Scribd
Upload
155 views

Inversion

The document discusses different types of inversions in English grammar. Type 1 inversion occurs when an adverbial expression is placed at the beginning of a sentence, requiring an auxiliary verb. Certain adverbial phrases like "in no way" or "not often" trigger this inversion. Type 2 inversion places a verb of movement or position before the subject without an auxiliary. It creates a more literary style. Certain adverbial phrases placed before verbs of movement or the verb "to be" can create this inversion. The document provides examples of expressions that trigger each type of inversion and advises careful use by foreign language learners.

Uploaded by

Ovidiu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
155 views

Inversion

The document discusses different types of inversions in English grammar. Type 1 inversion occurs when an adverbial expression is placed at the beginning of a sentence, requiring an auxiliary verb. Certain adverbial phrases like "in no way" or "not often" trigger this inversion. Type 2 inversion places a verb of movement or position before the subject without an auxiliary. It creates a more literary style. Certain adverbial phrases placed before verbs of movement or the verb "to be" can create this inversion. The document provides examples of expressions that trigger each type of inversion and advises careful use by foreign language learners.

Uploaded by

Ovidiu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

INVERSION

1. A number of adverbial expressions can be put


at the beginning of the sentence for greater emphasis.
Any adverbial expression that is directly negative or
which suggest a negative will be compulsorily followed
by an inversion with are auxiliary verb. Some positive
openings, however, also have this inversion, especially
those beginning to such. His inversion is a useful way
of breaking up the usual subject verb object word
order but, in general, its effect is rather literary and it
should not be over-used. The following one is the
commonest expressions which, if placed at beginning,
must be followed by an inversion.
1. in no circumstances
2. least of all
3. hardly when
4. not in frequently
5. in no way
6. not otherwise
7. not only (unless it qualifies the subject)
8. scarcely when
9. scarcely ever
10. rarely
11. very rarely
12. seldom
13. very seldom
14. still less
15. much less
16. even less
17. only (unless it qualifies the subject)
18. under no proof
19. not a word (unless it is the subject of the
sentence)

20. not a soul (unless it is the subject of the


sentence)
21. not often
22. not as
23. not till
24. not until
25. neither, nor (when used quite separately)
26. not a single word (unless it is the subject of
the sentence)
27. not one word (unless it is the subject of the
sentence)
28. by no means
29. no longer
30. no sooner than
31. at no time
32. at no other time
33. in no country, town, etc
34. little
35. in vain
36. never
37. nowhere
38. on no account
39. in none of
40. especially
41. so (unless it qualifies the subject)
42. so great
43. to such extremes
44. to such lengths
45. to such a degree
46. to such an extent
47. in to such a desperate situation
48. to such a point
49. well (with good reason) with every
justification

Not a single word did he say for a whole hour.


Not often do you see snakes in England.
Never had she seen anything like this before.
No sooner had he said it than he wishes he had not done so.
Not until a long time after words did I realize that he has mixed up with the gang.
In no way am I responsible for what has happened.
Little did I think then that I would now be in London.
In no country will you be offered stranger coffee than in England.
To such straits was he reduced by his extravagance that he took to beginning.
Well may you say that it is too late to do anything about it now.
Only on very rare occasions does he give you a word of praise.
He doesnt even like her; still less is it his interpretation to marry her.
She didnt like it and neither did I.
Only a few people understand what he was saying.
Not a soul came to that political meeting.
Not a single word that he said entitles you to make that accusation.

2. There is, however, another type of inversion which does not use an auxiliary verb. This is even more literary
than the first kind and is found certain kinds of adverbial phrases. It must certainly not be used indiscriminately by
foreign students. They are advised to use it only when they have seen it in an English book.
It is possible only with a verb of movement or position, and this verb is almost always in the simple present or
simple past. The verb to be is also used this kind of inversions, after a superlative:
Best of all was the Christmas pudding.
In front of me lay the whole valley like an untouched paradise on earth.
After the war came the problem of rehabitation.
Through the fog loomed an series castle.
Most picturesque of all are the street Vendors.
Away into the distance stretched ridge after ridge of snow-clad peaks.
Last but not least walked my grandfather bearing a large bird-cage.
3. Sometimes adverbs are put at the beginning to dramatize actions. In this case the verb must be a verb of
movement in either the simple past, the simple present or the imperative. There is an inversion (type 2) unless the
subject is a pronom.
Off you go
Away went coach and horses at full speed.
Round we went!
Down fell a clutter of carton and boxes.
In you get!
Up went a mountain of luggage on the racks.
4. Inversion (type 2) may be used after direct speech if there is no qualifying adverb and no direct speech if there is
no qualifying adverb and no direct objects. It is more commonly used when the subject is a noun than when is a
pronom:
Any more fares, please? asked the conductor.
Any more fares, please? the conductor shouted cheerfully.
What a suris ance! exclaimed the sister.
This is how you do it, my sister exclaimed to me.
Go ahead; he said grumpily
Im the king of the castle, he told me.
Well I never! remarked my grandfather.
What utter rubbish! he whispered to his fiance.
VOCABULAR:
Seizure = confiscare
Cessation = oprire, incetare
Grudge = pica
Drudge = cal de bataie
Trudge = a tari picioarele

Begrudge = a invidia
Dregs = drojdie
Venomenous = veninos
To deduct = a deduce
To deduce = a trage concluzia

INVERSIONS
EXERCICES
1. a. Put the verbs in brackets into the right form, using inversion (type 1)
1. To such an extent her bad temper (get) on his nerves that he is filling a petition.
2. Hardly he (came) into the room when he saw some one disappearing through the French-window.
3. Very seldom one (come) across snakes in England.
4. In none of his books Dickens (show) greater understanding of the human heart than in Bleak
House
5. Only after I had known him for some time I (begin) to appreciate his real worth.
6. On no account/ever (believe) a word he says.
7. Not as a critic but as a close friend I (urge) you to consider your decision.
8. Im such

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy