Page 249 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

I n v e r s i o n ( 2 )
(2)
Inversion

Inversion after negative adverbials
Inversion after negative adverbials
In formal and literary language in particular, we use negative adverbials at the beginning of a
In formal and literary language in particular, we use negative adverbials at the beginning of a
The subject and verb are inverted:
clause. The subject and verb are inverted:
clause.
after the time adverbials never
(before),
rarely,
seldom; barely/hardly/scarcely...when/before;
• * after the time adverbials never (before), rarely, seldom; barely/hardly/scarcely...when/before;
no sooner...than:
no sooner...than:
because they are faulty, (not Seldom we do...)
Seldom do we have goods returned to
2 • ¢ Seldom do we have goods returned to us us because they are faulty. (not Seldom we do...)
Hardly had / got onto the motorway when I saw two police cars following me.
• ¢ Hardly had / got onto the motorway when I saw two police cars following me.
after only + a time expression, as in only after, only later, only once, only then, only when:
• ¢ after only + a time expression, as in only after, only later, only once, only then, only when:
Only later did she
She bought a newspaper and some sweets at the shop on the corner. Only later did she
• « She bought a newspaper and some sweets at the shop on the corner.
realise that she'd been given the wrong change.
realise that she'd been given the wrong change.
Only once did / go to the opera in the whole time I was in Italy.
• * Only once did / go to the opera in the whole time I was in Italy.
after only + other prepositional phrases beginning only by..., only in..., only with..., etc.:
• ¢ after only + other prepositional phrases beginning only by..., only in..., only with..., etc.:
Only by chance had Jameson discovered where the birds were nesting.
• ¢ Only by chance had Jameson discovered where the birds were nesting.
Mary had to work at evenings and weekends. Only in this way was she able to complete the
• « Mary had to work at evenings and weekends. Only in this way was she able to complete the
report by the deadline.
report by the deadline.
after expressions with preposition + no, such as at no time, in no way, on no account, under/in
• * after expressions with preposition + no, such as at no time, in no way, on no account, under/in
no circumstances:
no circumstances:
At no time did they actually break the rules
of the game.
• ¢ At no time did they actually break the rules of the game.
Under no
are passengers permitted to open the doors themselves.
circumstances
• ¢ Under no circumstances are passengers permitted to open the doors themselves.
after expressions with not...,
such as not only, not until, and also not + object:
• ¢ after expressions with not..., such as not only, not until, and also not + object:
• ¢ Not until August did the government order an inquiry into the accident.
Not until August did the government order an inquiry into the accident.
Not a single word had she written since the exam had started.
• ¢ Not a single word had she written since the exam had started.
negative meaning:
a
after little with
• ¢ after little with a negative meaning:
they know how lucky they are to
Little do
live in such a wonderful house.
• ¢ Little do they know how lucky they are to live in such a wonderful house.
did / then realise the day would come when Michael would
Little
be famous.
• ¢ Little did / then realise the day would come when Michael would be famous.
that inversion can occur after a clause beginning only after/if/when or not until:
Notice that inversion can occur after a clause beginning only after/if/when or not until:
Notice
the famine gets worse will world governments begin to act.
• ¢ Only when the famine gets worse will world governments begin to act.
Only when
Not until the train pulled into Euston Station did Jim find that his coat had gone.
• ¢ Not until the train pulled into Euston Station did Jim find that his coat had gone.
Inversion after 'so + adjective... that'; 'such + be...that'; 'neither.../nor...'
B Inversion after 'so + adjective... that’; ‘such + be...that’; ‘neither.../nor...’
of sentences:
these pairs
Compare these pairs of sentences:
Compare
or
Her business was so successful that Marie was able to retire at the age of 50.
• ¢ Her business was so successful that Marie was able to retire at the age of 50. or
able to retire at the age of 50.
• ¢ So successful was her business, that Marie was able to retire at the age of 50.
So successful was her business, that Marie was
The weather conditions became so dangerous that all mountain roads were closed, or
• * The weather conditions became so dangerous that all mountain roads were closed. or
dangerous
did weather conditions
become, that all mountain roads were closed.
So
• ¢ So dangerous did weather conditions become, that all mountain roads were closed.
can use so + adjective at the beginning of a clause to give special emphasis to the adjective.
@We
<j>We can use so + adjective at the beginning of a clause to give special emphasis to the adjective.
Negaiive adverbials => after the explosion Jack couldn't hear, and neither could he see. or
verb
are
inverted.
subject and
do
this,
the
*When we
*When we do this, the subject and verb are inverted.
use
of
beginning of a clause to emphasise the extent or degree
such + be at the
We can use such + be at the beginning of a clause to emphasise the extent or degree of
We can
Compare:
are
inverted.
subject and verb
The
something.
something. The subject and verb are inverted. Compare:
full every night,
Such is the popularity of the play that the theatre is likely to be
• * Such is the popularity of the play that the theatre is likely to be full every night. or
The play is so popular that the theatre is likely to
full every night.
be
• ¢ The play is so popular that the theatre is likely to be full every night.
begin
after
invert the
neither and
these words
clause:
a
nor when
subject and verb
We
We invert the subject and verb after neither and nor when these words begin a clause:
For some time
• ¢
For some time after the explosion Jack couldn't hear, and neither could he see.
The council never wanted the new supermarket to be built,
nor did local residents.
• ¢ The council never wanted the new supermarket to be built, nor did local residents.
Inversion (1) =
Negative adverbials
So.. .that =
Inversion (1):
So...that=>