Emphatic inversion 2

Ex. Use emphatic inversion to paraphrase the following sentences so that the meaning remains as similar as possible.

1. We have seldom faced such a serious threat.
Seldom .............................................................
2. I have never witnessed so much cruelty.
Never ...............................................................
3. The novel was so popular that people queued for hours to buy a copy.
So .....................................................................
4. The book was in such great demand that people queued for hours to buy a copy.
Such .................................................................
5. The moment the sun came out, tourists flocked to the beach.
Hardly ..............................................................
6. As soon as Fiona began her lecture, the microphone broke down.
No sooner ........................................................
7. I didn't think she was in trouble at all.
Not for .............................................................
8. The children came home and only then realised their dog was missing.
Not until ..........................................................
9. The minister did not realise a detective was following him.
Little ...............................................................
10. The war caused not only a humanitarian crisis but also an economic one.
Not only..........................................................
11. You may be smart but you can't be lazy if you want to succeed.
Smart .............................................................
12. I like Tracy but I could never be her boyfriend.
Much .............................................................
13. The princess almost never talks about her private life.
Rarely ...........................................................
14. The student failed mathematics and often played truant.
Not only ........................................................
15. You can learn English only if you work hard.
Only .............................................. succeed ..................


KEY
1. Seldom have we faced such a serious threat. 2. Never have I witnessed so much cruelty. 3. So popular was the novel that people queued for hours to buy a copy. 4. Such was the demand for the book that ... 5. Hardly had the sun come out when tourists flocked to the beach. 6. No sooner had Fiona begun her lecture than the microphone broke down. 7. Not for a (single) moment did I think she was in trouble. 8. Not until the children came home did they realise their dog was missing. 9. Little did the minister realise that a detective was following him. 10. Not only did the war cause a humanitarian crisis, nut it also caused an economic crisis/one. 11. Smart as/though you are, you can't be lazy if you want to succeed. 12. Much as I like Tracy, I could never be her boyfriend. 13. Rarely does the princess talk about her private life. 14. Not only did the student fail mathematics, but he/she also often played truant. 15. Only by working hard can you succeed in learning English.

Emphasis: Cleft sentences and wh-fronting

This post is loosely based on the structures dealt with in Unit 14 of Michael Vince's Advanced Languge Practice (1994).

Ex. 1. Paraphrase the following sentences using the words provided so that the meaning remains as similar as possible. e.g. 0. Iwant the blue one!  It is the blue one that I want!

1. I don't know where Johnny found that rusty knife.
Where ........................................................................
2. We don't know why Pauline left her husband.
Why ...........................................................................
3. Kate was the person who drove me home.
It ................................................................................
4. In the end Kate drove me home.
What Kate .................................................................
5. A cup of coffee is all I need now.
What ........................................................................
All ...........................................................................
6. California was the place where Julia met her boyfriend.
It ..............................................................................
7. Whatever are you doing with my glasses?!
............... earth are ..................................................?!
8. On Monday we finally got back home.
It ..............................................................................
9. She works 10 hours a day and goes to the gym three times a week. I have no idea how she manages to do it all.
She works 10 hours a day and goes to the gym three times a week. How ...............................
10. No, Jack lives in Norway, not Sweden.
No, it ......................................................................
11. The reason why we stayed home was that it was raining.
It was ......................................................................

KEY
1. Where Johnny found that rusty knife I don't know.
2. Why (ever) Pauline left her husband we don't know.
3. It was Kate who/that drove me home.
4. What Kate did in the end was (to) drive me home.
5. What I need now is a cup of coffee. All (that) I need now is a cup of coffee.
6. It was in California that/where Julia met her boyfriend.
7. What on earth are you doing with my glasses?!
8. It was (on) Monday that/when we finally got back home.
9. How she manages to do it all I have no idea.
10. No, it is in Norway that/where Jack lives, not Sweden.
11. It was because it was raining that we stayed home. / It was the rain that made us stay home.

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