Inversions GRAMMAR
Content In this lesson, you will learn about inversions. When we use limiting adverbials or a negative adverbial, the subject and the auxiliary verb are inverted. We can use limiting adverbials (seldom, rarely) and negative adverbials (under no circumstances) to talk about how often we do something. Learning Outcomes Learn about limiting adverbials and negative adverbials Learn how subject and auxiliaries are inverted Practice this inversion www.english-maestro.mn 1
How many adverbs can you think of? Adverbs www.english-maestro.mn 2
Tina rarely drinks beer. Rarely does Tina drink beer. www.english-maestro.mn 3
She is not only a wonderful teacher, but an amazing writer. Not only is she a wonderful teacher, but an amazing www.english-maestro.mn writer. 4
Please note Inversion means to place the verb in a place it wouldn t normally be For example: I am in no way related to Shakira. In no way am I related to Shakira. www.english-maestro.mn 5
Please note Inversion happens when you use negative adverbials in a sentence. Here are some of them Time Hardly Barely when No sooner than No In no way No way Nowhere Under no circumstance Not Not... Not since Not once Not only but also www.english-maestro.mn 6
Please note Here are some examples with negative adverbials Hardly We had hardly arrived to London when we realized we had to fly back due to an emergency. Hardly had we arrived to London when we realized we had to fly back due to an emergency. Not once Not once did we talk after we broke up. We did not talk once after we broke up. www.english-maestro.mn 7
Please note Inversion also happens when you use limiting adverbials in a sentence. Limiting Seldom Little Often Never Rarely Only Only if Only when Only now Only www.english-maestro.mn 8
Please note Here are some examples with limiting adverbs Never I have never met someone so handsome before. Never before have I met someone so handsome. Only when I feel better only when I am with you. Only when I am with you, I feel better. www.english-maestro.mn 9
Please note Inversion can also take place in conditionals, but the word if is dropped and the inverted form becomes the if clause. Examples: If she had done all the coursework, she wouldn t have failed the class. Had she done all the coursework, she wouldn t have failed the class. www.english-maestro.mn 10
Please note What happens if there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence? Then DO is used and makes the sentence much more formal. Examples: Bob never gets invited to parties. Never does Bob get invited to parties. www.english-maestro.mn 11
Please note Inversion can also be done with words like such, that, & so Example: The movie was so scary that I couldn t sleep. So scary was the movie that I couldn t sleep. www.english-maestro.mn 12
Please note What is the grammar structure for inversions? Add more boxes and plus signs if needed. www.english-maestro.mn 13
Seldom Under no circumstance No sooner Barely Not since No way At no time Hardly Scarcely www.english-maestro.mn 14
Inversions 1. Rarely Rarely had I ever been so outraged. 2. Nowhere Nowhere was I happier than at home. 3. Not only Not only is he a good partner, he is a good father. 4. Never Never had she eaten so much cake. Remember that inversions are a fancy way of placing the verb in an irregular place! www.english-maestro.mn 15
Writing Write five limiting and negative adverbs Limiting adverbs Negative adverbs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. www.english-maestro.mn 16
Writing Write 4 sentences with inversions. 1) Sentence 2) Sentence 3) Sentence 4) Sentence www.english-maestro.mn 17
Speaking Connect the texts Only now Not in a million Under no circumstances No sooner had the teacher left Not once will I ever date you! years will I go back there! can we eat dairy again. than the students were fighting did she call me. www.english-maestro.mn 18
Writing Put the sentences in the correct inverted order 1) More- beautiful I- have anything - before never seen. 2) Go rarely- ever - restaurants.- do out to - we. 3) Will - go - under - no - out you - circumstance - tonight. 4) Someone- little did- them-that-they-know-was-following www.english-maestro.mn 19
Writing Write sentences with inversions and the following adverbials 1) Rarely: 2) Hardly: 3) Little : 4) Seldom: 5) So : 6) No sooner : 7) Only after : 8) Only then : www.english-maestro.mn 20
Writing Rewrite the sentences below to their regular order On no account can they claim they did not cheat. Only by cheating did Tim pass the exam. Not only is London interesting, it is also expensive. Rarely do we visit my grandparents in Utah. Never had I ever seen anything more beautiful than Innsbruck. www.english-maestro.mn 21
Writing Rewrite the sentences with inversions I only understood the reading after the lecture. The test was so easy that the students aced it. I not only enjoy pilates, but also yoga. I have never been so upset in my entire life. As soon as I walked in the house, I took off my shoes. www.english-maestro.mn 22