Inversion in English Grammar, Basic Explanations

INVERSION IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Inversion is used to give emphasis or to be rhetorical in more formal situations, in political speeches, on the news, and also in literature.  Some native speakers may also use them occasionally in day-to-day conversation.  

    At no time

e.g.  At no time did I say I would accept late homework.

  Hardly........when

	This is used to refer to an event that quickly follows another.  It is usually used with the past perfect.
e.g.	Hardly had I got into bed, when there was a knock at the door.
	Less used is Hardly....before.
e.g.	Hardly had I left before the trouble started.

   Little

e.g.	Little did I know that he was a compulsive liar.
	Little does she know what surprises we have in store for her.

   No sooner.....than

	This is used to refer to an event that quickly follows another.  It is usually used with the past perfect, but sometimes with the simple past.
e.g.	No sooner had I reached the door than I realised it was locked.
	No sooner did I reach the door than I realised it was locked.

    Not + object

e.g.    Not a single word did she say.

  

   Not only.....but also

e.g.	"Not only had she understood the problem , but she also helped all around to solve it.

   

   Not until

e.g.   Not until January will I have a holiday.

   Nowhere

e.g.	Nowhere had Susan seen a more beautifully decorated room.

   

  Only after

	This is usually used with the simple past.
e.g.	Only after the film started did I realize that I'd seen it before.

   On no account/Under no circumstances

e.g.	On no account should you be absent from your seminars.

  

   Only then/if/when/later

       This is usually used with the simple past.

e.g.   Only then did I know what I had got myself into.

   Rarely/Seldom/Never        

	These are most commonly used with the present perfect or past perfect,  & with modals such as can and could.  The present simple can also be used.
e.g.	Seldom have I seen him looking so miserable.
	"Rarely does a movie make you feel so warm and so uneasy at the same time." - Review of `Hearts in Atlantis` in the Canadian Province, 28/09/01
	Never in her life had she experienced this exhilarating emotion.

   Scarcely/Barely....when

	This is used to refer to an event that quickly follows another.  It is usually used with the past perfect.
e.g.	Scarcely had I arrived home when there was a knock on the door.

   So......that

	This is a common inversion, usually used with an adjective & the verb `be`.
e.g.	So exciting was the soap opera, that I forgot to do my English homework.
	It can also be used with much.
e.g.	So much did she adore John, that she would not give him up.

   Such....that

	Used with the verb `be` and a noun, it means so much or so great.
e.g.	Such was the popularity of the soap opera, that the streets were deserted whenever it was on.

Verb Tenses, Test 8

Choose the correct answer:

1. I ________ you were waiting for me.

a) didn't know   b) haven't known

 2. I ________ this happy in many years.

 a) wasn't           b) haven't been

3. I ________ you at the mall last Sunday.

a) have seen            b) saw 

4.I ________ here five years ago.

a) moved         b) have moved

5. P1: Have you spoken to her? 

    P2: Yes, I ________.

a) have           b) did

6. You spoke to her on Monday? What ________?

a) has she said            b) did she say

7. P1: What did you tell her?  

    P2: I ________ her the truth.

a) told            b) have told

8. I ________ to his new apartment.

a) wasn't                  b) haven't been

9. When ________ you? Last week.

a) has he called         b) did he call

10. That is the best song ________!

a) I've ever heard          b) I ever heard

11. I ______ all the washing up since morning

a) have been doing        b) had been doing

12. She ____ a shower when her mother entered the house.

a) had been having          b) was having

Correlative Constructions and Conjunctions

EXPLANATIONS

CORRELATIVE  CONSTRUCTIONS

A correlative construction is a short sentence pattern containing two corresponding phrases or clauses, each one headed by the and expressing a comparative: 

the X-er . . . . the Y-er.

ex. The more, the merrier.

The comparative correlative is also known as the correlative construction, the conditional comparative, or"the . . . the" construction.

The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.

The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune.

"Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art."

The more we do, the more we can do.

"The older the men are here, the more likely it is that they are wearing suits and ties."

"The less we deserve good fortune, the more we hope for it."

"The greater your achievements, the less satisfactory your personal and domestic life will be."

"The more you pay attention to the richness of the world, the more you allow your interest to be absorbed by things outside of you,,,

COMMON CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS

Correlative conjunctions are usually coordinating in nature because the sentence fragments they connect tend to be of equal rank.

As you know, a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses.

A subordinating conjunction, on the other hand, connects a dependent clause to an independent clause.

Some correlative conjunctions and their uses are explained below.

Such … that

It was such a hot afternoon that we decided to stay indoors. (Here the correlative connects the two clauses: It was a hot afternoon and We decided to stay indoors.)

She was such a bad tempered woman that nobody liked her. (Here the correlative connects the two clauses: She was a bad tempered woman and Nobody liked her.)

Scarcely …when

I had scarcely closed my eyes when someone knocked on the door.

OR,
Scarcely had I closed my eyes when someone knocked on the door.

As (many/much) … as

There are as many saucers as there are cups.

You are not as clever as you think you are.

His wife is as tall as he is.

No sooner … than

She no sooner completed one project than she started working on the next.

OR,
No sooner did she complete one project than she started working on the next.

Students sometimes wrongly use this structure. 
Remember that sooner is a comparative word and hence it should be followed by than, not when.

Rather … than

I would rather read a book than watch TV.

They would rather starve than surrender.

She would rather dance than sing.

The expression rather than is normally used in parallel structures. 
For example, with two adjectives, two adverbs, nouns, infinitives etc.

I would prefer to visit Switzerland rather than Australia.

I would prefer to walk rather than drive.

English Grammar Test 11

ENGLISH GRAMMAR TEST

Write the other two forms [ past tense and past participle ] of the following verbs:

Tear –

Spread-

Lead-

Lay-

Know-

Hide-

Bite-

Lean-

Slide

Throw

Rise

Raise

Lie

This is the first time +…………………………..:

Past perfect

Present perfect

Present simple

Past simple

This was the first time +…………………………..:

Past perfect

Present perfect

Present simple

Past simple

It`s high time +…………………………………….. :

Present simple

Present perfect simple

Present continuous

Past simple

Past perfect continuous

I wish I  ----------------- you, but I`m not.

a] had been    
b] am      
c] were      
d] has been

She wishes he ---------------------to that party last night.

a] had not been   
b] is not     
c] were not       
d] has not been

She is interested ……………………. painting.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

Melanie insists ……………………… cooking a meal for David.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

Everyone congratulated Jack ----------------- winning the competition.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

The fire fighters prevented the fire ------------------spreading.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

They are talking -----------------------building a new swimming – pool.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

She is keen ----------------------taking photos.

a] at            
b] about         
c] for         
d] in         
e] of           
f] on     
g] from

There is nobody at the door, ------------------------?

O sa te ajut cand voi avea timp.

a]  I`ll help you when I`ll have time.

b] I`ll help you when I have time.

c] I`ll help you when I`m having time.

d] I`m going to help you when I`m having time.

Everybody thinks it`s time she --------------------the Nobel Prize for her work in medical research:

a] will be awarded

b] was awarded

c] has been awarded

d] had been awarded

He is looking forward to ---------------------- from you.

hear                       
hearing                   
having heard                  
heard

Se intreba daca va reusi sa plece din oras la sfarsitul saptamanii.

a] He wanted to know if he will manage to go away over the weekend.

b] He wondered if he would manage to go away over the weekend.

c] He wondered if he will manage to go away over the weekend.

d] He asked himself if he will manage to go away over the weekend.

He wishes  she---------------------harder during  the previous term.

a] has worked         
b] would work            
c] will work                
d] had worked

Ann wishes she ---------------------a postcard to her family when she was on holiday.

a] had send         
b] had sent       
c] sent         
d] would send

If only she --------------him the truth! He wouldn`t have left in such a hurry.

a] would have told           
b] told               
c] would tell                        
d] had told

The 10 o`clock news were / was interesting.

It`s no use try / trying to make excuses. She won`t believe you.

Why do you let your children stay / to stay out so late at night?

The houses reminded me of those I ---------------------in Spain two years before.

A] saw        
b] have seen       
c] had seen          
d] was seen

As soon as she -------------------home, I will let you know.

a] came       
b] will come               
c] comes             
d] has come

Hardly had she put the telephone down -------------- there was a knock on the door.

a] than          
b] then            
c] when                   
d] that

They ------------------------------to the airport like that. The plane was delayed by several hours.

a] didn`t need to rush                       
b] didn`t have to rush                
c] needn`t rush                   
d] needn`t have rushed

The news was -----------------------last night, too late for us.

a] broadcast        
b] broadcasted              
c] broadcasting                    
d] broadcasts

The old lady ---------------with difficulty and greeted us.

a] rised      
b] raised         
c] rosed        
d] rose

In Victorian England, criminals were ---------------------- .

a] hanged      
b] hung     
c] hunged      
d] hang

They put on their skis and decided to -------------the slope.

a] slid down        
b] slide down             
c] slit down              
d] slight down

What does this sign stand……………….. ?

a] by      
b] out        
c] for      
d] down

You should excuse him; he didn`t do it -------------purpose, but -----------accident.

a] on – by       
b] on – in                    
c] by – by              
d] by – out of

I generally agree ----------------- you, but I object -----------  your general attitude as regards your work.

a] to – to           
b] to – at        
c] with – with               
d] with – to

I don`t have many responsibilities; I have……………………. .

a] a few                     
b] few                     
c] little           
d] a little

Jane doesn`t drive -------------------her husband.

a] so fast as                 
b] as fastly as                    
c] faster as

Her -------------------brother is 2 years older than she is.

a] elder                     
b] older                                 
c] oldest

Put away that dirty napkin or however / whoever / whatever it is.

Verb Tenses, Test 4

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Write the correct answer: present simple or present continuous:

1. You (not / like) _______________ chocolate.

2. She (not / study) _______________ at the moment.

3. We often (go) ____________  to the cinema.

4. He usually (not / do) ________________ his homework.

5. They (not / eat) ________________ rice every day.

6. We (not / study) _____________________ every night.

7. (You / like) _______________________spicy food?

8. (She / go) ______________________to Scotland often?

9. (He / eat) ______________________________ now?

10. We (go) ______________ to the cinema this weekend.

11. They (study) _____________________________ now.

12. I (clean) ____________________ the kitchen every day.

13. She (work) _______________________ every Sunday.

14. We (not / sleep) _________________________ now.

15. He (not / go) ________________to the park very often. 

16. It (rain) _____________________________ a lot here.

17. I (go) ______________________ on holiday tomorrow.

18. How long (she / stay) __________________ in London?

19. I often (read) __________________________at night.

20. We (not / drink) ______________________much wine.

Prepositions, Exercise 3

Fill in the correct prepositions

about – at – by - for – from – in – of – on – to - with

1. She learned Russian ________ the age of 45.

2. The book was written ____________ Mark Twain.

3. I’ll show you the picture ____________ the palace.

4. We can only get to the camp _________ foot.

5. He reminds me _____ his old history teacher.

 6. What are you talking ____________ ?

7. ____________ the end of next year we will have made over £ 100,000.

8. She always gets up early ____________ the morning and goes to bed late __________night.

9. I went to work ____________ Tuesday but I didn’t go ____________ Friday.

10. You’ll have to wait. He’ll be with you ____________ a minute.

11. Philip waited ____________ her at the movie theater.

12. He started learning English ________ 2005.

13. You have to pay ____________ the tickets on the day you order them.

14. We are very proud _______ this company.

15. It’s very kind ____________ you to help us.

16. The old man suffered _____ a heart attack.

17. Please write _________ pencil.

18. It’s _________ time you told him the truth.

19. The manager didn’t take part_____the discussion.

20. He‘s very good ____________ telling jokes.

21. I’ll see you ____________ the conference.

22. We sat down ____________ the grass and ate our lunch.

23. My parents got married _______the 1970s.

24. There’s a good restaurant ____________ the end of the street.

25. We usually have turkey ____ Thanksgiving.

26. I would like to travel __ Italy next summer.

27. I took a plane __________ Munich to Rome.

28. I’d like to speak ____ the manager please.

29. I don’t usually feel tired _____ the morning.

30. My mother is abroad so my dad is taking care _________ us ____________ the moment.

31. Sonja gets ____________ the seven o’clock bus in the morning.

32. She always looks ____________ herself in the mirror.

33. I met Donna ____a party ____Friday night.

34. My friend always borrows money ____ me.

35. Daria’s books are lying ________ the floor.

36. He arrived at the school building just_ time.

37. The audience threw tomatoes_____ him.

38. Passengers are not allowed to use cell phones ____________ airplanes.

39. He is responsible ________  what he does.

40. I’m sorry ________ the job you didn’t get.