ENGLISH GRAMMAR 2- FURTHER PRACTICE

INVERSION and FRONTING: RECASTING EXERCISES

1: Inversion with negative/restrictive expressions:
It takes place when the negative/restrictive adverb introduces (i.e. moves to the left periphery of) the clause. This only
occurs mainly in formal speech and writing.

Harry not only missed the train, but also lost his case.

Not only did Harry miss the train, but (he) also lost his case.

Typical expressions followed by inversion:

No sooner under no circumstances seldom little never not once only then only after rarely

Typical Problem Areas

 Hardly/no sooner

Hardly had we arrived at the office when his boss summoned him to a meeting.√

No sooner had we sat down to watch TV than the doorbell rang. √ (sooner is a comparative so we use than after
it)

 word order

Not did for one moment did Sarah believe that the news she had heard was true.
Not until has your report been checked you will your report has been checked will you be allowed to
publicise your views.

 Auxiliary verbs

Rarely did he do his homework on time.

Hardly ever did she talked talk to anyone she didn’t know.

 Little and few

Little and few usually have negative/restrictive scope, and are often used to start inverted sentences. A little and
a few have a positive meaning, and are never used to start these types of inversion.

Little did she realise (= she little realised) what the results of her action would be. √

In few cases do new actors find work easily. √

In a few cases, new actors may find they have more work than they can cope with. √ (= this occasionally
happens)
Practice: Rewrite each of the following sentences, beginning with the words given and using an inversion. The part of
each sentence which needs to be re written has been underlined to help you.

EXAMPLE: You will only be allowed to leave when you have finished the job.

Not until you have finished the job will you be allowed to leave.

1) It never seemed likely that the disagreement would be settled.

At no………………………………………………………………………………………….……....……………………

2) We were not allowed into the country until our visas have been double-checked.
Only ……………………………………………………………………………………………….....…………………….

3) You are not to visit the old part of town on your own, whatever happens.
Under no …………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………….

4) This is the first time that television has played such an important role in our lives.
Never …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5) You do not often come across someone as well-informed as Charles Osborne.

Seldom………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6) We had just sat down to eat when the telephone rang.

No sooner ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7) I refuse to work for that company again.

Never …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

8) She didn’t really realise what was about to happen.

Little ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

9) He acts so well that the audience hang on his every word. (emphatic inversion)
So …………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………

10) It was to be another six months before Sally met him again.
Not…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

11) He doesn’t normally do his fair share of the work.

Rarely ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………

KEY

1) At no time did it seem…

2) Only when/after our visas had been double-checked were we allowed…
 3) Under no circumstances are you to visit…
4) Never before has television played…
5) Seldom do you come across…
6) No sooner had we sat down than …
7) Never again will I work …
8) Little did she realise what was…
9) So well does she act that…
10) Not for another six months did Sally meet …
11) Rarely does he do his fair share of the work.

Inversion 2: Conditional Inversion and concessive, quotative and locative fronting

- Conditional Inversion

If Peter hadn’t helped us, we wouldn’t have been able to cope.

Had Peter not helped us, we wouldn’t have been able to cope.

If is omitted and the condition is introduced by the inversion.

Notice that contractions are not possible in this case:

Hadn’t Peter Had Peter not helped us, we wouldn0t have been able to cope.

- Concessive Fronting

In English, concessive constructions are used to concede a given point in an argument and are canonically
introduced by conjunctions such as though, although, even though, while, and even if:

Though he was old, he could run as fast as the other men.

Although it was raining, he went out without an umbrella.
Even if she swore it, I wouldn't believe her.

There is a change in word order of constituents featured by fronting the complement of the main verb in the concessive
clause:

a. [Genius] though she was, she was quite unassuming.

b. [Naked] as I was, I braved the storm.

c. [Fail] though I did, I would not abandon my goal.

As noted here, the fronted constituent is canonically adjectival or nominal, but it can be even a verbal element as in c.
Note that this type of fronting does not imply inversion of T head.

- Quotative Fronting

When quoting expessions, there are three possible changes in word order:
1) The quote may be topicalised.
2) The quote may remain in situ but the subject and verb change word order.
 3) Both 1 and 2 may happen at the same time.

a. “I am going to follow you all the rest of my life,” declared the man.

b. Said the woman: “I see you with both my eyes.”

- Locative Fronting

It implies fronting of the locative expression while the subject remains in a post verbal position. There is no inversion of
the T head:

a. In this house lived Charles Dickens

b. On a hill outside the town stands the castle.

Practice: Recast the following sentences featuring some kind of inversion or fronting.

1) The bus came round the corner.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2) I realised only then that I has lost my keys.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3) I had no sooner gone to bed than someone rang my doorbell.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4) He would not have learned the news if he hadn’t been listening to the radio.

.. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5) The price of the petrol went up.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

6) Though I was exhausted, I did not hesitate running to see it with my own eyes.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

7) Stella whispered: “This is the end of my career”.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8) If the Prime Minister had anticipated people’s reaction, he would have reconsidered the decision.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

9) The wheels of the engine went round and round.

…………………………………………………………………………………
10) The witness insisted “I was sleeping upstairs when I heard the noise”.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

11) Although he felt confused, he managed to climb up the stairs and dial the right number.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

KEY:
1) Round the corner came the bus.

2) Only then did I realise that I had lost my keys.

3) No sooner had I gone to bed than someone rang my doorbell.

4) Had he not been listening to the radio, he would not have learned the news.

5) Up went the price of the petrol.

6) Exhausted though I was, I did not hesitate running to see it with my own eyes.

7) “This is the end of my career” whispered Stella.

8) Had the Prime Minister anticipated people’s reaction, he would have reconsidered the decision.

9) Round and round went the wheels of the engine.

10) “I was sleeping upstairs when I heard the news” insisted the witnessed.

11) Confused though/as he felt, he managed to dial the right number.