Inversion Inversion means putting the verb before the subject. Are you John's parents?

Does your sister have a mobile phone? Inversion occurs: in questions including question tags Did she pass the test? You're telling the truth, aren't you? Note: Inversion does not occur in questions beginning with who, whose, which, what, etc. when these words are the subject of the sentence. Who invented the telephone? Compare: Compare: in exclamations Isn't it cold today! Here comes my brother! There goes the train! Note: In exclamations beginning with here and there, inversion is used only when the subject is a noun. There is no inversion when the subject is a pronoun. Here he comes! Compare: Compare: Here comes the sun! There goes my bus! There it goes! Who did you see at the party? Whose car was he driving? Whose car was stolen?

in emphatic sentences beginning with a negative word or idea Never have I heard such a weird story. Seldom does he go out in the evening. Rarely do people use abacuses nowadays. Not only did he lie to you, but he also kept us all in the dark.

Note: If these negatives are not put at the beginning, the sentence or clause is not in the inverted order. I have never heard such a weird story. He not only lied to you, but he also kept us all in the dark. after adverbial expressions beginning with only Only by constant practice can we improve our language skills. after neither, nor and so Paul: I'm bored with the programme. Ted: So am I. Let's turn off the television and do some reading instead. Lily: I don't like pork. Kate: Neither do I. Note: We can also use so in a short answer instead of a yes-answer. Fred: This watch is expensive. John: So it is. (= Yes, it is.) In this case there is no inversion. Compare: Lily: Jane is here. when they see each other? after as when similarity, not comparison, is expressed Tony failed in the test, as did some of his classmates. in sentences beginning with adverbs or adverbial expressions which do not usually have front position Often have I heard it said that corruption doesn't pay. Twice has he been warned to keep away from drugs. Ann: So is her ex-boyfriend. (= Her ex is here, too) Will they be embarrassed

in conditional sentences not introduced by if Had I been there, I might have been able to help. Compare: Compare: If I had been there, I might have been able to help. If you (should) need any help, please let us know. Should you need any help, please let us know.

in the there + be structure to express existence There were three of us on the train. after verbs of reporting Show me your I.D. card, said the policeman. Note: After direct speech, we can put the reporting verb say and ask before the subject. However, we do not do this when the subject is a pronoun. Show me your I.D. card, he said. after adverbial expressions of place On top of the mountain lies the old temple. Note: When we put the adverbial expressions such as near the house, under the hill, not far from the station, etc. at the beginning of the sentence, they are usually followed by intransitive verbs like come, lie, stand, etc. and the subject. We do not use do, does, or did in this structure.

Look at the responses to these dialogues and then write the questions using the given words. 1 2 Alan: When ____________________________________(your birthday / be)? Mike: May 20th. Jane: I called you last night but nobody answered the phone. Where ________________________(you / go)? Ann: That's strange. I stayed at home all evening. 3 Ruth: Can you give me the dictionary? Paul: Sure. Which one ______________________(you / want)? There are two on the shelf. Ruth: The thick one, please.

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Lily:

Why ______________________________(your sister / see) a doctor?

Jane: She had a fever. Stan: I got Rebecca's letter yesterday. Ron: What ________________________(she / say)? Stan: She has a job at a supermarket. 6 Fred: I've been collecting stamps since I was ten. Dave: How many stamps ____________________________(you / collect) so far? Fred: About two hundred. 7 Ted: I'd like to buy a yo yo. Can you lend me some money? Tom: Sure. How much _________________________(you / need)? Ted: Twenty dollars will do. 8 Jane: We're going to the waterfront park. Are you coming? Jack: In such weather? Whose idea ____________________(it / be)? Jane: Kate's. She called just now. 9 Dave: Melinda is getting married next month. Jim: 10 Are you serious? Who ____________________________(she / be planning to) marry? Dave: Her boyfriend Tom. Dan: I've just repaired your clock. The alarm can now go off at the set time without fail. Kate: That's wonderful. How ______________________(you / do) it? Dan: I'll show you some day. Complete these sentences by putting the given words in the right order. Add do, does, or did where necessary and make subsequent changes as required. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never ____________________(I / have seen) such a spectacular fireworks display. Rarely ____________________(she / is) late for an appointment. In no way _______________________________(they / can possibly help) you. Under no circumstances ________________________(I / will take) such drugs. In the middle of the square ________________________________(a bronze statue / stand). Not far from the village _________________________(a big lake / lie) with water sparkling in the sun. Little ___________________(I / knew) that she was very ill at that time.

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On top of the hill ________________________(an old church / is), which is one of the tourist attractions of the city. At no time ___________________________(she / mentioned) that she was your sister. Hardly ____________________________(I / had locked) the door when I heard the telephone ring.

Your friend is telling you something. Form a response by using the information given and so, nor or neither. 1 Your brother is a member of the Junior Police. Your friend: I've joined the JPC. You: 2 So has my brother. You are not interested in stamps. Your friend: I don't collect stamps. You: 3 Nor / Neither do I. You think that everybody should be responsible for what they do. Your friend: I find people who have no sense of responsibility annoying. You: 4 _____________________________________________________________ You know that Sophia plans to visit Lantau Island on Sunday. Your friend: I've just heard that Lilian and Kate are going to Lantau Island on Sunday. You: 5 _______________________________. I wonder if they're going together. You have a cold. Your friend: I'm not feeling very well today. You: 6 ____________________________________________________ Some of the girls you know are on a diet. Your friend: My sister doesn't eat chocolate. You: 7 ______________________________________________. It seems that they're always worried about their weight. You are Jacky Cheung's fan. Your friend: I miss Jacky Cheung's concerts. You: ___________________________. I think he's the best singer in the territory.

Your father usually has breakfast at home. Your friend: My father seldom leaves home for work without breakfast. You: ________________________________. He says he enjoys the coffee that my mother makes.

Your flat is in a high-rise building. It faces south. Your friend: We rarely use our air-conditioner in summer. You: ___________________________. We don't even have to use our fan.

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Your grandparents enjoy having tea at a restaurant in the morning. Your friend: My grandfather loves tea more than anything else. You: ______________________________________. They always start their day with a few cups of tea at a restaurant near our house

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Both you and your friend have received an invitation to Brian's party. Your friend: I was invited to Brian's party. You: ___________________________________. Are you going?

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Both Ann and her brother failed the driving test. Your friend: Ann didn't pass the driving test. You: ___________________________________. They must be very upset.

Rewrite these sentences. Begin each sentence with the given words. Make only those changes which are necessary. 1 2 3 4 5 6 We seldom see Miss Tong wearing jeans. Seldom do we see Miss Tong wearing jeans. He did not succeed until his third attempt. It was not until _______________________________________________________ He is modest as well as clever. Not only __________________________, but he is also clever. As soon as she smelt something burning, she jumped out of bed. No sooner __________________________________________________________ Immediately after they received the report, the firemen rushed to the scene. Hardly _____________________________________________________________ They met again after five long years. Only after __________________________________________________________

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You are not allowed to try such drugs under any circumstances. Under no circumstances ________________________________________________ I was at no time aware of what was happening. At no time ___________________________________________________________ He should not be encouraged to do that. In now way __________________________________________________________ The weather was so hot that we lost our appetite. So hot ____________________________ that we lost our appetite.