there is inversion:
"Good morning," said the stranger in the black jacket.
But if the subject is a personal pronoun, there is no inversion:
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"Good morning," he said.
1.3. SUBJECT-VERB INVERSION IN NEWS HEADLINES
In news headlines, if the reporting verb is in the final position, the subject and the reporting verb
may be inverted:
AROMATHERAPY HAS NO THERAPEUTIC EFFECT, SAY BRITISH SCIENTISTS
1. SUBJECT-AUXILIARY INVERSION
In this type of inversion, the subject and the auxiliary switch positions. In the present and past
simple, the auxiliaries do/does and did come before the subject, which is followed by the bare
infinitive. The word order is the same as in questions.
2.1 SUBJECT-AUXILIARY INVERSION IN QUESTIONS
Questions are formed from statements by inverting the subject and auxiliary. In the present and
past simple, the auxiliaries do/does and did come before the subject, which is followed by the
bare infinitive. Be as a main verb can also come before the subject:
STATEMENT QUESTION
You can help me. Can you help me?
You have lived here for some time. How long have you lived here?
You would have done the same. Would you have done the same?
You are staying at this hotel. Are you staying at this hotel?
She likes skating. Does she like skating?
They arrived yesterday. When did they arrive?
I am late. Am I late?
2.2 SUBJECT-AUXILIARY INVERSION IN QUESTION TAGS
Question tags are placed after declarative sentences and are usually used in spoken language to
keep up the flow of conversation. Affirmative sentences are usually followed by negative tags and
expect the answer yes:
"You are hungry, aren't you?" "Yes, I am."
Negative sentences are usually followed by affirmative tags and expect the answer no:
"You cannot stay longer, can you?" "No, I really can't."
We use rising intonation in the tag to ask for information. But if we don't really expect an answer
because the statement is obviously true, we use falling intonation:
You are hungry, aren't you? (with rising intonation = Are you hungry?)
You are hungry, aren't you? (with falling intonation = I know you are hungry.)
Sometimes we use affirmative tags after affirmative sentences to express interest or concern or
to ask for confirmation:
So you've inherited a mansion, have you? (interest)
I must get there by ten, must I? (asking for confirmation)
A negative statement with an affirmative tag can also express disapproval:
You don't really think I'll let you get away with it, do you? (I hope you don't think I'll let you get
away with it.)
Imperatives
Open the door, will you?
Don't speak like that, will you?
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Suggestions
Let's dance, shall we?
THIS, THAT, THESE, THOSE
This is great, isn't it?
That's a nice dress, isn't it?
These pancakes are delicious, aren't they?
Those are quite fresh, aren't they?
EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, NOBODY, ANYBODY
Everybody likes her, don't they?
Nobody knew the answer, did they? (negative statement with affirmative tag)
Anybody could do that, couldn't they?
Somebody should do something about this, shouldn't they?
EVERYTHING, SOMETHING, NOTHING, ANYTHING
Nothing could disturb her, could it?
AREN'T I?
I'm late, aren't I?
THERE IS/THERE ARE
There is something you want to say, isn't there?
There weren't any policemen at the demonstration, were there?
2.3 SUBJECT-AUXILIARY INVERSION AFTER NEGATIVE ADVERBIALS
In formal and literary styles, the subject and auxiliary are inverted when negative adverbials are
placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect.
Hardly / Scarcely / Barely ... When
No sooner ... Than
When a story is told in the past tense, the adverbials hardly, scarcely, barely and no sooner are
often used to emphasise that one event quickly followed another. The verb describing the earlier
event is usually in the past perfect tense. If hardly, scarcely, barely and no sooner are in the initial
position, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:
Hardly had I arrived home when my phone rang. (I had hardly arrived home when my phone
rang.)
Scarcely had she finished reading when she fell asleep. (She had scarcely finished reading
when she fell asleep.)
Barely had they won the match when the coach had a heart attack. (They had barely won the
match when the coach had a heart attack.)
No sooner had the company launched its new product than it went bankrupt. (The company
had no sooner launched its new product than it went bankrupt.)
*Note that hardly, scarcely and barely are followed by when, while no sooner is followed
by than. (Sooner is the comparative form of soon.)
Never, Rarely, Little, In / Under No Circumstances, On No Condition, In No Way,
Not Only ... But Also Etc.
When never, rarely, little etc. are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect, the
subject and auxiliary are inverted:
Never (before) have we faced such a challenge! (We have never faced such a challenge!)
Rarely has there been so much speculation about the future of the company. (There has rarely
been so much speculation about the future of the company.)
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Little did she understand what the conversation was about. (She didn't really understand what
the conversation was about.)
Under no circumstances are you allowed to disturb the pilots. (You are not allowed to disturb
the pilots under any circumstances.)
On no condition will the company bear responsibility for lost property. (The company will not
bear responsibility for lost property on any condition.)
In no way am I related to the suspect. (I am in no way related to the suspect.)
Not only did he exceed the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol. (He not only
exceeded the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol.)
Not only were you late, but you didn't even have a good excuse. (You were not only late, but
you didn't have a good excuse either.)
Only After, Only If, Only In This Way Etc., Not Until
When only after, only if, only in this way etc. are placed at the beginning of the sentence for
rhetorical effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:
Only after lunch can you play. (You can only play after lunch.)
Only after finishing your homework can you play. (You can only play after you finish your
homework.)
Only after you have finished your homework can you play. (You can only play after you have
finished your homework.)
Only by guessing can you solve this puzzle. (You can only solve this puzzle by guessing.)
Only if everybody agreed would I accept this position. (I would only accept this position if
everybody agreed.)
Only in this way does this machine work. (This machine only works in this way.)
Only then did they discover his secret. (They only discovered his secret then.)
Only when he needed some help did he call me. (He only called me when he needed some
help.)
Only when I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I only noticed that my glass was
broken when I filled it.)
The last sentence can be rephrased as:
Not until I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I didn't notice that my glass was
broken until I filled it.)
*If only is followed by the subject at the beginning of the sentence, there is no inversion:
Only you can understand. (No one else can understand.)
2.4 SUBJECT-AUXILIARY INVERSION AFTER SO + ADVERB / ADJECTIVE AND SUCH
When adverbial or adjectival phrases starting with so are placed at the beginning of the sentence
for emphatic effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:
So quickly did he run that the others couldn't catch up with him. (He ran so quickly that the
others couldn't catch up with him.)
So strong was the wind that we couldn't open the window. (The wind was so strong that we
couldn't open the window.)
So + adjective can be replaced with such:
Such was the wind that we couldn't open the window. (The wind was such that we couldn't open
the window.)
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2.5 SUBJECT-AUXILIARY INVERSION WITH SO AND NEITHER / NOR TO EXPRESS
AGREEMENT
So + auxiliary + subject is added to a positive statement to express agreement, and neither/nor +
auxiliary + subject is added to a negative statement for the same purpose:
I suggested that he should take the job, and so did all his friends. (his friends also suggested
that he should take the job)
Everybody knows that, and so should you. (you should know that, too)
"I love South Korean films." "Really? So do I." (I also love South Korean films)
"I am not going to Andy's party tonight." "Neither/nor is Susan." (Susan isn't going either)
"My family have never been on a holiday abroad." "Neither/nor have mine." (my family haven't
been either)
*If we want to express disagreement, there is no inversion:
"I love South Korean films." "I don't."
"I am not going to Andy's party tonight." "Susan is."
2.6 CONDITIONALS - IF CLAUSES - INVERSION
I. Omitting if - The First Conditionals
In If Clauses Type 1, we can make inversion by omitting if.
We only use "should" instead of "if". We don't change anything in the form of first conditionals
at all. Nothing changes in meaning.
Should
I f he remembers his own name…
Should he remember his own name..
Example Sentences:
If we go by train, it will be cheaper.
Should we go by train, it will be cheaper.
If he doesn’t hurry, he will be late. (NEGATIVE)
Should he not hurry, he will be late.
If the weather is rainy, we will stay at home.
Should the weather be rainy, we will stay at home.
II. Omitting if - The Second Conditionals
In this type of inversion, we omit if and use were + subject for to beverb and were +
subject + to for other verbs.
Were to push
If he pushed that button…
Were he to push that button…
Example Sentences:
if I were the President, I would lower taxes.
Were I the president, I would lower taxes.
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If I had a map I would lend it to you.
Were I to have a map I would lend it to you.
If he didn’t study more, he wouldn’t pass the exam. (NEGATIVE)
Were he not to study more, he wouldn’t pass the exam.
III. Omitting if - The Third Conditionals
We don't use if and make the structure as “Had + Subject + verb”
If we had arrived sooner..
Had we arrived sooner…
If you had told me, I could have helped you.
Had you told me, I could have helped you.
If the teacher had helped me, I wouldn’t have had to go the library.
Had the teacher helped me, I wouldn’t have had to go the library.
If they had informed me before, they wouldn’t have still been waiting there.
Had they informed me before, they wouldn’t have still been waiting there.
If I hadn’t got up early this morning, I would have slept more. (NEGATIVE)
Had I not got up early this morning, I would have slept more.
Hadn't I got up early..
EXERCISES:
http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar-exercises-advanced.php
https://www.engvid.com/english-grammar-inversion/
You can find examples of these inversions in such TV shows as The Crown, The Big Bang Theory,
or Friends:
https://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2019/02/10/inversions-after-negative-or-restricting-adverbs-
and-for-conditional-clauses/
