Fronting and Concessive Inversion

Reference

Common mistakes

1. Strange it may seem though, I like it. → Strange though it may seem, I like it.
   adjective + though + subject + verb
2. A child though she was, she understood. → Child though she was, she understood.
   no article in noun fronting
3. Try as I might, but I failed. → Try as I might, I failed.
   no but after the concessive clause
4. She agreed, as did he it. → She agreed, as did he.
   as + auxiliary + subject

Fronting and Concessive Inversion — Exercises

Choose the correct form

Circle the correct answer.

1. _____ it may sound, I prefer winter. (Strange though / Though strange / Strange as though)
2. Try _____ , I couldn't remember her name. (as I might / though I might / I might as)
3. _____ I admire her, I think she's wrong. (Much as / As much / Much though as)
4. He voted against it, as _____ most of his colleagues. (did / were / have)
5. _____ are the days of cheap flights. (Gone / Going / Went)
6. _____ in the corner was an old piano. (Standing / Stood it / To stand)
7. _____ though he was, he refused to give up. (Exhausted / He exhausted / An exhausted)
8. She won the race, as _____ . (she had promised / had promised she / did promised she)

Rewrite the sentence

Complete the second sentence so it means the same.

1. Although she was talented, she struggled. (THOUGH) →   she was, she struggled.
2. However hard I tried, I couldn't win. (TRY) →   I might, I couldn't win.
3. Although I like him a lot, I disagree. (MUCH) →   I like him, I disagree.
4. Her brother went to university, and so did she. → She went to university, as   her brother.
5. The days when people wrote letters have gone. →   the days when people wrote letters.
6. Although it seems odd, it's true. (ODD) →   it may seem, it's true.

Fronting and Concessive Inversion — Answer Key

Choose the correct form

1. Strange though — adjective + though + subject + verb.
2. as I might — Try as I might.
3. Much as — Much as + subject + verb.
4. did — as + did + subject.
5. Gone — Gone are the days.
6. Standing — Participle fronting → Standing in the corner was …
7. Exhausted — Adjective fronting → Exhausted though he was.
8. she had promised — With a pronoun → no inversion: as she had promised.

Rewrite the sentence

1. Talented though
2. Try as
3. Much as
4. did
5. Gone are
6. Odd though