Emphatic Inversion 1

Ex. 1 Look at the underlined fragments of the following sentences and choose the correct option. NB. Not all the sentences require the use of inversion.

1. Under no circumstances you are allowed / are you allowed to smoke on board.
2. Only in Paris can you see / you can see so many expensive restaurants.
3. At no time did he say / he said / said he who had hurt him.
4. Only Jack and Jill did go up / went up / up they went the hill.
5. Kate said that she had never seen / had she never seen / she never had seen so many tourists in her hometown.
6. Only afterwards did I realise / I realised / realised I that I had made a serious mistake.
7. On no account you must consider / mustn't you consider / must you consider leaving your wife and children!
8. If only had I known / I had known about the snowstorm, I wouldn't have driven / wouldn't I have driven to Fairbanks.

Ex. 2 Paraphrase the following sentences using the beginnings provided so that the meaning changes as little as possible. Do not alter the words provided in any way.

1. This is the most beautiful horse I've ever seen!
Never .......................................................................................................!
2. The king didn't know that his favourite adviser was a spy.
Little ..........................................................................................................
3. Never ever let your children play with matches.
On no ........................................................................................................
4. The general never admitted defeat.
At no time ..................................................................................................
5. If I had worked harder as a student, I would have graduated magna cum laude.
Had ...........................................................................................................
6. Whatever happens, stay indoors.
Under no .................................................................................... outdoors.
7. Everyone was surprised by the fact that Kate decided to move to Madrid.
That ............................................................................. surprised everyone.
8. Nobody knows why John dyed his hair pink.
Why ..........................................................................................................
9. In case you need help, just call me and we'll arrange a meeting.
Should .......................................................................................................
10. We won't start the show until the musicians arrive.
Only ..........................................................................................................
11. As soon as we left the building, it started to rain.
Hardly .......................................................................................................
12. The moment she fell asleep, her baby began to cry.
Scarcely ....................................................................................................
13. As soon as the door closed, the girls began to laugh.
No sooner .............................................................................. into laughter.
14. I hardly ever meet such interesting people.
Seldom .....................................................................................................

Ex. 3. Four of the following sentences contain an error. Correct the errors and write 'OK' next to the correct sentence.

1. Only in Wales you can see so many sheep.
2. If had I known you were getting divorced, I wouldn't have asked you to give my best to your wife.
3. Little did we know that we would never see our old house again.
4. Never before I have been so surprised!
5. Nobody does know as much about computers as Jack.

KEY

Ex. 1 1. are you allowed, 2. can you see, 3. did he say, 4. went up, 5. she had never seen, 6. did I realise, 7. must you consider, 8. I had known, I wouldn't have driven
Ex. 2 1. ...(before) have I seen such a beautiful horse! 2. ...did the king know/realise that his favourite adviser was a spy. 3. ...account must you / can you / are you allowed to let your children play with matches. 4. ...did the general admit defeat. 5. ...I worked harder as a student, I would have graduated magna cum laude. 6. ...circumstances can you / may you / must you / are you allowed to go/venture... 7. ...Kate decided to move to Madrid... 8. ...John dyed his hair pink, nobody knows. 9. ...you need help, just call me and we'll arrange a meeting. 10. ...when the musicians arrive will we start the show. 11. ...had we left the building, when it started to rain. 12. ...had she fallen asleep, when her baby began to cry. 13. ...had the door closed than the girls broke... . 14. ...do I meet such interesting people.
Ex. 3 1. can you see, 2. If I had known / Had I known, 3. OK, 4. have I been, 5. Nobody knows