Inversions
Inversions
Inversions
Use
-Emphasis
-More formal style
1. Negative or near negative adverbials
• Hardly had I arrived home when the phone rang.
I had hardly arrived home when the phone rang.
• Rarely does that happen in my country.
That rarely happens in my country.
• Hardly ever is he late for work.
He is hardly ever late for work.
• Only when/after I get my results will I feel relaxed.
I will only feel relaxed when/after I get my results.
• Not until I get my results will I feel relaxed.
I won’t feel relaxed until I get my results.
• Only then/later did I feel relaxed. (When I got the results ...)
I only felt relaxed then/later.
• Not before 2030 will we send people to Mars.
We won’t send people to Mars before 2030.
• Not unless it is safe can people live on Mars.
People can’t live on Mars unless it’s safe.
• Only if you do regular exercise will you lose weight.
You will only lose weight if you do regular exercise.
• Only by doing regular exercise will you lose weight.
You will only lose weight by doing regular exercise.
• Never again will I work for them.
I will never work for them again. / I will never again work for them.
• Never (ever) have I seen such an incredible view.
I have never (ever) swum naked in the sea.
• Never (before) have I met such a rude man.
I have never met such a rude man before.
• Never (once) did she mention that to me.
She never (once) mentioned that to me.
• Not once was I given those instructions.
I wasn’t once given those instructions.
• At no time/point/stage did I feel uneasy.
I didn’t feel uneasy at any time/point/stage.
• Not since I was a child have I played that game.
I haven’t played that game since I was a child.
• No longer could she trust him.
She could no longer trust him.
• In no way do I agree with that.
I don’t in any way agree with that. / I don’t agree with that in any way.
• By no means is it easy.
It isn’t easy by any means. / It is by no means easy. / It isn’t by any means easy.
• No way am I doing that for you.
There’s no way I’m doing that for you.
• Nowhere does it say we have to pay for parking.
It doesn’t say we have to pay for parking anywhere.
• On no account should you do that.
You shouldn’t do that on any account.
• Under no circumstances can you enter this room.
You cannot enter this room under any circumstances.
1st Conditional
• Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you require ...
• Should you see Liz, give her my regards.
If you see Liz, ...
2nd Conditional
• Were I to win the lottery, I would give away half the money.
If I won the lottery ...
If I were to win the lottery ...
• Were Macbooks cheaper, I’d buy one.
If Macbooks were cheaper, ...
Also:
• Were it not for the weather, Ireland would be perfect.
If it were not for the weather, Ireland would be perfect.
• Had it not been for the pandemic, I would have travelled more last year.
If it had not been for the pandemic, I would have travelled more last year.