Inversion
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 511.
A Compare these sentences:
We had scarcely recovered from the first attack when the enemy launched afresh assault.
Scarcely had we recovered from the first attack when the enemy launched a fresh assault.
The effect of inversion is to give more emphasis to the words at the beginning and in this way to give the sentence a more dramatic tone. Here are some of the most common introductions:
| Not only.....but also… Not a (single) word… Not a soul......... Not until/till.... Nowhere...... No-one...... In no way........ On no account....... | Nolonger....... In no (other) place/country, etc. At no (other) time..... Never (before/again)...... Neither...... Nor.... By no means...... Under no circumstances........ | Few.... Little..... Only (rarely)...... Hardly ever..... Hardly.....when... No sooner... than… In none of....... In few cases...... |
Rewrite these sentences without inversion. You will sometimes have to add or change words.
| 1. Hardly had we stepped off the aircraft when we were surrounded by police. 2. Had I known his true motives, I would never have trusted him. 3. No sooner had we opened the theatre doors than the crowd surged forwards. 4. Were I the owner, I would not give permission. 5. Little did he know that he would never see his own country again. 6. Seldom does this great artist grant us the privilege of an interview. | 7. Such was his skill that he could complete a portrait in two days. 8. Never had we seen such an unusual fossil. 9. On no account must you invite him to the house again. 10. Should the photographs be ready, bring them back with you, 11. Only by using a hammer and chisel could we get the box open. 12. Rarely did a day go by without a phone call from mother. |
ÂNow rewrite the following sentences beginning with the word given.
| 1. He had no idea that armed police were waiting for him. Little.............................. 2. If we had counted the money, we would have realised we had been cheated. Had............................... 3. As soon as they got out of the car the police arrested them. No sooner........................ 4. We had only just reached the summit when the storm began. Hardly............................ 5. If this vase were in perfect condition, it would be worth twice as much. Were.............................. | 6. He must definitely not be allowed to leave. On no account.................... 7. It was so cold that we stuffed our boots with dried grass. So.................................. 8. Bears were hardly ever seen during the winter. Seldom........................... 9. The only way we could cross the river was by floating across on tree trunks. Only.............................. 10. It was the first time the cave had been entered by human beings. Never............................. |
ÑMake emphatic statements about the following situations using negative inversion to show the emphasis.
- You have just seen a film which you did not enjoy at all.
- Name one very good thing that is only to be found in your country.
- You once went to the wrong party and did not realise for a long time.
- You are dissatisfied with a second-hand car/refrigerator you have bought recently.
- You refused to help a friend in difficulty, and now you feel very bad about it.
- You got home last night feeling very tired, but as soon as you walked in the door, the phone rang.
- Yesterday afternoon you went walking and saw no one. It was a very pleasant experience.
- You have just got home from holiday. It was one of the most miserable times you have ever had because it never stopped raining.
- You are warning a child not to leave the house without telling you.
- A politician is making a speech promising that people will not have so many taxes any longer if he is elected.
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