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Grammar - Inversion

Inversion means reversing the typical subject-verb word order in a sentence for emphasis, style, or formality. It is commonly used in questions and after words like "never" or "seldom." Some examples of inversion include questions like "Does he?" and statements like "Never have I seen such a beautiful rose." Inversion can also be used after adverbial expressions of time, place, manner, and condition to create emphasis or highlight information.

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84 views9 pages

Grammar - Inversion

Inversion means reversing the typical subject-verb word order in a sentence for emphasis, style, or formality. It is commonly used in questions and after words like "never" or "seldom." Some examples of inversion include questions like "Does he?" and statements like "Never have I seen such a beautiful rose." Inversion can also be used after adverbial expressions of time, place, manner, and condition to create emphasis or highlight information.

Uploaded by

Cataleya Wu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Inversion

(Verb before the subject)

Laurentia Angelina - 20181400003


Christy Natalis - 20190610001
What is inversion?

Inversion means putting the verb before the subject, and commonly used in
question sentences and statement sentences.
It is a literary technique in which the normal order of words is reversed, generally
for emphasis or special effect. It makes a sentence sound striking or unusual. It
also sounds quite
formal.
Example :

1. I have never seen such a beautiful rose.


2. Never have I seen such a beautiful rose.

In example 2, inversion is used to emphasize the fact that in your whole lifetime
you have not seen such a beautiful rose.

In normal everyday English, inversion is used :

❀ To make questions : Does he? , Can you?


❀ After `so`, `neither`, `nor` : So do I, neither do I, nor do I.
Inversion can be used in the following case :
After negative adverbial expression

• After no circumstances can we accept credit cards.


• In no way can he be held responsible.
• At no time did she say she would come.
• Not until I heard my name did I believe I had won the race.

After adverbial expression of place

• Round the corner came the postman.


• On the doorstep was a bunch of flowers.
Inversion can be used in the following case :
After 'seldom' , 'rarely' , 'never' and 'little'

• Seldom have I seen such a beautiful view.


• Rarely did he pay anyone a compliment.
• Never had I felt so happy.
• Little did he imagine how dangerous it would be.

After 'hardly' , 'scarcely' , 'no sooner' , wne thing happens after another

• Hardly had I begun to speak when I was interrupted.


• Scarcely had we started our meal when the phone rang.
• No sooner had I arrived than they all started to argue.
Inversion can be used in the following case :

After adverbial expression beginning with 'only' and 'not only'

• Only after the meeting did I realize the importance of the subject.
• Only when the plane landed safely did he calm down.
• Not only was the car slow, it was also very uncomfortable..

Conditional with inversion

In conditional sentences we can sometimes replace the `if` with an inversion :

• Had I known it would be so difficult I would never have enrolled.


• Had I remembered Tomomi’s birthday, she wouldn’t be mad at me now.
Inversion can be used in the following case :

Note that the word if does NOT appear in the clause when inversion
is used :

❀Had I remembered = If I had remembered.


❀Should you need a hand, I will be more than happy to help you.

❀Should you need a hand = if you should need a hand.

❀Were I you, I think I would study more for your exam tomorrow.

❀Were I you = If I were you


Inversion can be used in the following case :

After exclamations with `here` and `there` :

• Here comes the winner!


• There goes all our money!
Thank you

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