Inversion, Emphasis, and Fronting

Based on Grammarway 4 - Unit 8, Language Practice for Advanced - Units 11-12, and Emelt
Szintű Angol Nyelvtan Gyakorlatokkal - Part I/VII.

Level C1-C2

emphasis / fronting = Changing word order to switch focus.

inversion = Inverting the subject and the verb / auxiliary. In other words: Changing the
normal position of subject and verb, thus creating a new word order.

e.g. I am awake -> Am I awake?

However, inversion is sometimes used in positive sentences as well. Note that we need a
specific environment, certain lexical elements or grammatical structures present to be able
to form these kinds of inverted sentences.

I. Conditionals

should

If he should call, tell him I’m out.

Should he call, tell him I’m out.

If you should hear anything, let me now.

Should you hear anything, let me now.

2nd conditional

If I were you, I wouldn’t trust her.

Were I you, I wouldn’t trust her.

3rd conditional

If I had been told, I would have offered my help.

Had I been told, I would have offered my help.

If I had known his address, I would have told you.

Had I known his address, I would have told you.

were sb to do

If they were to escape, there would be an outcry.

Were they to escape, there would be an outcry.

If he were to come, I would be happy.

Were he to come, I would be happy.

were sb to have done

If the police were to have found me, I would have been in trouble.

Were the police to have found me, I would have been in trouble.

II. Most common cases

rarely, seldom

Rarely can you see such an ugly house.

Seldom is there so much snow in November.

Seldom has the team given a worse performance.

Seldom do we go out since the baby was born.

never (before)

Never have I seen such an interesting film.

Never have I seen such a beautiful woman.

Never have I heard a weaker excuse.

little

Little did he think that his son would win the race.

Little did he know what was about to happen.

under no circumstances, on no account, on no condition

Under no circumstances are you allowed to enter this room.

On no account must you mention this to anyone.

On no condition are they to open fire without a warning.

On no condition should you open this door.

in no way

In no way are you allowed to use this computer.

at no time

At no time did he express regret for what he had done.

only later

Only later did he buy the book.

only then

Only then did he realise what she had wanted.

III. More complex cases

not only … but also

Not only did he break the window, but he also damaged the door.

Not only did he fail to report the accident, but he also later denied that he had been driving
the car.

Not only will they paint the outside of the house but also the inside.

so … that

So loud was the noise that I couldn’t listen.

So devastating were the floods that some areas may never recover.

such … that

Such was the force of the earthquake that the whole house was destroyed.

Such was the force of the storm that trees were uprooted.

hardly … when

Hardly had we said goodbye when a car hit him.

Hardly had the train left the station when there was an explosion.

scarcely … when

Scarcely had he left when the neighbour rang.

Scarcely had I entered the door when I realised it was locked.

barely … when

Barely had I switched on the radio when there was a power cut.

no sooner … than

No sooner had he arrived home than his daughter asked him to help with her homework.
not since

Not since last April have we met.

not until

Not until we met did I believe he was so handsome.

Not until I got home did I notice that I had the wrong umbrella.

only when

Only when he left did I start cooking.

only after

Only after he (had) left did I realise what he had wanted.

Only after she started working was she able to save money.

only if

Only if you do all your homework can you become a doctor.

Only if you follow my advice will you succeed.

only by

Only by studying a lot can you become a doctor.

IV. Further examples

as / though + may / might

It may sound unlikely, but it’s true.

Unlikely as it may sound, but it’s true.

The house may be cheap, but it’s in terrible condition.

Cheap though the house may be, it’s in terrible condition.

He may train much, but he is still dissatisfied with himself.

Much as he may train, he is still dissatisfied with himself.

Although it may seem difficult, it is not impossible.

Difficult as it may seem, it is not impossible.

try as sb might

Try as he might, he couldn’t pass the exam.

it is / was

It was Sue who borrowed my bike.

It was my bike that Sue borrowed.

It was because I felt ill that I left.

It can’t have been the same book that you read.

what

What I hate is rainy weather.

What you need is a holiday.

What Peter did was scandalous.

What they are doing is destroying the environment.

What Sharon does is (to) design clothes.

What keeps me in shape is jogging.

This summary is not to be used as self-study material.

Kulcs, 25.05.2020.