INVERSION EXERCISE

1. If you want to save your eyesight, you must operate immediately. -> Only by ……….
2. She had hardly begun to speak before people started interrupting her. ->Hardly ………….
3. Someone rang the alarm as soon as the burglars left the building. -> No sooner ……………..
4. I only realized what I had missed when they told me about it later. -> Only when .........……
5. The demand was so great that they had to reprint the book immediately. -> So ………….…
6. You won’t find a more dedicated worker anywhere than Mrs. Jones. -> Nowhere …….…….
7. The outcome of the election was never in doubt. -> At no time ……………….…………
8. Tear gas was released as soon as the thieves touched the safe. -> No sooner ……….……….
9. The only way to eliminate world terrorism is by united opposition. -> Only by ……………..
10. I only recognized him when he came into the light. -> Not until …………………….………
11. The workers only called off the strike after a new pay offer. -> Only after …………………..
12. Alice and Charles did not decide to move to a bigger house until after the birth of their second child.
-> Only when ……………………………………………
13. He forgot about the gun until he got home. -> Not until ……………………..
14. The truth only came out on the publication of the general’s personal diaries.
-> Only when …………………………………………………………
15. I had only just put the phone down when the boss phoned back. -> Hardly …………
16. Immediately after his appointment to the post, the new editor fell ill. -> No sooner ………..
17. There was no precedent for the King resignation. -> Never …………………..
18. Everyone started complaining the moment the announcement was made.
-> No sooner …………………………………………………………
19. I didn’t realize who he was until later. -> Only later ………………………
20. We couldn’t relax until all the guests had gone home. -> Only …………….
21. The only thing that prevented the passing of the bill was the death of the Prime Minister.
-> Had it not ………………………………………………………………………
22. John didn’t celebrate until he received the offer of promotion in writing.
-> Not until …………………………………………………..……
23. The only way you can become a good athlete is by training hard every day. -> Only by ……
24. They had to wait for twelve hours before the flight left. -> Only after a …………..
25. The result of the match was never in doubt. -> At no time …………………..
26. There are more people out of work in this country than ever before. -> Never …….
27. It was only when I left home that I realized how much my father meant to me.
-> Not until ……………………………………
28. He never suspected that the money had been stolen. -> At no time………………….
29. The only reason the party was a success was that a famous film star attended.
-> Had it not …………………………………….
30. I have never seen such a mess in my life. -> Never …………………….
1. He had hardly left the office when the telephone rang.
=> No sooner __________________________________________________ ___
2. I had only just put the phone down when the boss rang back.
=> Hardly __________________________________________________ _____
3. He didn’t finish his work until the bell rang.
=> Not until __________________________________________________ ____
4. We only began to see the symptoms of the disease after several months.
=> Only __________________________________________________ _______
5. A sleeping dog was lying under the table.
=> Under the table _________________________________________________
6. His brother had rarely been more excited.
=> Rarely____________________________________________ _____________
7. The facts were not all made public until later.
=> Only______________________________________________ ____________
8. If I had realized what would happen, I wouldn’t have accepted the job.
=> Had_______________________________________________ ____________
1. He only thought about having a holiday abroad after he retired.
=> Only __________________________________________________________.
2. I only realized how dangerous the situation had been when I got home.
=> Only __________________________________________________________.
3. It wasn’t until last week that the Agriculture Minister admitted defeat.
=> Only __________________________________________________________.
4. I understood Hamlet only after seeing it on the stage.
=> Only __________________________________________________________.
5. They didn’t get round to business until they had finished eating.
=> Only __________________________________________________________.
6. They had to wait for twelve hours before their flight left.
=> Only __________________________________________________________.
1. I have never before been asked to accept a bribe.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. He had hardly left the house when the storm broke.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. As soon as he had left the house the storm broke.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. This switch must not be touched on any account.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. She rarely has any money to spare.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. He hardly speaks to anyone.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
7. The nation has seldom been faced with such difficulties.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
8. They had hardly started playing tennis when it began to rain.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
9. A father has seldom sacrificed so much for his child.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10. You may not return after midnight on any account.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
11. He would not give up writing his satires under any circumstances.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12. He realized the danger he had been in only after he had read the newspaper the following morning.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
13. They were not able to assess the damage until the floods had subsided.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
14. He only stays in bed if he is seriously ill.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
15. We only then realized how much he had suffered.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
16. He was only able to do the exercise with a great deal of effort.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
17. He didn’t manage to get permission until she had calmed down.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
18. He was so anxious to start a new life that he actually changed his name.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
19. He could only make himself heard by shouting at the top of his voice.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
20. No director has made such an intellectually challenging sci-fi movie since Kubrick’s 2001.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
21. He became so suspicious that he didn’t even trust his family.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
22. He laughed so much that tears rolled down his cheeks.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
23. Her business was so successful that Marie was able to retire at the age of 50.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
24. If you were less than delighted with our product, we will refund your money immediately.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
25. If you were to accept our offer, we could avoid the costs of a court case.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
26. If the builders were to finish their work to schedule, they would receive a bonus.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
27. If the tickets should fail to arrive before the departure date, we would arrange to have duplicates waiting at the airport.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
28. If the film had been released in the summer, it would not have been so successful.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
29. He had no money and his sister didn’t have any either.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
30. They have no intention of paying and we don’t either.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
31. I couldn’t face my father and Jane couldn’t either.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
32. Tom came in.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
33. Two large dogs jumped up.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
34. Half a dozen apples fell down.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
35. The body of our late lamented sovereign lies here.
=> ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………