The document discusses two types of inversion in grammar: question inversion and subject-verb inversion. It then focuses on inversion that occurs after negative adverbials, providing examples of adverbials that trigger inversion such as "never", "rarely", and "hardly". It notes that inversion commonly uses past or perfect verb tenses and contains comparatives. Specific rules are provided for the inversion patterns triggered by time expressions like "no sooner than" and "only after".
The document discusses two types of inversion in grammar: question inversion and subject-verb inversion. It then focuses on inversion that occurs after negative adverbials, providing examples of adverbials that trigger inversion such as "never", "rarely", and "hardly". It notes that inversion commonly uses past or perfect verb tenses and contains comparatives. Specific rules are provided for the inversion patterns triggered by time expressions like "no sooner than" and "only after".
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Pages From Advanced Language Practice - Michael Vince-2
The document discusses two types of inversion in grammar: question inversion and subject-verb inversion. It then focuses on inversion that occurs after negative adverbials, providing examples of adverbials that trigger inversion such as "never", "rarely", and "hardly". It notes that inversion commonly uses past or perfect verb tenses and contains comparatives. Specific rules are provided for the inversion patterns triggered by time expressions like "no sooner than" and "only after".
The document discusses two types of inversion in grammar: question inversion and subject-verb inversion. It then focuses on inversion that occurs after negative adverbials, providing examples of adverbials that trigger inversion such as "never", "rarely", and "hardly". It notes that inversion commonly uses past or perfect verb tenses and contains comparatives. Specific rules are provided for the inversion patterns triggered by time expressions like "no sooner than" and "only after".
Inversion The term inversion covers two different grammatical operations.
• Using a question form of the main verb Not only did he fail to report the accident, but also later denied that he had been driving the car. Never have I enjoyed myself more! • Changing the normal positions of verb and subject Along the street came a strange procession. See Grammar 14 for an explanation of this example. Inversion after • This only occurs when the adverbial occurs at the beginning of a clause. negative All the examples below are used in formal language, usually for rhetorical adverbials effect, such as in political speeches. They are not usual in everyday spoken language. Compare: Never have I heard a weaker excuse! I have never heard a weaker excuse! • Time expressions: never, rarely, seldom These are most commonly used with present perfect or past perfect, or with modals such as can and could. Sentences of this type often contain comparatives. Rarely can a minister have been faced with such a problem. Seldom has the team given a worse performance. Rarely had I had so much responsibility. • Time expressions: hardly, barely, scarcely, no sooner These refer to an event which quickly follows another in the past. They are usually used with past perfect, although no sooner can be followed by past simple. Note the words used in the contrasting clause. Hardly had the train left the station, when there was an explosion. Scarcely had I entered the room when the phone rang. No sooner had I reached the door than I realised it was locked. No sooner was the team back on the pitch than it started raining. • After only Here only combines with other time expressions and is usually used with past simple. Only after posting the letter did 1 remember that I had forgotten to put on a stamp. Other examples are only if/when, only then, only later.