7/17/2019 Inversion

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Inversion

Use the word order you use for questions to give emphasis:

I have never heard such a frightening noise

Never have I heard such a frightening noise

You can use inversion:

1 After certain ‘negative’ adverbials: 

Never rarely not since hardly little not until scarcely not for one minute

never before

Hardly had he sat down when he started to talk

Scarcely had she got home when the phone rang

Little did they expect so many supporters to write to them

2 After expressions with only or not:

Only when the only on no account at no time not only in no way

on the no circumstances no sooner

The only way to get anywhere quickly is to fly

Although the trip wasn´t very pleasant, at no time did I feel in any danger

You can use inversion to replace if in conditional sentences that include should, were or had:

If you should need any help with your bags, please let the receptionist know

Should you need… 

If you were to stop messing around with your mobile phone, you might learn a bit more

Were you to stop… 

If you hadn´t tried to do three thigs at once, this would never have happened

Had you not tried… 

7/17/2019 Inversion

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Emphatic structures with it and what

You can use it is…/it was…, etc. to emphasize a particular part of a sentence

There were five members of the climbing team, but it was Bill who reached the submit first

It was very disappointing that I didn´t reach the top

Use what is…/what was... to emphasize the subject or object of a sentence:

What they saw when they reached the submit was a French flag fluttering in the wind

There are various other expressions that can be added to the start of a sentence for emphasis:

The reason I´m here today is to tell you about art

The thing I like most about Harry is his generosity

All he could talk about was his work

-ing forms as subject of a sentence

You can use an –ing form as the subject of a sentence to give emphasis:

Arguing with traffic wardens is a waste of time