CONNECTIVES, Inversion

Focus on Grammar REVISION:

CONNECTIVES

1. Choose the best answer. 1. Karen is rich; ___, her cousin Kate is poor. a. therefore b. however c. otherwise 2. You’d better take a taxi. ___, you’ll arrive late. a. Consequently b. Furthermore c. Otherwise 3. I enjoy reading this new magazine. ___, it has good articles. a. Moreover b. Nevertheless c. However 4. Jack wasn’t tired. ___, he took a nap. a. Otherwise b. Hence c. Nevertheless 5. Phil was not thirsty; ___, he drank five glasses of water. a. however b. moreover c. furthermore 6. The kids didn’t study. ___, they failed the course. a. Therefore b. Nevertheless c. Otherwise 7. The weather was terrible. ___, we decided to delay our trip. a. Furthermore b. Besides c. Therefore

EMPHASIS Explanation: Inversion

Inversion is a change in normal word order, such as the placement of a verb before its subject. Inversion can be grammatical and emphatic. The latter is used to give emphasis or to be rhetorical in more formal situations, in political speeches, on the news, and also in literature. Some native speakers may also use them occasionally in day-to-day conversation.

In normal everyday English, inversion is used:

1. • to make questions: e.g. Does he? Can you?

2. • after so, neither, nor: e.g. So do I. Neither do I. Nor do I.

2. In formal English conditional sentences can be formed by inversion of subject and auxiliary. Also, if is removed: e.g. Were I you, I would visit my father (=If I were you, I would visit my father.) Had I known this fact before, I wouldn’t have come here. (If I had known this fact before, I wouldn’t come here.)

3. Inversion not only can be used to form questions and conditional sentences. Also, we can use inversion for emphasis. In written English, as well as in a very formal style, inversion is used after certain words and expressions. They are then followed by the interrogative (i.e. inverted) form of the verb.

• After negative adverbs and adverbial expressions the most important of which are: hardly ever, scarcely ever, at no time, under no circumstances/on no account, not only ... but also, little, nowhere, not till, so, neither/nor. e.g. Under no circumstances can we accept these documents. In no way can he be held responsible. At no time did she say she would come.

• After adverbial expressions of place: e.g. Round the corner came the postman.

• After seldom, rarely, never: e.g. Seldom have I seen such a beautiful view. Rarely did he pay anyone a compliment. Never had I felt so happy.

• After hardly/scarcely ... when, no sooner ... than when one thing happens after another: e.g. Hardly had I begun to speak when I was interrupted. Scarcely had we started our meal when the phone rang. No sooner had I arrived than they all started to argue. • After adverbial expressions beginning with 'only: e.g. Only after the meeting did I realize the importance of the subject.

• After exclamations with here and there: e.g. Here comes the winner! There goes all our money!

• With the construction to ... that. This is a common inversion, usually used with an adjective and the verb be. It can also be used with much:

e.g. So exciting was the soap opera, that I forgot to do my English homework. So much did she love John that she would not give him up.

• With the construction such ... that. Used with the verb be and a noun, it means so much or so great: e.g. Such was the popularity of the soap opera, that the streets were deserted whenever it was on. All these structures are rather literary, which means they are more likely to appear in books.

2. Choose the correct option.

1. In no circumstances would I accept/I would accept this! 2. Nowhere else you will find/will you find such nice people! 3. Only in the USA I have seen /have I seen such high building! 4. Not only he is handsome but is he also rich/ is he handsome but is he also rich/but is he handsome but he is also rich! 5. No sooner had I thrown him out that he tried/I had thrown him out than he tried to come in again! 6. Rarely will you see him in the library/you will see him in the library! 7. Never in my life will I talk to her again/I will talk to her again! 8. On no account must you repeat this/you must repeat this!

3. Rewrite the sentences using inversion.

1. I had hardly begun to apologize when the door closed. 2. I have seldom heard such a talented singer. 3. If John had known that she liked curry, he would have brought her to an Indian restaurant. 4. The artist rarely paid any attention to his agent’s advice. 5. He had never felt so depressed. 6. The shop can in no way be held responsible for customers’ lost property. 7. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the ceremony. 8. Tom only understood the meaning of the comment when he saw his wife’s face. 9. She never at any time said that she was allergic to cats. 10. The restaurant cannot accept animals under any circumstances.

Text comprehension 4. a. Put these sentences in the correct order to make a conversation.

1. Oh, I see. And what about Thursday? Are you working then? 2. Are you very busy next week? 3. Would you like to have Chinese, Indian or Italian food? 4. Would you like to come for a meal with me next Wednesday or Thursday? 5. Let’s have Chinese. 6. No, I’m not. That would be great. 7. I’m quite busy. Why? 8. Yes, I’d love to, but I can’t on Wednesday. I’m working that evening.

b. Write the conversation in reported speech.