Inversion & Emphasis

Grammar Reference

Inversion & Emphasis — Exercises

Choose the correct inverted form

1. Never _____ such a beautiful view.
   (I had seen / had I seen / I have seen) 
2. Not only _____ the exam, she also came first.
   (she passed / did she pass / she did pass) 
3. Hardly _____ sat down when the alarm rang.
   (had I / I had / have I) 
4. So _____ the test that most students failed.
   (was difficult / difficult was / difficult it was) 
5. No sooner _____ arrived than it started raining.
   (had we / we had / we have) 
6. Only then _____ how serious it was.
   (I realised / did I realise / I did realise) 
7. Such _____ her enthusiasm that we all joined in.
   (was / it was / had been) 
8. Rarely _____ so engaged in a lecture.
   (I have been / have I been / I had been) 

Rewrite using inversion

1. I had never eaten so well.
   
2. She had hardly left when it started.
   
3. He not only forgot the keys but also his wallet.
   
4. I realised the truth only then.
   

Exercise three — Production

1. Write a sentence using negative inversion after "Never", "Not only", or "Rarely".
   
2. Write a sentence using "So + adjective + was..." inversion.
   

Inversion & Emphasis — Answer Key

Choose the correct inverted form

1. had I seen
2. did she pass
3. had I
4. difficult was
5. had we
6. did I realise
7. was
8. have I been

Rewrite using inversion

1. Never had I eaten so well.
2. Hardly had she left when it started.
3. Not only did he forget the keys but he also forgot his wallet.
4. Only then did I realise the truth.

Exercise three — Production

1. Open answer — graded automatically online; no single fixed model answer.
2. Open answer — graded automatically online; no single fixed model answer.