Inversion

…Erm,
what?
A distinct grammatical construction in which a
noun or adpositional phrase is shifted from its
default postverbal position to one before the
main verb of the clause.

In grammar, a reversal of normal word

order, especially the placement of a verb
ahead of the subject.
How can I do it?!
 There are to ways to invert the subject
and the verb.

1- be/have/auxiliary verb + subject + main verb

(nonlocative inversion)
or

2- main verb + subject (locative inversion)

The first example (be/have/auxiliary verb + subject + main verb) is usually
used in:

Questions – Is Peter taking an exam today? Was Sally

walking in the street last night?

After certain words or expressions (only

when they come at the beginning of a sentence)-
Seldom, rarely, little, barely, nowhere (else), never
(before), not (even) once, on no account, only by, only in
this law, only then, hardly (ever) … when, no sooner…
than, not only… but (also), not until/till, in no way,
in/under no circumstances, not since.
- Never (before) have I seen such a beautiful woman.
- Under no circumstances shall I accept this truce.
Note: when the expressions only after,
only by, only if, only when come at the
beginning of a sentence, the inversion is
the main clause.
Only after she started working was she able to save
money
Only if you follow my advice will you succeed.
With so, neither, nor, as to express
agreement.
I need to be So do
careful not to I.
get caught.
With should, were, had when they come
at the beginning of an if-clause instead
of “if”.
Should Lois call,
tell her I’m out.
(if she should call)
The second example (main verb + subject) is usually used:
After verbs of movement or adverbial expressions of place
when they come at the beginning of a sentence.
Outside the house was a sports car.
On the sofa sat an old man.
Note: if the subject is a pronoun, there is no inversion.
Here she comes (here comes she - wrong)
In direct speech when the subject of the introductory verb
is a noun.

“I don’t like the

looks of this one”
said Brian
I shall torture
them with
grammar
exercises!
Rewrite the sentences with the phrases given
1- She had no sooner fallen asleep then the telephone rang.
No sooner
had she fallen asleep than the telephone rang.
2- We not only got lost, but our car broke down.
Not only
did we get lost, but (also) our car broke down.
3- I have never heard such a terrible story before.
Never before
have I heard such a terrible story.
4- We realised only then that the jewels had been stolen.

Only then

did we realise that the jewels had been stolen.

5- Business has rarely been so good.

Rarely

has business been so good.

6- The boss has not once given him a bonus.

Not once

has the boss given him a bonus.

7- You should not enter this room under any circumstances.
Under no circumstances
should you enter this room.
8- I go to know Peter only after meeting him several times.
Only after
meeting Peter several times did I get to know him.
9- The police didn’t know that the man was a criminal.
Little
did the police know that the man was a criminal.
10- I haven’t been to the beach since last summer.
Not since
last summer have I been to the beach.
11- If I had known about the party, I would have gone.

Had

I known about the party, I would have gone.

12- We haven’t had such a wonderful time anywhere else.

Nowhere else

have we had such a wonderful time.

13- If I were you, I would look for a new job.

Were

I you, I would look for a new job.

14- He had barely entered the office when the manager called him.

Barely

had he entered the office when the manager called him.

 THE
At least I go to be in

END