C2 -- Curso 19-20

EOI Prado de Alarcos – Ciudad Real

INVERSION IN ENGLISH
 C2 -- Curso 19-20
EOI Prado de Alarcos – Ciudad Real
 C2 -- Curso 19-20
EOI Prado de Alarcos – Ciudad Real

A-Read these sentences in standard word order and rewrite them using inversion structures
1-People are not free from the influence of television anywhere in the world.

2-There hasn’t been an invention which so radically affected society since the printing press.

3-You rarely find a family without a tv set these days.

4-Busy parents can seldom resist the temptation to use the television as a childminder.

5-Some claim that television not only discourages conversation, but it also encourages anti-social
behaviour.

6-However, researchers have not found a single case of violence that could be directly linked to a tv
programme.

B-Rewrite these sentences using inversion and the words in brackets

1-The minute she left, the meeting broke up. (No sooner)

2-Immediately after solving one problem, I was faced with another. (Hardly)

3-The colour of that jacket suits you, and it fits you perfectly. (Not only)

4-The minute he set eyes on her, he fell in love. (No sooner)

5-Youo must remember to pay that bill, whatever you do. (On no account)

6-He did not start to feel ill until after the meal. (Only when)
 C2 -- Curso 19-20
EOI Prado de Alarcos – Ciudad Real

A-Read these sentences in standard word order and rewrite them using inversion structures
1-People are not free from the influence of television anywhere in the world.

Nowhere in the world are people free from the influence of television
2-There hasn’t been an invention which so radically affected society since the printing press.

Not since the printing press has there been…

3-You rarely find a family without a tv set these days.

Rarely do you find a family…

4-Busy parents can seldom resist the temptation to use the television as a childminder.

Seldom can busy parents resist…

5-Some claim that television not only discourages conversation, but it also encourages anti-social
behaviour.

Not only does TV discourage… , but it also… , some claim.

6-However, researchers have not found a single case of violence that could be directly linked to a tv
programme.

However, not a single case of violence have researchers found…

B-Rewrite these sentences using inversion and the words in brackets
1-The minute she left, the meeting broke up. (No sooner)

No sooner had she left than…

2-Immediately after solving one problem, I was faced with another. (Hardly)

Hardly had I solved one problem when…

3-The colour of that jacket suits you, and it fits you perfectly. (Not only)

Not only does the colour…

4-The minute he set eyes on her, he fell in love. (No sooner)

No sooner had he set eyes on her than…

5-Youo must remember to pay that bill, whatever you do. (On no account)

On no account should you forget…

6-He did not start to feel ill until after the meal. (Only when)

Only when he had finished the meal did he begin…

 C2 -- Curso 19-20
EOI Prado de Alarcos – Ciudad Real

Inversion in conditional sentences

Conditional sentences with inversion are more formal than those that follow the usual word order. This degree of
formality is usually found in contexts which require a different presentation of ideas. Notice the vocabulary, the
context, even the ideas that you find when inversion is used.
1.-Conditional type 1 : USE OF “SHOULD”
• If you need more information, call our office in Green Street. (informal or standard)
• If you should require any further information, please contact us at our office in Green Street. (formal)
The combination of inversion and the modal “should” makes the sentences even more formal:
• Should you require any further information, please contact us at our office in Green Street. ( imperative)
Mixed inverted conditional
• Should the tickets fail to arrive, we would arrange to have duplicates waiting at the airport. (Type 1 + Type 2)

2.-Conditional type 2: USE OF “ WERE + SUBJECT+ TO DO

• If the negotiations fell through, it would bring unforeseen problems.
• Were the negotiations to fall through, it would bring about unforeseen problems. (If the negotiations were to
fall through,...)
• Eg. Were you to accept our offer, we could avoid the costs of a court case.
2.1 Inverted conditionals to express cause-consequence:
• Were it not for the sea walls, the city would be at risk of flooding. (formal)
• If it weren´t for the sea walls… (less formal)
• If it weren't for holes, a doughnut would be a bun

3.-Conditional type 3: USE OF HAD + subj+ past participle

• Had I known about Mr Smith's behaviour sooner , I would have fired him immediately = If I had known
about…
• Had the film been released in the summer, it might have been more successful = If the film had been
released… it…
• Had it not been for his quick thinking, we would have fallen into the river = If it hadn´t been…
In negative clauses with inversion, we don't use contracted forms:
• Should you not agree to accept our proposal, we would like to settle by arbitration
• Had the people not been informed, the situation would have been much worse.

IMPORTANT REMINDER -- MIXED CONDITIONAL

How conditional sentences are mixed
Unreal conditionals (type II + III) sometimes can be mixed, that is, the time of the if clause is different from the
one of the main clause.
1. Past → Present (type III + Type II) → If I had taken an aspirin, I wouldn't have a headache now.
2. Past → Future (type III + Type II) → If I’d known that you are going to come by tomorrow, I would be in then.
3. Present → Past (type II + Type III) → If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Hawaii.
4. Present → Future (mixed time references, not conditional structures)
If I were you, I would be spending my vacation in Seattle.
5. Future → Past (type II + Type III) → If I weren't flying to Detroit, I would have planned a trip to Vancouver.
6. Future → Present (mixed time references, not conditional structures)
If I were taking this exam next week, I would be high-strung

SPEAKING - PAIR WORK: imagine what would have happened if your life had taken a different direction. What
would it be like right now?
TYPE 3 AND MIXED CONDITIONALS....
If I hadn´t done .........................................., I would have never......................................................
If I had never met .................................................., I would (never have) ..................................................
If the Chinese had discovered and colonised America, ..................................................................now.
If Hitler had never been born ........................................................, European history ...............................
If the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 had never taken place ....................................................................