ĐẢO NGỮ

(INVERSION)
I. KIẾN THỨC TRỌNG TÂM
A. LÝ THUYẾT
1. Định nghĩa
* Trong tiếng Anh, đảo ngữ được hiểu một cách đơn giản là đặt động từ đứng trước chủ ngữ trong câu
(giống như việc mà chúng ta thường làm khi muốn đặt câu hỏi).
* Ta dùng phép đảo ngữ để nhấn mạnh ý nào đó hoặc gây hiệu ứng đặc biệt cho câu mà mình muốn diễn
đạt.
* Trong những trường hợp này, người ta thường đưa các thành phần muốn nhấn mạnh lên đứng đầu câu.
2. Các trường hợp đảo ngữ
2.1. Đảo ngữ khi trạng ngữ phủ định đứng đầu câu
* Never/ At no time (chưa bao giờ) Ví dụ:
Alana never/ at no time does housework.
→ Never/ At no time does Alana do housework.
(Chưa bao giờAlana làm việc nhà.)
* Seldom/ Rarely (hiếm khi) Ví dụ:
Anne seldom/ rarely goes home after curfew.
→ Seldom/ Rarely does Anne go home after
curfew.
(Hiếm khi Anne về nhà sau giờ giới nghiêm.)
* Hardly/ Hardly ever (hầu như không) Ví dụ:
Tamara hardly/ hardly ever goes to work late.
→ Hardly/ Hardly ever does Tamara go to work
late.
(Hầu như Tamara không bao giờ đi làm muộn.)
* Little (gần như không) Ví dụ:
She little knows how much he misses her.
→ Little does she know how much he misses her.
(Cô ấy gần như không biết anh ấy nhớ cô đến
nhường nào.)
* In no way (không đời nào) Ví dụ:
Bella in no way agreed to go with a stranger. She is
alway cautious.
→ In no way did Bella agree to go with a stranger.
She is always cautious.
(Không đời nào Bella lại đồng ý đi cùng một người
lạ. Cô ấy luôn cẩn trọng.)
* On no account (không vì bất cứ lý do nào) Ví dụ:
You should on no account put all your eggs in one
basket.
→ On no account should you put all your eggs in
one basket.
(Bạn không nên vì bất cứ lý do nào mà đầu tư hết
vào một chỗ.)
* On no condition (tuyệt đối không) Ví dụ:
You should on no condition quit that extremely
highly-paid job.
→ On no condition should you quit that extremely
highly-paid job.
(Bạn tuyệt đối không nên bỏ công việc lương vô
cùng cao như vậy.)
* In/ Under no circumstances (Trong bất cứ hoàn Ví dụ:
cảnh nào cũng không) She will in/ under no circumstances agree to
marry such a brutal man.
→ In/ Under no circumstances will she agree to

* Nowhere (Không ở nơi nào)
* No longer (không còn nữa)
* Lưu ý: Chúng ta chỉ đảo ngữ khi các trạng ngữ bổ nghĩa cho toàn bộ cụm từ hoặc mệnh đề chứ không phải
khi trạng từ bổ nghĩa cho danh từ.
Ví dụ:
Hardly anyone turned up for the party. (Không đảo ngữ)
(Gần như không có ai tới dự bữa tiệc.)
2.2. Đảo ngữ khi các cụm từ với “ONLY” đứng đầu câu
* Only after (chỉ sau khi)
* Only by (chỉ bằng cách)
* Only if (chỉ khi, nếu)
* Only then/ later (chỉ đến sau này)
* Only when (chỉ đến khi)
marry such a brutal man.
(Dù trong bất cứ hoàn cảnh nào cô ấy cũng sẽ
không đồng ý cưới một người đàn ông tàn bạo đến
như vậy.)
Ví dụ:
He could find a safe place to sleep nowhere that
night.
→ Nowhere could he find a safe place to sleep that
night.
(Anh ấy không thể tìm thấy một nơi nào an toàn để
ngủ đêm hôm đó.)
Ví dụ:
She will no longer be my friend after deceiving me
like that.
→ No longer will she be my friend after deceiving
me like that.
(Cô ấy sẽ không còn là bạn tôi nữa sau khi lừa dối
tôi như vậy.)
Ví dụ:
I can let you watch TV only after you finish your
meal.
→ Only after you finish your meal can I let you
watch TV.
(Chỉ sau khi em ăn xong, chị mới cho em xem TV.)
Ví dụ:
You will get the scholarship this term only by
studying hard.
→ Only by studying hard will you get the
scholarship this term.
(Chỉ bằng cách học hành chăm chỉ, cậu mới có thể
lấy được học bổng kì này.)
Ví dụ:
Mr. Smith could keep this position only if more
than 50% of the delegates voted for him.
→ Only if more than 50% of the delegates voted
for him could Mr. Smith keep this position.
(Chỉ khi trên 50% số đại biểu bầu cử cho ông Smith
thì ông ấy mới giữ được vị trí này.)
Ví dụ:
Anna only realised that her children meant the
world to her then/ later.
→ Only then/ later did Anna realise that her
children meant the world to her.
(Chỉ đến sau nay Anna mới nhận ra rằng con cái là
cả thế giới đối với cô ấy.)
Ví dụ:
He knew that he loved her only when he let her go.
→ Only when he let her go, did he know that he
loved her.
(Chỉ đến khi anh ấy để cô ấy rời đi, anh ấy mới biết
 rằng anh đã yêu cô.)
* Only in this/ that way (chỉ bằng cách này/kia) Ví dụ:
You can only cross the jungle safely in this/ that
way.
→ Only in this/ that way can you cross the jungle
safely.
(Chỉ bằng cách này/ kia bạn mới có thể băng qua
rừng một cách an toàn.)
* Lưu ý: Only when (chỉ đến khi) = Not until (mãi Ví dụ:
đến khi) She really believed he was safe only when/ not
until her son went back home.
→ Only when/ Not until her son went back home
did she really believe he was safe.
(Chỉ đến khi/ Mãi đến khi con trai bà ấy trở về nhà
thì bà ấy mới tin cậu đã bình an.)
2.3. Đảo ngữ với các liên từ tương quan
* Not only... but also (Không những ... mà còn) Ví dụ:
* Chỉ đảo ngữ ở mệnh đề chứa not only. She can not only sing beautifully but also she can
dance perfectly.
→ Not only can she sing beautifully but also she
can dance perfectly.
(Không những cô ấy hát hay mà cô ấy còn nhảy
đẹp nữa.)
* Scarcely/ Hardly/ Barely... when hoặc No Ví dụ:
sooner... than (ngay khi vừa... thì) - They had scarcely escaped from the building
* Mệnh đề đi với scarcely/ hardly/ barely/ no when it collapsed.
sooner được chia ở thì quá khứ hoàn thành. Mệnh → Scarcely had they escaped from the building
đề đi với when/ than được chia ở thì quá khứ đơn when it collapsed.
(Ngay khi họ vừa thoát ra khỏi tòa nhà thì nó sụp
xuống.)
- We had no sooner mentioned him than he
arrived.
→ No sooner had we mentioned him than he
arrived.
(Chúng tôi vừa nhắc đến anh ấy thì anh ấy tới.)
* Neither... nor (chẳng phải... cũng chẳng phải) Ví dụ:
* Đảo ngữ ở cả hai mệnh đề. He neither wanted to obey his mother nor he
wanted to make her sad.
→ Neither did he want to obey his mother nor did
he want to make her sad.
(Anh ấy không muốn làm theo lời mẹ, cũng không
muốn làm mẹ buồn.)
2.4. Đảo ngữ với câu điều kiện
* Đôi khi mệnh đề if trong câu điều kiện được đảo ngữ như một cách khiến cho câu trở nên trang trọng hơn.
Trong trường hợp này, người ta bỏ đi liên từ “if” và dùng hình thức đảo ngữ thay thế.
* Câu điều kiện loại 1: Ví dụ:
If + S + V → Should + S + V If you buy more than two pairs of shoes, I will
offer you a discount.
→ Should you buy more than two pairs of shoes, I
will offer you a discount.
(Nếu bạn mua nhiều hơn hai đôi giày, tôi sẽ giảm
giá cho bạn.)
* Câu điều kiện loại 2 với “to be” Ví dụ 1:
If + S + were + N → Were + S + N If I were a bird, I would be an eagle, one of the
largest and strongest birds in the world.
→ Were I a bird, I would be an eagle, one of the

* Câu điều kiện loại 2 với “V”
If + S + ed → Were + S + to V
* Câu điều kiện loại 3
If + S + had P2 → Had + S + P2
* Khi động từ chia thể phủ định, ta vẫn chỉ đảo Ví dụ 2:
“had” mà không phải là “hadn’t”.
* Đảo ngữ đặc biệt trong câu điều kiện
Trong tiếng Anh, có một cấu trúc diễn đạt nghĩa ai
đó/ điều gì đó cản trở không cho ai đó/ điều gì đó
xảy ra, được bắt đầu bằng liên từ “if” đi với đại từ
“it”, mang ý nghĩa “nếu không vì/ nếu không nhờ
vào/ nếu không có ... thì đã ...”
a.
If it wasn’t/ weren’t for + N, S + would + V
→ Were it not for + N, S + would + V
b.
If it hadn’t been for + N, S + would + have + P2 If it hadn’t been for your help, I wouldn’t have
→ Had it not been for + N, S + would + have + overcome that difficulty.
P2
Lưu ý: Ta cũng có các cấu trúc tương đương sau:
But for + N = Without + N = Had it not been for Had it not been for your help, I wouldn’t have
+ N (Nếu không vì/ nếu không có/nếu không nhờ overcome that difficulty.
vào ...)
2.5. Đảo ngữ với “so” và “such”
* Đảo ngữ với “so”
S + V + so + adj/ adv + that …
→ So + adj + be + S + that...
→ So + adv + auxiliary + S + V + that...
largest and strongest birds in the world. (Nếu tôi là
chim, tôi sẽ là một con đại bàng, một trong những
loài chim lớn nhất và mạnh nhất trên thế giới.)
Ví dụ 2:
If I had enough money, I would build a new house
for my mom and dad.
→ Were I to have enough money, I would build a
new house for my mom and dad.
(Nếu tôi có đủ tiền, tôi sẽ xảy cho bố mẹ tôi một
ngôi nhà mới.)
Ví dụ 1:
If I had listened to her advice, I wouldn’t have lost
all my money.
→ Had I listened to her advice, I wouldn’t have
lost all my money.
(Nếu tôi nghe lời khuyên của cô ấy, tôi đã không bị
mất hết tiền như vậy.)
If I hadn’t been absent from yesterday’s meeting, I
would have met Ronaldo in person.
→ Had I not been absent from yesterday’s
meeting, I would have met Ronaldo in person. (Nếu
tôi không vắng mặt trong buổi họp ngày hôm qua,
tôi đã được tận mắt thấy Ronaldo rồi.)
Ví dụ 1:
If it wasn’t/ weren’t for you, I wouldn’t come.
→ Were it not for you, I wouldn’t come. (Nếu
không phải vì cậu thì tớ đã không tới rồi.)
Ví dụ 2:
→ Had it not been for your help, I wouldn’t have
overcome that difficulty.
(Nếu không nhờ có sự giúp đỡ của bạn thì tôi đã
không vượt qua được khó khăn ấy.)
Ví dụ:
→ But for/ Without your help, I wouldn’t have
overcome that difficulty.
(Nếu không nhờ có sự giúp đỡ của bạn thì tôi đã
không vượt qua được khó khăn ấy.)
Ví dụ:
- He spoke so fast that I could hardly understand
him.
→ So fast did he speak that I could hardly
understand him. (Cậu ấy nói nhanh tới nỗi tôi gần
như không hiểu cậu nói gì.)
- The document was so important that I couldn’t
 leave it here on the table.
→ So important was the document that I couldn’t
leave it here on the table.
(Tài liệu này quan trọng đến nỗi tôi không thể để
nó ngay trên bàn.)
* Đảo ngữ với “such” Ví dụ:
a. He was such an intelligent student that he could
S + V + such + N + that... solve that challenging mathematical task in just 3
→ Such + N + V + S + that ... minutes.
→ Such an intelligent student was he that he
could solve that challenging mathematical task in
just 3 minutes.
(Cậu ấy là một học sinh thông minh tới nỗi có thể
giải được bài toán hóc búa đó chỉ trong 3 phút.)
b. Ví dụ:
It + be + such + N that... It was such a visually appealing video that my
→ Such + be + N + that... children watched it over and over again.
→ Such was a visually appealing video that my
children watched it over and over again. (Video đó
hấp dẫn tới nỗi các con tôi đã xem đi xem lại nó
nhiều lần.)
2.6. Đảo ngữ với trạng từ chỉ nơi chốn
* Khi chúng ta đặt một trạng ngữ chỉ nơi chốn lên Ví dụ:
đầu câu, ta sử dụng đảo ngữ. Tuy nhiên, trong - An expensive piece of jewelry was in the box.
trường hợp đảo ngữ này ta chỉ cần đưa động từ → In the box was an expensive piece of jewelry.
trong câu lên đứng trước chủ ngữ, chứ không đưa (Trong hộp là một món trang sức đắt tiền.)
trợ động từ.
* Động từ to be thường được sử dụng trong dạng - Three kids stood on the table.
đảo ngữ này, ngoài ra ta còn dùng các nội động từ → On the table stood three kids.
chỉ sự chuyển động như: climb (leo, trèo), come (Ba đứa trẻ đứng trên bàn.)
(tới), fly (bay), go (đi), hang (treo), lie (nằm), run
(chạy), sit (ngồi), stand (đứng) ...
* Không đảo ngữ khi chủ từ là đại từ nhân xưng.Ví dụ:
- She sat on the chair. ()
→ On the chair sat she. (X)
(Cô ấy ngồi trên ghế.)
- They were under the bed. ()
→ Under the bed were they. (X)
(Chúng ở dưới gầm dưới.)
* Lưu ý: Ví dụ 1:
- Ta cũng sử dụng đảo ngữ với trạng từ chỉ nơi - Here comes the train.
chốn “here” (ở đây) và “there” (ở đó). (Chuyến tàu tới đây rồi.)
- There is the book you always want to read.
(Đó là cuốn sách mà bạn luôn muốn đọc.)
- Ta cũng không đảo ngữ khi chủ từ là đại từ Ví dụ 2:
nhân xưng. - There she stands.
(Cô ấy đứng đó.)
- Here it is.
(Nó đây này.)
2.8. Đảo ngữ với “as” và “than” trong câu so sánh
* Đảo ngữ với “as” Ví dụ:
- He wants to start his own business, and his close
friend wants the same.
→ He wants to start his own business, as does his
close friend.
(Anh ấy muốn mở kinh doanh riêng, bạn thân anh

* Đảo ngữ với “than”
ấy cũng muốn vậy.)
Ví dụ:
- Alan has more siblings than you do.
→ Alan has more siblings than do you.
(Alan có nhiều anh chị em hơn bạn.)

ĐẢO NGỮ
A. TYPES OF INVERSIONS

No/Not + N + Trợ động từ + S + V

At no time = Never = Under/In no circumstances

+ Trợ động từ + S + V
(không bao giờ)

By no means + Trợ động từ + S + V

(hoàn toàn không)

1. ĐẢO NGỮ For no reason + Trợ động từ + S + V

VỚI CÁC (không vì lí do gì)
CỤM TỪ CÓ
TỪ “NO” In no way + Trợ động từ + S + V
(không sao có thể)

On no condition = On no account + Trợ động từ + S + V

(dù bất cứ lí do gì cũng không)

No longer + Trợ động từ + S + V

(không còn nữa)

No where + Trợ động từ + S + V

(không nơi nào, không ở đâu)

Only after + S + V hoặc + Ving + Trợ động từ + S + V

(chỉ sau khi)

Only by + Ving + Trợ động từ + S + V

(chỉ bằng cách)

2. ĐẢO NGỮ Only if + S + V + Trợ động từ + S + V

VỚI (chỉ nếu)
“ONLY”
Only when + S + V + Trợ động từ + S + V
(chỉ khi)
 Only with + N + trợ động từ + S + V
(chỉ với)

Only later/Only in this way/Only then + Trợ động từ + S

+V
(Chỉ sau đó, chỉ bằng cách này)

So + Tính từ + V + chủ ngữ + that + clause

3. ĐẢO NGỮ VỚI (quá … đến nỗi mà)
“SO/SUCH …
THAT” Such + be + N + that + clause
N + be + such + that + clause
(quá... đến nỗi mà)

Câu điều kiện loại 1:

Should + S + V, V + O / S + will, can, may... + V
4. ĐẢO NGỮ
CỦA CÂU Câu điêu kiện loại 2:
ĐIỀU KIỆN Were + S + (to V) + ..., S + would/could + V

Câu điều kiện loại 3:

Had + S + Vp2, S + would/could + have + Vp2

Đảo ngữ với các trạng từ phủ định: Never, rarely,

seldom, little, hardly, scarcely, barely,...

Hardly/barely/scarcely + had + S + Vp2 + when + S + V (past)

= No sooner + had + S + Vp2 + than + S + V (past)
(Ngay khi/vừa mới... thì)

Not only + Trợ động từ + S + V + but also + S + V

5. ĐẢO NGỮ
(không những... mà còn)
CỦA CÁC
NHÓM TỪ
CÒN LẠI Not until/till + Time/Time clause + Trợ động từ + S + V
(mãi đến khi … thì)
 So/Neither + Trợ động từ + S
Nor + Trợ động từ + S + V

Đảo ngữ với các trạng từ chỉ phương hướng/nơi

chốn/giới từ/cụm phân từ:
Adv of place/giới từ/cụm phân từ + V + S

II. BÀI TẬP VẬN DỤNG

I - Circle one letter to indicate the option that best completes each of the following sentences
1. Hardly ever________far from home.
A. my daughter traveled B. my daughter has traveled
C. did my daughter travel D. my daughter did travel
2. ________he arrived at the bus stop when the bus came.
A. Hardly had B. No sooner C. No longer has D. Not until had
3. No sooner________than the class started.
A. did my friends arrive C. my friends arrived
B. had my friends arrived D. my friends had arrived
4. Hardly had Jane________the project report when Jim came in.
A. finish B. finishing C. finished D. to finished
5. Nowhere________the fresh and peaceful air like here.
A. can you enjoy B. you can enjoy C. you enjoy D. you do enjoy
6. ________circumstances should you call me after midnight.
A. On B. Under C. Under no D. On no
7. Only after you obtain a driving license________a car.
A. did you drive B. can you drive
C. you will be able to drive D. you are able to drive
8. Scarcely________the phone down when the manager rang back.
A. did he put B. has he put C. had he put D. he had put
9. Had they arrived at the conference earlier, they________the professor they admired.
A. had met B. have met C. met D. would have met
10. Only by working harder________higher pay.
A. will you get B. you will get C. did you get D. you got
11. Only by working extra time________able to support his large family.
A. he was B. he is C. he’s being D. was he
12. Little________that I would get mark A for this subject.
A. did I imagine B. I imagined C. I could imagine D. imagined I
13. Never________any doubt about the matter.
A. has there been B. hasn't there been C. there has been D. there hasn’t been
14. ________else can there be a woman like this, so everybody admires her.
A. Anywhere B. Somewhere C. Where D. Nowhere
15. ________, they would not have admired her so much.
A. If she were generous B. Had it not been for her generosity
C. If it hadn't been for she were generous D. Despite her generosity
16. ________will Andrew get a higher salary in the future.
A. With hard work B. Despite his hard work
C. Only if he works hardly D. Only by working hard.
17. So________that my cousin licked the plate clean.
A. being hungry B. great her hunger C. hungry was she D. had she hunger
18. ________you wish to cancel your order, please contact our customer service department.
A. Should B. Were C. Had D. If
19. ________the medicine than she began to feel better.
A. Not until she swallowed B. Hardly did she swallow
C. No sooner had she swallowed D. Having swallowed
20. Vietnam has more motorbikes on roads________.
A. than European countries are B. European countries than
C. than do European countries D. than are European countries
II - Complete the following sentences, using the words provided in the box below.
will did only circumstances account
such nor until even under
1. At no time________he seem to realise what an idiot he was making of himself.
2. At no time before have I heard________arrant nonsense.
3. Not________if they halved the price would I buy such a heap of old rubbish.
4. Under no________must this door be left unlocked.
5. Not________the bell rang did he finish his work.
6. ________the table was a sleeping dog.
7. On no________should you miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
8. Neither was the food up to standard________was the service particularly good.
9. Not for all the money in the world________I do what you’re suggesting.
10. Not________do I know you’re wrong, but I can also prove you’re wrong.
III - Rewrite the following somitoces without changing their original meanings.
1. I have never been to any English-speaking countries before.
At no time______________________________to any English speaking countries before.
2. She rarely has any money to spare.
Rarely______________________________
3. He became so suspicious that he didn‘t even trust his close friend
So suspicious______________________________trust his close friend.
4. If you lent me some more money, I could pay a debt immediately.
Were______________________________immediately.
5. We not only went to the National Park, but we also saw a Habour Bridge in Sydney.
Not______________________________Habour Bridge in Sydney.
6. He hardly ever spoke to anyone at the farewell party.
Hardly______________________________the farewell party.
7. The nation has seldom been faced with such difficulties.
Seldom______________________________such difficulties.
8. They had hardly started playing tennis when it began to rain.
Hardly______________________________it began to rain.
9. A father has seldom sacrificed so much for his child like that.
Seldom______________________________for his child.
10. You should not come home after midnight on any account.
On no account______________________________after midnight.
11. She would not give up her acting career under any circumstances.
Under no circumstances______________________________her acting career.
12. He realized the importance of his wife only after she had left him this morning.
Only after______________________________his wife.
13. They were not able to appreciate the beauty of this town until they visited it.
Not until______________________________the beauty of this town.
14. My father only stays in bed if he is seriously ill.
Only if______________________________
15. We only then realized how much she had suffered during her time here.
Only then______________________________during her time here.
16. The students were only able to do the exercise with a great deal of effort.
Only______________________________the exercise.
17. But for John, we would not have enjoyed ourselves so much.
Had______________________________ourselves so much.
18. Mary had hardly sat down to read her favourite book when the phone rang.
Hardly______________________________the phone rang.
19. You will not be allowed to enter the President Palace under any circumstances.
Under______________________________enter the President Palace.
20. He was so anxious to start a new life that he actually moved to a new house.
So anxious______________________________to a new house
B. PRACTICE EXERCISES
Exercise 1: Give the correct form of the verbs in the blankets.
Question 1: Hardly the new law (introduce)__________________ when the mistake was released.
Question 2: Not only you (be late) __________________, but you also forgot to bring the documents.
Question 3: Only at the end of the interview I (think)_____________ I had a chance of getting the job.
Question 4: Barely the politician (start)_________________ to speak when the crowd began to boo.
Question 5: Seldom we (receive)______________ any apology when mistakes are made.
Question 6: My dad’s never been abroad, and nor my mum (have)_________________.
Question 7: Never in all my life I (see) ________________ such a horrible thing.
Question 8: I (be)_____________ you, I’d start looking for another job.
Question 9: At no time I (suspect)___________________ that he was a killer.
Question 10: Nowhere I (have) ________________ ever such bad service.
Question 11: Not until you (grow up) ______________________ will we let you live independently.
Question 12: Only when the plane landed safely he (calm down) ______________________.
Question 13: Only after I (check)__________________ that the burglars had left, did I call the police.
Question 14: No sooner the company (launch)____________ its new product than it went bankrupt.
Question 15: Under no circumstances employees (allow)________________ to leave the building without
permission.
Question 16: Not only he (spend)___________ all his money but he borrowed some from me as well.
Question 17: Scarcely I (open) _____________ the front door when I heard a noise from the kitchen.
Question 18: Rarely people (care)_______________ about the environment enough to give up driving their
cars.
Question 19: We (win) _______________ the competition, we would have had a free trip to Moscow.
Question 20: No sooner I (accept) ___________ the job than they told me I had to work at weekends.
Question 21: So bad (be) __________her singing that she was booed off the stage.
Question 22: Little he (say) ___________________ about it.
Question 23: Not until she left I (know) ___________ that she had been very important to me.
Question 24: In no way the shop (can hold) ___________ responsible for customers’ lost property.
Question 25: Only when Tom saw his wife’s face he (understand)_______________ the meaning of the
comment.
Question 26: Only by training hard every day you (become)__________________ a good athlete.
Question 27: First (come)______________ the ambulance, then (come)___________ the police.
Question 28: On the grass an enormous frog (sit) ___________________.
Question 29: He had no money, nor he (know)_____________ anybody from whom he could borrow.
Question 30: Not a word he (say) _________when he saw his wife hand in hand with another man.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences using inversions.

Question 1: The only reason the party was a success was that a famous film star attended.
=> Had it not….
Question 2: He had hardly left the office when the telephone rang.
=> No sooner…
Question 3: Alice and Charles did not decide to move to a bigger house until after the birth of their second
child.
=> Only when…
Question 4: If the river rises any higher, the town will be flooded.
=> Should
Question 5: If I were you, I’d accept the offer.
=> Were
Question 6: If the chemical were leaked, a large area of the sea would be contaminated.
=> Were …
Question 7: If it hadn’t been for Henry, I might not have met you.
=> Had …
Question 8: Tom never seems worried about his future.
=> Never …
Question 9: We won’t tell anybody the good news until we’re certain it’s true.
=> Not until …
Question 10: There is a red flower tree near the old pagoda.
=> Near …
Question 11: The dancer moved so gracefully that he appeared to be skating.
=> So …
Question 12: She is so ignorant that she has never paid attention to any boys.
=> Such …
Question 13: You should never park on double yellow lines.
=> Under no circumstances …
Question 14: John certainly can’t be held responsible for the accident.
=> In no way…
Question 15: The police didn’t at all suspect that the judge was the murder.
=> Little…
Question 16: You won’t find fossils like this anywhere else.
=> Nowhere else …
Question 17: She has never been so happy before.
=> Never before …
Question 18: She realized that she didn’t lock the door after the train had left.
=> Only after …
Question 19: It isn’t often that temperatures in Spain fall below 0˚C.
=> Seldom …
Question 20: The door to the basement isn’t to be left open on any account.
=> On no account…
Question 21: The only way you can pass the exam is learning hard.
=> Only by …
Question 22: I only watch television if I don’t have anything else to do.
=> Only when …
Question 23: There was a great castle directly in front of them.
=> Directly in front …
Question 24: Bob didn’t remember his mother’s birthday and his sister’s either.
=> Bob didn’t remember his mother’s birthday, nor …
Question 25: They managed to get our attention only by shouting and waving their arms.
=> Only by …
Question 26: This restaurant rarely gets so crowded.
=> Rarely …
Question 27: You will only understand him if you speak French.
=> Only if …
Question 28: I had barely started speaking when he interrupted me.
=> Barely
Question 29: Harvard is one of the best universities in the world.
=> One …
Question 30: The lion which was lying under the tree was one of the biggest one I had ever seen.
=> Under …

Exercise 3: Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Question 1: _______ had we arrived at the beach when it started pouring with rain.
A. No sooner B. Hardly
C. As soon as D. The minute
Question 2: Not only ______ to determine the depth of the ocean floor, but it is also used to locate oil.
A. seismology is used B. using seismology
C. is seismology used D. to use seismology
Question 3: _______ the phone rang later that night did Ann remember the appointment.
A. No sooner B. Only
 C. Not until D. Just before
Question 4: Not only ______ in the field of psychology but animal behavior is examined as well.
A. is studied human behavior B. is human behavior studied
C. did human behavior study D. human behavior studied
Question 5: _______ be impolite to our parents.
A. Not in any circumstances should we B. In any circumstances shouldn’t we
C. In no circumstances should we D. No circumstances should we not
Question 6: _______ more information, please telephone our main office.
A. You need B. Should you need
C. You should need D. If you needed
Question 7: ______ in my seventies and rather unfit, I might consider taking up squash.
A. Were I not B. Was I not
C. Weren’t I D. If I am not
Question 8: _______, I would invite her to the party.
A. Had I known her B. Should I know her
C. Were I know her D. Were I to know her
Question 9: _______ I known what he was really like, I would never have married him.
A. Have B. Did
C. Had D. Would
Question 10: Seldom _______ such a beautiful sight.
A. have I seen B. I have ever seen
C. I saw D. did I ever see
Question 11: Rarely _______ last longer than an hour.
A. do tornados B. tornados
C. tornados that D. tornados do
Question 12: On the battle field_______.
A. the tanks lay B. did the tanks lie
C. lay the tanks D. lied the tanks
Question 13: _______ pleased with himself.
A. Only after John received the first prize was he
B. Only after John received the first prize he was
C. After John received the first prize only was he
D. After John received the first prize only he was
Question 14: __________ received law degrees as today.
A. Never so many women have B. The women aren’t never
C. Women who have never D. Never have so many women
Question 15: ___________________ most of the soldiers gave up!
A. So was the exercise difficult that B. So difficult was the exercise that
C. So was the exercise difficult that did D. So difficult was the exercise that did
Question 16: ______advised on what and how to prepare for the interview, he might have got the job.
A. Had he been B. If he had
C. Unless he had been D. Were he to be
Question 17: Only by making a good impression _______ the job.
A. will you give B. you will be given
C. you give D. will you be given
Question 18: Little _______ that Ted was a secret agent.
A. did the embassy staff realized B. did the embassy staff realize
C. the embassy staff realized D. realized the embassy staff
Question 19: On no account ________________________.
A. the house should be left unlocked B. left unlocked the house
C. should the house be left unlocked D. should the house left unlocked
Question 20: Only when _______ can we begin the program.
A. has Peter arrived B. Peter has arrived
C. arrived has Peter D. arrived Peter has
Question 21: At no time _______ of anything out of usual.
A. I was aware B. was I aware
 C. do I aware D. I aware
Question 22: Only if _______ can we get into the house.
A. you have a key B. have you a key
C. do you have a key D. have a key do you
Question 23: _______ graduated from college.
A. Nowhere does he found a job after he had B. Not anywhere did he find a job after had he
C. Nowhere did he find a job after had he D. Nowhere did he find a job after he had
Question 24: Scarcely _______ each other since they had a quarrel.
A. do they talk to B. have they talked to
C. were they talk to D. had they talk to
Question 25: Tom: “I don’t believe he’s telling the truth.”
Ann: “ __________ . The facts don’t add up.”
A. So do I B. Neither I do
C. Neither do I D. I don’t neither
Question 26: Fiona: “Jane bought a new dress this morning.”
Betty: “What a coincidence! __________ .”
A. So have I B. Nor did I
C. So did I D. Nor have I
Question 27: _______ during his dinner with us.
A. Not did my grandfather say a single word B. Not said a single word did my grandfather
C. Not my grandfather said a single word D. Not a single word did my grandfather say
Question 28: In no way _______ her wedding.
A. can I come B. I can come to
C. can I come to D. can come to
Question 29: Silently ________________.
A. approaching them is a lion B. a lion is approaching them
C. is a lion approaching them D. a lion approaches them
Question 30: Barely _______ drying her hair when her first guests arrived.
A. had she finish B. she had finished
C. had she finished D. had finished she

Exercise 4: Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in
meaning to each of the following questions.
Question 1: He got down to writing the letter as soon as he returned from his walk.
A. No sooner had he returned from his walk when he got down to writing the letter.
B. Not until he returned from his walk did he get down to writing the letter.
C. Only after he had returned from his walk did he get down to writing the letter.
D. Hardly had he returned from his walk when he got down to writing the letter.
Question 2: She just had time to put up her umbrella before the rain came down in torrents.
A. No sooner had she put up her umbrella than the rain came down in torrents.
B. The rain came down in torrents as soon as she just has time to put up her umbrella.
C. Only when she had put up her umbrella did the rain come down in torrents.
D. If she hadn’t time to put up her umbrella, the rain wouldn’t have come down in torrents.
Question 3: If you want to save your eyesight, you must operate immediately.
A. Unless you want to save your eyesight, you mustn’t operate immediately.
B. Only by operating immediately can you save your eyesight.
C. Provided that you must operate immediately, you can save your eyesight.
D. If you did operate immediately, you couldn’t save your eyesight.
Question 4: I only realized what I had missed when they told me about it later.
A. Only after I had realized what I had missed did they tell me about it later.
B. As soon as they told me about it I realized what I had missed.
C. Only when they told me about it later did I realize what I had missed.
D. They told me about it and I realized what I had missed.
Question 5: The demand was so great that they had to reprint the book immediately.
A. So great was the demand that they had to reprint the book immediately.
B. So great the demand was that they had to reprint the book immediately.
 C. Such great was the demand that they had to reprint the book immediately.
D. Such was the demand great that they had to reprint the book immediately.
Question 6: She was so busy that she couldn’t answer the phone.
A. She was very busy that she couldn’t answer the phone.
B. So busy was she that she couldn’t answer the phone.
C. She was too busy not to answer the phone.
D. She was very busy so that she couldn’t answer the phone
Question 7: She didn’t read the reference books. She wouldn’t be able to finish the test.
A. Had she read the reference books, she would have been able to finish the test.
B. If she had read the reference books, she could finish the test.
C. Although she didn’t read the reference books, she was able to finish the test.
D. Not having read the reference books, she couldn’t finish the test.
Question 8: It was not until the sun was shining brightly that the little girl woke up.
A. No sooner was the sun shining brightly than the little girl woke up.
B. Not until the little girl woke up was the sun shining brightly.
C. Not until the sun was shining brightly did the little girl wake up.
D. As soon as the little girl woke up, the sun hasn’t shone brightly yet.
Question 9: We couldn’t solve the problem until our teacher arrived.
A. Not until we solved the problem could our teacher arrive.
B. When our teacher arrived, we solved the problem.
C. Until our teacher arrived, we were able to solve the problem.
D. Not until our teacher arrived could we solve the problem.
Question 10: The mistake in the accounts was not noticed until the figures were re-checked.
A. It was not until the mistake in the accounts was noticed that the figures were re-checked.
B. Once re-checking the figures, the mistake in the accounts was noticed.
C. The mistake in the accounts only came to light when the figures were re-checked.
D. When the figures were re-checked they came to light the mistake in the accounts.
Question 11: You won’t find a more dedicated worker anywhere than Mrs Jones.
A. Mrs Jones is the most dedicated worker you won’t find nowhere.
B. Nowhere will you find a more dedicated worker than Mrs Jones.
C. Nowhere will not you find a more dedicated worker than Mrs Jones.
D. Mrs Jones can’t be found in nowhere.
Question 12: The outcome of the election was never in doubt.
A. At no time was the outcome of the election in doubt.
B. At no time the outcome of the election was in doubt.
C. Never in doubt was the outcome of the election.
D. By no means was the outcome of the election been suspected.
Question 13: The only way to eliminate world terrorism is by united opposition.
A. Only with united opposition could we eliminate terrorism.
B. Only by united opposition can we eliminate terrorism.
C. Only in this way can world terrorism be eliminated.
D. Only then can we eliminate terrorism.
Question 14: He forgot about the gun until he got home.
A. Not until he got home did he forget about the gun.
B. Not until he got home did he remember about the gun.
C. Not until he had got home did he remember about the gun.
D. Not until he had got home did he forget about the gun.
Question 15: The truth only came out on the publication of the general’s personal diaries.
A. Only by publishing the general’s personal diaries, did the truth come out.
B. Not until the general’s personal diaries published did the truth come out.
C. Hardly were the general’s personal diaries published than the truth came out.
D. Only when the general’s personal diaries were published did the truth come out.

Exercise 5: Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the
following questions.
Question 1: No sooner had he appointed to the post than the new editor fell ill.
 A. had B. appointed
C. than D. fell ill
Question 2: No sooner had the announcement been made when everyone started complaining.
A. No sooner B. been made
C. started D. complaining
Question 3: Had it not been for the dead of the Prime Minister, the bill would have been passed.
A. Had it not been for B. dead
C. the D. would have been passed
Question 4: Not until John had received the offer of promotion in writing he celebrated.
A. Not until B. had received
C. in writing D. he celebrated
Question 5: Only by hard training every day can we become a good athlete.
A. Only B. hard training
C. can we become D. a
Question 6: Never before there have been more people out of work in this country.
A. Never before B. there have
C. more D. out of work
Question 7: Not until I have left home did I realize how much my father meant to me.
A. I have left B. did I realize
C. much D. to me
Question 8: She told his son only when he grew up he could understand it.
A. told B. only when
C. grew up D. he could
Question 9: The witness reported that standing in the doorway a man with a gun was.
A. The B. reported
C. standing D. a man with a gun was
Question 10: Although he has just returned from the United States, not a penny he gets.
A. has just returned B. the
C. not D. he gets
Question 11: Little he knows about the surprise that awaited him when he arrived there.
A. he knows B. about
C. that D. awaited
Question 12: It was not until she arrived home did she remember her appointment with the doctor.
A. arrived B. did she remember
C. with D. the doctor
Question 13: Never in the history of humanity has there been more people living on this relatively small
planet.
A. humanity B. has
C. living D. relatively
Question 14: So extensive the lakes are that they are viewed as the largest bodies of fresh water in the world.
A. the lakes are B. are viewed as
C. largest D. of fresh water
Question 15: It was not until this morning when I heard the notification.
A. this morning B. when
C. heard D. notification
Question 16: Never before have the leaders of those two countries meet in an earnest attempt to
resolve their differences.
A. have B. those
C. meet D. earnest attempt
Question 17: Not until I was on my way to the airport that I realized I had left my passport at home.
A. I was B. that I realized
C. had left D. at home
Question 18: Such was he surprised that he nearly fell off his chair.
A. was B. he surprised
C. nearly D. fell off
Question 19: Has he studied more, he would have been able to pass the exam.
 A. Has he studied B. would have been
C. to pass D. the exam
Question 20: All the way along the winding street he came.
A. All the way B. along
C. winding D. he came
Question 21: Rarely has the federal government of the United States grow during a Republican
administration.
A. has B. federal government
C. the D. grow
Question 22: As fuel prices rose, bus companies raised their fares and neither did the airlines.
A. rose B. raised
C. neither D. did the airlines
Question 23: Not only she passed the exam but she also got a scholarship.
A. she passed B. but she also
C. got D. scholarship
Question 24: Only by working hard you can achieve your goal.
A. working B. hard
C. you can achieve D. goal
Question 25: John never comes to class on time and so does Peter.
A. comes B. on time
C. so D. does Peter
Question 26: Should I needed more help, I could call my neighbors and my friends.
A. I needed B. help
C. could call D. neighbors
Question 27: Hardly had he finished the work than his wife came in with two policemen.
A. had he finished B. than
C. came in D. policemen
Question 28: So fluent does she speak the language that many people think she’s English.
A. fluent B. does she speak
C. that D. English
Question 29: No sooner when had he got home than he was called back to the office.
A. when B. had he got
C. than D. was called back
Question 30: Under no circumstances you should approach the man.
A. Under B. circumstances
C. you should D. approach