7/17/2019 Inversion
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/inversion-568e68a78379e 1/2
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
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/inversion-568e68a78379e 2/2
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