Bài soạn INVERSION , DAP AN

Here are a few guidelines: In normal everyday English, inversion is used : ► to make questions : does he?. In written English, as well as in a very formal style, inversion is used in

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