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Inversion Grammar Explanation

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99 views4 pages

Inversion Grammar Explanation

Uploaded by

claudia
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Inversion and Emphasis Part 1

A very effective way to make our language more emphatic is by inverting the order of a
sentence. Emphasis through inversion usually appears in the written language and is
considered formal in register.

Look at these sentences:


1. I have never seen such a beautiful sunset.
2. Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.

In sentence 1 the normal word order is evident. In sentence 2 inversion is used to


emphasize the fact that in your whole life this is the most beautiful sunset you have
seen. In this case we invert because the sentence begins with the negative adverbial
‘never’.

Other examples of negative adverbials include: rarely, not since, hardly, never, before,
not until, little, at no time. We also invert after ‘No/’Only’ expressions which include
under no circumstances, not only, no sooner, in no way, only when, etc.

Types of inverted sentences

Negative adverbs/adverb phrases

Inversion is used when the sentence begins with a negative adverb or adverb phrase (as
in the examples above). This is used to make the sentence sound surprising and also
quite formal.

• Seldom have I heard such beautiful music.

('Seldom' is at the beginning, so we use inversion. This sentence


emphasizes how beautiful the music is.)
• I have seldom heard such beautiful music.

(This is a normal sentence with no special emphasis.)


GRAMMAR STRUCTURE FOR INVERSION

Negative + Auxiliary + Subject + Main + Object


Adverbial or verb
or Modal verb
No/Only
expression

Examples:

Never before have I eaten such a


delicious meal

No sooner had we arrived than the


performance
started.
After some expressions the inversion can appear in the second part of the sentence.

Example:
Not until I had seen my result did I really believe I had passed.

The word order in the first part of the sentence ‘I had seen’ is normal and the inversion
is evident in the second part ‘did I really believe’

Further examples:
• Not since we were in Rome have we eaten such delicious ice cream •
Only when I had handed in the report did I feel I could finally relax.

• Only after she’d tasted the cake did she understand why it was so popular. •
Only by working through the night did they manage to finish the project.

Note: Inversion is only used when the adverb modifies the whole phrase and not when it
modifies the noun: Hardly anyone arrived on time. (No inversion.)

Time to Practice 1:
Rewrite the sentences below changing the word order as necessary so as to use inversion.

1. Pete had never been in such a luxurious hotel.


_______________________________________________
2. I seldom do much exercise.
_______________________________________________
3. You should on no account pay for the bill.
_______________________________________________

4. We had no sooner got off the bus than a car crashed into it.

_______________________________________________

5. 5. I in no way want my company’s name associated with this project.

_______________________________________________

How to include negative inversion in your writing


When writing Task 2 essays, including negative inversion can help to give more
emphasis to what you are trying to express. As it is considered a more complex
structure using it correctly can help you to improve your band score.

Example of inverted sentences from Writing Part 2:

Not only do young people have to take global warming more seriously, but also
be more active about it.
Only by cycling more and opting for public transport instead of our private cars,
can we finally begin to stop global warming.

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