Ch 6
Inversion: Only, Little, So and Such
Only when I read it did I… · Not until later… · Little did she know · So nervous was she… · On the hill stood…
At B2 you inverted after negative words: Never have I…, No sooner had…. C1 adds only and not until, little, so / such, and inversion after a place.
Only when I read the letter did I understand.
Only after the match did we hear the news.
Not until later did I realise my mistake.
Invert the second clause, not the first: Only when I read it did I…
Little did she know that they were planning a party.
Little did we realise how hard it would be.
So + adjective + be + subject + that … · Such + be + noun + that …
So nervous was she that she forgot her lines.
Such was the noise that we had to leave.
On the hill stood a large oak tree.
Into the room walked the headteacher.
Here comes the bus! · There goes our train.
With a pronoun, no inversion: Here it comes (not Here comes it).
Only when did I read it I understood.
→
Only when I read it did I understand.
invert the main clause
Little she knew about the plan.
→
Little did she know about the plan.
little + did + subject
So nervous she was that she forgot.
→
So nervous was she that she forgot.
so + adjective + be + subject
Here comes it!
→
Here it comes!
pronoun → no inversion
Use the C1 inversions.
1
Finish: Not until I moved out did I realise…
2
Tell a surprise story with Little did … know.
3
Describe a strong feeling: So … was I that…
4
Describe a picture or a place starting with a place phrase: In the corner sat…
Recap
only
Only when / after … + inverted main clause
Only then did I understand.
not until
Not until … + inverted main clause
Not until later did I realise.
little
Little did + subject + verb
Little did she know.
so
So + adj + be + subject + that
So tired was he that …
such
Such + be + noun + that
Such was the noise that …
place
place + verb + subject
On the hill stood a tree.