Have you already mastered inversions and question forms?
Do you wonder why sometimes the auxiliary verb and the subject are switched places in a statement?
Then join in this lesson to review the most common cases of inversions
Hello, and welcome everyone. This is minoo at Anglo-Link
Today we are going to look at inversions
this is when you have to put the auxiliary verb before the subject I'm
Sure, you're all very familiar with this type of structure in question forms for example
What does tin need or how often has this happened before?
However inversions are not just using questions. You may have heard sentences like
Not only does Tim need money, but Moral support as well
or
Rarely has this happened before
By the end of this lesson you will have a clear idea of different expressions and structures that require an inversion
So when you're ready, let's stick it in
versions
invention means putting the verb before the subject
Let's look at inversions in informal English
The most common case of Inversion is in formulating questions
For example here is a statement
Oliver is looking for a new job
To change this into a question you put the auxilary is
Before the subject Oliver is oliver looking for a new job
Another common case is after the expressions
So neither or no to express that the same is true of someone or something else
Let's look at the positive sentence
for example
Oliver is looking for a new job. How about Ellie?
let's say that array is - or you can simply say Ellie -
Or you can start with the world so and then use an inversion
So is Ellie
In a negative sentence we use neither or no
So if our sentences oliver isn't looking for a new job. How about Ellie?
you can say Eddie isn't either or
simply Eddie
neither
Or you can start with neither or no and then invite
Neither is le
Noir is Ellie
Now let's look at inversions in formal English
other cases of Inversion are mainly found in formal English
Certain expressions come to the beginning of the sentence for emphasis and are then followed by an inversion
We can divide these expressions into five groups
The first group is negative adverbial expressions and negative frequency adverbs
for example under no
Circumstances is a negative expression if you put that at the beginning of the sentence you need to
switch the subject and the verb around
Under no circumstances should we accept these times?
Another negative expression in no way in no way could James have passed that test without cheating
all at no time have we
suspected foul play
Not until I have spoken to everyone will I be able to make a decision?
Little little did they know what their children had been up to
Okay, let's look at some negative frequency adverbs
seldom
Seldom had fred met such an intriguing person
Rarely rarely does Ana get involved in gossip
never never has he felt so betrayed and
Finally hardly ever hardly ever do they talk to their neighbors?
Okay, let's look at the second group
These are adverbial expressions beginning with only and not only
for example
Only when the plane had landed did Lisa manage to open her eyes?
Only if they agree to these terms will we be able to work with them
or start with not only
Not only was it a long process, but it was also quite complicated
All right, let the third group
These are the words hardly
Scarcely and no sooner and we use them when one action follows another
immediately
for example
Hardly had I shut my eyes when my mobile phone rang
or
Scarcely had can left the building when the police arrived
No sooner had we arrived than the mean was left
So notice that the first action is always in the past perfect tense
Hardly had I shot
Scarcely had can left
No sooner had we arrived and the second action is always in the past simple tense
my mobile phone rang the police arrived
the meal was left and
also, noticed that as for linking expressions with hardly and scarcely we use when and
With no sooner we use that
Okay, let's look at the fourth Category in inversions in formal English and that is in conditional sentences when a word
replaces it
let's look at the first conditional sentence if
You require any assistance or if you should require any assistance. I will be in my office
Here the word should comes to the beginning of the sentence to replace it
Should you require any assistance? I will be in my office
let's look at the second conditional for example if we
Renegotiated this deal. We would be more lenient than before as
You know there is a formal way of saying this and that is if we were to
renegotiate this deal we would be more lenient than before and
It is the word where that comes to the beginning of the sentence and replaces it
Where we to renegotiate this deal? We would be more lenient than before and
finally in the third conditional if
Jeremy had been truthful in the first place he would not have been punished so severely
It's the auxiliary verb had that comes to the beginning of the sentence and replaces it
Had Jeremy been truthful in the first place he would not have been punished so severely
Now a small note about the second conditional
note that if the verb in the if clause of a conditional to sentence is to be
Where on its own is enough
So for example if the conditional sentence is if you were my son
I would encourage him to go to college you would simply put where at the beginning instead of it
Where he my son, I would encourage him to go to college
You don't need to say where he to be my son. I would encourage him to go to college
and the final category is
prepositions and adverbial expressions of place including here and there
Just a quick note that after these you must use the main verb not the auxiliary verb
so for example into the room came three nurses or
over the table hung a huge chandelier
Here is the report
when goes your nephew
okay, an
important note about
Inversions after prepositions and adverbs of place
Make sure that you do not use an inversion if you have a pronoun for example
into the room vacay
Here it is
There he goes, right
Then let's finish with some exercise
Rewrite the original sentence by starting with the highlighted word or words for example
She'd never seen that painting me neither
She'd never seen that painting neither
my bad I
Okay, let's get started number one. I don't get on with them my brother neither
I don't get on with them neither
That does my brother
number two, I draw the sex specialist advice Peter to
I'd rather seek specialist advice, so
so with Peter
Number three she didn't join the expedition Sara neither
She didn't join the expedition no
nor did sir
number four Harry mustn't find out under any circumstances
under no circumstances
Must how we find out?
Number five we can't watch television until the guests have left
Not until the guests have left
Can we watch television?
Number six we only remembered her name after she had left
only after she had left
Did we remember her name?
Number seven she was not only demanding, but also rude
not only
Not only was she demanding, but also rude
Number eight I had hardly utter the word when he interrupted me
hardly
Hardly had, I uttered the word when he interrupted me
Number nine as soon as the taxi stopped he jumped into it
No, Suna
No sooner at the she stopped then he jumped into it
you
Number 10 if you should need me call me on this number
shit
Should you need me call me on this number?
Number 11 if we return this item would we get a refund
when
Where we to return this item would we get a refund?
Number two are a tall Chimneys stood on the roof
on the roof
stood a tall chimney
Number Thirteen there it goes your lovely cat
then
There goes your lovely cat
Right that's the end of this lesson on inversions
I hope you enjoyed it as you know you can now go to our website angling comm for more lessons and exercises
Thank you for watching I look forward to seeing you in my next lesson
Bye now