Negative inversion - practice exercises

I. Invert the following sentences.

1. I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed . In no way can the shop be held responsible for customers' lost
Hardly had I begun to apologize when the door closed. property.
2. I have seldom heard such a talented singer. 7. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the
Seldom have I heard such a talented singer. ceremony.
3. If John had known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to No sooner had the couple arrived than the priest started the
an Indian restaurant. Had John known that she liked curry, he would ceremony.
have brought her to an Indian restaurant. 8. Tom only understood the meaning of the comment when he saw his
4. The artist rarely paid any attention to his agent's advice. wife's face. Only when he saw his wife's face did Tom realize the
Rarely did the artist pay attention to his agent's advice. meaning of the comment.
5. He had never felt so depressed. 9. She never at any time said that she was allergic to cats.
Never had he felt so depressed. Never at any time had she said (that) she was allergic to cats.
6. The shop can in no way be held responsible for customers' lost 10. The restaurant cannot accept animals under any circumstances.
property. Under no circumstances can the restaurant accept animals.
II. Choose the correct answer.
1. .... should children be allowed to drive. 5. Many a time .... plan to divorce her husband, but she never did.
no sooner under no circumstances she did did she
2. .... after months of planning were they ready for the conference. 6. Only .... can we start the party.
rarely only when Jane has arrived when has Jane arrived
3. .... had I left than I heard them laughing. 7. .... who borrowed the money.
no sooner only when Max it was It was Max
4. Now .... to escape and she jumped from the window. 8. What .... is simply not true.
was the time the time was are you saying you are saying
III. Fill the gaps using the following words : has / before / than / audience / then / was / started / will / can / did / so many / had
1. Hardly ever ..has... an athlete won so many medals in such a short 7. Only if we leave now ..will. we be in time to catch the train.
time. 8. Never have I seen ..so many. people turn out for this event.
2. Little ...did... we realise what a social faux-pas we had committed. 9. Rarely .can. a remark have been more ill-judged.
3. Scarcely ...had.... the match started when the trouble began. 10. Only ...then.. did it become clear what the extent of the damage
4. Only by standing on tip-toe ...was.. I able to see anything at all. was.
11. Barely had we had time to pack up the picnic things before the
5. Seldom can an audience have heard a better interpretation of this heavens opened.
symphony. 12. No sooner had we asked for a quieter room ..than we were given
6. Hardly had the controversial opera started when people began to one.
walk out.
IV. Fill the gaps using the these words : else / way / did / circumstances / nothing / such / nor / until / would / account / only / even
1. At no time did he seem to realise what an idiot he was making of 8. Not for all the money in the world .would. I do what you're
himself. suggesting.
2. At no time before have I heard .such. arrant nonsense. 9. Not ...only.. do I know you're wrong, but I can also prove you're
3. Nowhere .else. do they charge you so much for water. wrong.
4. On no account should you miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 10. Neither was the food up to standard .......... was the service
5. Under no circumstances must this door be left unlocked. particularly good.
6. Not ..until.. she apologises for what she said will I speak to her again. 11. Everyone except me got soaked. Not for .nothing. do I always carry
7. Not even if they halved the price would I buy such a heap of old an umbrella.
rubbish. 12. No .way. am I going to jump into that icy cold water!
V. Make inverted sentences from the sentences given, using the words in brackets.
1. You shouldn't tell him about my trip to China. At no time ..were they aware of the danger that threatened them.
On no ....account should you tell him about my trip to China... 7. This must not leak out to the press.
2. You are not going to get me to eat that! Under ...no circumstances must this leak out to the press..
No way ....are you going to get me to eat that!..... 8. He wasn't rich and he wasn't handsome.
3. I have seldom seen such a brilliant goal. Neither ...was he rich nor was he handsome..
Seldom ..have I seen such a brilliant goal.. 9. We haven't often witnessed such artistry.
4. Such a hurricane has rarely happened in Hereford. Rarely ....have we witnessed such artistry.
Hardly ever ....has such a hurricane happened in Hereford. 10. The bridge collapsed as soon as we managed to get across.
5. I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings for all the world. No sooner ...had we managed to get across than the bridge collapsed.
Not ..for all the world would I want to hurt your feelings. 11. We were only able to cross the border by offering him a bribe.
6. They were never aware of the danger that threatened them. Only .....by offering him a bribe were we able to cross the border.
12. Immediately he opened his mouth he started complaining about Barely had he opened his mouth before he started complaining about
everything. everything.
VI. Make inverted sentences from the sentences given, using the words in brackets.
1. She has no idea what a surprise she's going to get. 12. He is both charming and very rich.
Little does she know what a surprise she's going to get. Not only is he charming, but he is also very rich.
2. The bell had barely started to ring when the children rushed out of 13. We have never gone to Paris before.
the classroom. At no time have we gone to Paris before..
Scarcely had the bell started to ring when the children rushed out of 14. They had hardly come home when it started raining.
the classroom. Hardly had they come home when it started raining
3. He didn't start his speech until there was absolute silence in the hall. 15.The students had sooner arrived the class when the teacher came.
Not until there was absolute silence in the hall did he start his speech. No sooner had the students arrived the class than the teacher came.
4. We will only be able to accept your offer if we are offered free 16. The teacher cannot become friendly until the students get along
delivery. with him.
Only if we are offered free delivery will we be able to accept your Not until the students get along with him can the teacher become
offer. friendly
5. It is with good reason that Edinburgh is known as the Athens of the 17.He can only succeed when he tries his best to study.
North. Only when he tries his best to study can he succeed
Not for nothing is Edinburgh known as the Athens of the North. 18.I cannot recognise who he is before he gets in the room.
6. We have never been so well wined and dined in our lives. Only after he gets in the room can I recognise who he is.
Never in our lives have we been so well wined and dined. 19. THe inspector tried to break into robber's house so that he could
7. She didn't break the news of her engagement until after dinner. find out the blue for case.
Only after dinner did she break the news of her engagement. So as to find out the blue for case did the inspector try to break into
8. We weren't told that we would need our passports. robber's house
At no time were we told that we would need our passports. 20. I will never say that again.
9. They don't charge you as much for water anywhere else. Never will I say that again
Nowhere else do they charge you as much for water. 21. I have scarcely ever enjoyed myself more than I did yesterday.
10. I wouldn't fly with them again even if they offered me a free flight. Scarcely have I ever enjoyed myself more than I did yesterday
Not even if they offered me a free flight would I fly with them again. 22. She rarely makes a mistake.
11. We had barely entered the shop when an assistant jumped on us. Rarely does she make a mistake
Hardly had we entered the shop when an assistant jumped on us.
VII. Rewrite these sentences, using inversion with NOT.
1. He is my friend as well as yours. course.
Not only is he my friend but also yours. Not only will you enhance your posture but also improve your acting
2. He booked tickets for the afternoon performance and the evening ability on this course.
performance as well. 6. It isn’t worth considering his suggestion for a moment.
Not only did he book tickets for the afternoon performance but also Not worth is it considering his suggestion for a moment.
the evening performance. 7. She didn’t shed a tear when the story ended in tragedy.
3. Burglars stole a thousand pounds’ worth of electrical goods, and left Didn't she shed a tear when the story ended in tragedy.
the flat in an awful mess. 8. The manager not once offered us an apology.
Not only did the burglars steal a thousand pounds'worth of electrical Not once did the manager offer us an apology.
goods but also left the flat in an awful mess. 9. She made no sound as she crept upstairs.
4. Tony was not only late, but he had left all his books behind. No sound did she make as she crept upstairs.
Not only was Tony late but also he had left all his books behind. 10. He only thought about having a holiday abroad after he retired.
5. You will enhance your posture and improve your acting ability on this Only did he think about having a holiday abroad after he retired.

VIII. Rewrite these sentences, using inversion with ONLY. 6. I didn’t realize who he was until later.
1. I only realized how dangerous the situation had been when I got Only later did I realize who he was.
home. 7. The door could not be opened without using force.
Only when I got home did I realize how dangerous the situation had Only using force could the door be opened.
been. 8. I won’t agree until Tom’s apologized.
2. It wasn’t until last week that the Agriculture Minister admitted Only until Tom's apologized will I agree.
defeat. 9. To get the 40% discount, you must buy all twelve books at the same
Only until last week did the Agriculture Minister admit defeat. time.
3. I understood Hamlet only after seeing it on the stage. Only when you buy all 12 books at the same time will you get the 40%
Only after seeing Hamlet on the stage did I understand it. discount.
4. They didn’t get round to business until they had finished eating. 10.The only way you can become a good athlete is by training hard
Only until they had finished eating did they get around to business. every day.
5. They had to wait for twelve hours before their flight left. Only by training hard everyday can you become a good athlete.
Only after they had waited for 12 hours did their flight leave.
IX. Rewrite these sentences, using inversion with SHOULD.
1. If the Government were forced into another election, it would be the Should you decide to accept the post, you'll be expected to start work
favourite to win. on 1st April.
Were the Government forced into another election, it'd be the 5. If we hear any further news, we will be in touch immediately.
favorite to win. Should we hear any further news, we'll be in touch immediately.
2. If you should wish to make an appointment to see Dr Simons, she is 6. If you wish to take advantage of the offer, kindly tick the box on your
available between 9.00 and 11.00. order form.
Should you wish to make an appointment to see DR Simons, she is Should you wish to take advantage of the offer, kindly tick the box on
available between 9 and 11 your order form.
3. If you should have further problems with your printer, contact your 7. If the film should be a post office success, they may be sequel.
dealer for advice. Should the film be a post office success, they may be sequel.
Should you have further problems with your printer, contact your 8. If you should change your mind, there will always be a job for you
dealer for advice. here.
4. If you should decide to accept the post, you will be expected to start Should you change your mind, there'll always be a job for you there.
work on 1st April.
X. Rewrite each of the following sentences with the given words in such a way that it means the same as the sentence printed above it.
1. He spent all his money. He even borrowed some from me. 6. I have never seen anyone in my life drink as much as you.
"Not only ..did he spend all his money but also he borrowed some " Never ..in my life have I seen anyone drink as much as you..
from me... 7. A sleeping dog was lying under the table.
2. He had hardly left the office when the telephone rang. " Under the table ...was lying a sleeping dog....
" No sooner ...had he left the office, the telephone rang... 8. His brother had rarely been more excited.
3. I had only just put the phone down when the boss rang back. "Rarely ....had his brother been more exited......
" Hardly ....had he left the office, the telephone rang.... 9. The facts were not all made public until later.
4. He didn’t finish his work until the bell rang. "Only .....later were the facts made public....
" Not until ...the bell rang did he finish his work.... 10. If I had realized what would happen, I wouldn’t have accepted the
5. We only began to see the symptoms of the disease after several job.
months. "Had ...I realized what would happen, I wouldn't have accepted the
" Only ...after several months did we begin to see the symptoms of the job...
disease..

Explanation:
II. Câu 6 : Xem bài học (B. 1c.) với Only if, Only when trong câu có 2 mệnh đề : chỉ đảo ngữ mênh đề chính, mệnh đề phụ không đảo ngữ. Câu này,
“Only when Jane has arrived’ là mệnh đề phụ. Câu 7. Cấu trúc ‘’This/that/it +Be + who/that’’ nêu rõ KẺ/VẬT đã gây ra hành động (Chính Max là kẻ
đã mượn số tiền đó). Không hề có đảo ngữ. Câu 8. Chủ từ của ‘’is’’ là mệnh đề đứng trước nó : Đó là mệnh đề danh từ (làm chủ ngữ, object hay
complement), cho dù có ý nghi vấn, cũng không bao giờ đảo ngữ.

III. Câu 2: What: từ cảm thán + danh từ (giống như SO + tính từ/trạng từ, hoặc SUCH + danh từ). Thí dụ: What a boy! (Cái thằng!); What a lazy boy!
(Cái thằng lười!); He is SO lazy!; So sánh hai câu này (ý nghĩa như nhau) : He is SUCH a lazy boy! WHAT a lazy boy he is. (what đứng đầu câu).
Faux-pas (mượn từ tiếng Pháp) : Faux = wrong (sai); pas = step (bước, bước chân). Faux-pas (đọc là : phô pa) : sai lầm, sai nước cờ. Commit v. Phạm
phải (tội, lỗi, sai lầm). Câu 4 : Thường là ‘’Not +At all’’ (không tí nào cả); ‘’At all’’ trong câu khẳng định : Có .... chăng. “Chỉ có đứng nhón lên, mới
thấy được gì chăng.’’ Câu 5 : controversial opera (vở kịch opera gây tranh cãi – được nhiều người bàn luận); câu 9 : ill-judged (xét ẩu, bất cẩn, cẩu
thả); Câu 10. what the extent (đến mức nào); Câu 11 : the heavens opened (thành ngữ ) Trời đổ mưa.

IV. Câu 1. make a fool/an idiot of oneself : xử sự như một thằng ngốc; 2. arrant adj. hoàn toàn, hết sức. arrant nonsense : điều hoàn toàn vô nghĩa;
Câu 3. Charge for : tính tiền, lấy tiền; Câu 4. once-in-a-lifetime opportunity : Cơ hội có nghì năm một thủa; Câu 7. Have v. Chia đôi, have the price :
giảm một nửa giá; heap n. mớ, đống; Câu 8. Not for all the money in the world (thành ngữ) : Hoàn toàn không phải (dứt khoát không phải) vì tiền;
câu 10. up to standard : đúng chuẩn mực; câu 11. got soaked : ướt đẫm, ướt như chuột lột (lội).

V. 3. a brilliant goal : một bàn thắng sáng giá; 5. for all the world (thành ngữ ) : Hoàn toàn, chính xác, Not for all the world: hoàn toàn không phải,
dứt khoát không phải; 7. Leak out to (phrasal verb): rò rỉ ra cho; 9. Không dùng ‘’often’’ nữa vì đã có ‘’Rarely’’; witness n. nhân chứng; v. chứng kiến;
artistry n. tính chất nghệ thuật.; 10, động từ ‘’manage’’ ở quá khứ có nghĩa : cố/tìm cách và thành công (giống như Be+ABLE ở QUÁ KHỨ ). Như vậy,
‘’qua cầu được rồi, cầu mới sập’’. 11. bribe v. hối lộ; n. của hối lộ/đút lót. 12. ‘’Hắn vừa mở miệng là than van đủ thứ.’’

VI. 1. what : nghĩa cảm thán (không phải nghĩa nghi vấn ); 2. rush out of : nhào ra khỏi; 5. with good reason : có lý do chính đáng. not for nothing :
không phải vô cớ, không phải không có lý do; không phải không có mục đích; wine and dine so well: ăn uống thỏa thích; 7. break the news : bật mí;
10. Dù bọn nó cho không tờ vé máy bay, tớ cũng chẳng thèm....; 12. Jump on (phrasal verb) nhảy bổ ra; 12. charming adj. có duyên; 16. get along
with (phrasal verb) hòa thuận với (ai); 19. break into : đột nhập; the blue for the case : chứng cứ cho vụ án.
VII. câu 1. He is my friend as well as yours (yours=your friend) = He is my friend and he is also your friend. = He is my friend and he is your friend as
well. (as well=also, nhưng đặt cuối câu.). Chỉ dùng ‘’as well as’’ khi có hai vế : He is my friend as well as your friend. = He is my friend as well as
yours (= your friend). Như vậy ý nghĩa tương đương như : Not only is he my friend but also yours.;
Các câu 2,3,4, 5 đều có and hoặc hàm ý có and, nên đều dùng cấu trúc : Not only ... but also.
Riêng câu 4: vế sau lặp lại chủ từ (he) vì ở thì khác (past perfect) với thì của vế trước (simple past);
câu 5: enhance v. tăng cường, nâng cao; posture n. tư thế, dáng vẻ;
câu 6: cũng như ‘’busy’’, tính từ ‘’worth’’ (đáng) có V+ing theo sau;
câu 7. ‘Didn’t = Did not ; shed v. rơi, rụng (lá), lột (rắn), shed a tear: rơi một giọt nước mắt; tragedy n. thảm kịch, bi kịch, sự bi thảm;
câu 8. not once : không chỉ một lần (=nhiều lần); câu 9. creep, crept, crept v. bò, trườn; rón rén, lẻn.

VIII. Lưu ý: Các trạng ngữ đứng đầu câu trong bài (sửa) này gồm 3 dạng :
a. Đoạn câu trạng ngữ : Only until last week (câu 2), Only later (câu 6). Cả hai đều là trạng ngữ chỉ thời gian.
b. Đoạn câu phân từ (hiện tại hoặc quá khứ) – trong bài, ta chỉ thấy có phân từ hiện tại (hàm ý chủ động) – làm trạng ngữ. Đoạn câu phân từ
(participle phrase), cùng với đoạn câu ‘’động từ nguyên mẫu’’ (infinitive phrase), còn được gọi là mệnh đề không-hoàn-chỉnh (non-finite
clause), – tức là : không có chủ từ, động từ không chia ở một thì nào, mà chỉ ở dạng phân từ (participle) hoặc dạng infinitive (có ‘’to’’ hoặc
không có ‘’to’’) : Câu 3 (chỉ thời gian), 7 (chỉ phương tiện), 10 (chỉ phương tiện).
c. Mệnh đề phụ trạng ngữ hoàn-chỉnh (mệnh đề hoàn chỉnh : có chủ từ, và động từ chia ở một thì nào đó).
d. Các câu 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 đều có trạng ngữ là mệnh đề hoàn-chỉnh, nên đảo ngữ xảy ra ở mệnh đề chính. Xem những câu có gạch dưới.
Từ vựng : 1. Defeat v&n Thua, thất bại; 4. get round to something : bắt tay vào việc gì (mà trước đó đã định làm); 9. 40% discount : giảm giá 40%.

IX. CHÚ Ý QUAN TRỌNG : ĐẢO NGỮ TRONG CÂU ĐIỀU KIỆN có thể THAY THẾ ‘’IF’’ TRONG MỆNH ĐỀ PHỤ TRẠNG NGỮ CHỈ ĐIỀU KIỆN.
A. Thường chỉ dùng trong câu điều kiện loại 2 và 3, với động từ BE và HAVE (là động từ chính hoặc là trợ động từ) :
- If I were you, I would stop smoking → Were I you, I would stop smoking.
- If the Government were forced into .... → Were the Government forced into .... (câu 1)
- If we were going to have children, we would like to have a boy and a girl. →Were we going to have children, .......
- If I had money, I would go to France. →Had I money, I would ..
- If I had taken his advice, I would be rich now. →Had I taken his advice, I would be rich now (vế đầu : loại 3, ám chỉ quá khứ; vế sau: loại
2, ám chỉ hiện tại)
- If I had known the answer, I would have told you. → Had I known the answer, I would have told you (hai vế đều loại 3).
(Xem thêm câu 10, bài X.)

B. CÂU ĐIỀU KIỆN LOẠI 1 (ám chỉ hiện tại và tương lai, và có thể xảy ra hoặc sẽ xảy ra thực) :
Cần lưu ý hai dạng mệnh đề trạng ngữ chỉ điều kiện (if):
C1. IF + SUBJECT + (KHÔNG CÓ SHOULD THEO SAU) : Nêu điều kiện thường tình, không trang trọng (informal), không có hàm ý riêng
(chúng ta đã biết rồi) :
- If we hear any further news, we will be in touch immediately. → Should we hear any further news .....
Xem tiếp câu 5, 6, 7.
C2. IF + SUBJECT + SHOULD (THEO SAU) : chỉ dùng trong lối văn trang trọng (formal), có thể có hàm ý riêng (không mong xảy ra, nhưng
cũng có thể xảy ra).
- If you should you have further problems with your printer, contact your dialer for advice (Nếu chẳng may/lỡ ra quý vị gặp rắc rối gì khác
nữa về máy in của mình, hãy liên hệ nơi bán hàng để họ giúp xử lý)-(câu 3.). Các câu 2, 4, 8 mang tính trang trọng (formal).
Từ vựng : 5. get/be in touch : liên lạc; 6. take advantage : hưởng lợi; 7. office = ticket office : nơi bán vé (xem hát, tuồng, giải trí, vv); post (tiếng
Latinh) : sau, post office success : thành công mang lại xét sau khi bán được nhiều vé (= công chúng ủng hộ), sequel n. tiếp nối, làm tiếp nữa (tập 1
bán hết, ra tiếp tập 2, vv); 8. change one’s mind: đổi ý.

X. Chỉ là ôn các bài trước đó, không có gì đáng giải thích.