1. INVERSION EXPLANATION
We invert the subject and auxiliary verb in the sentence to give emphasis. This happens:
- After certain expressions when they are at the beginning of a sentence.
| Seldom |
In / Under no circumstances |
| Rarely |
Never |
| Scarcely (ever)... when |
Nowhere |
| Hardly (ever)... when |
Never before |
| No sooner... than |
Not only... but also |
| On no occasion |
In no way |
| Nor / Neither |
Not even once |
| On no account |
Only in this way |
| Little |
Barely |
Rarely do we see him these days.
No sooner had we got into the house than he phoned us.
- When the following expressions begin a sentence, we use inversion in the main clause.
Only after, only by, only if, only when, not till / until, not since.
Only after he had graduated, did he start looking for a job.
Only if you invite her, will she come to your party.
Not until all tests had been completed, were we told the results.
- After so, such, to such a degree (in result clauses) when they are at the beginning of a sentence.
So careful is he that he never makes any mistakes.
Such a brilliant student was he that he was offered a scholarship.
- With should, were, had in conditionals at the beginning of the sentence when “if” is omitted.
Type 1: Should you see him, tell him to call me. (= If you should see him...)
Type 2: Were I you, I would cancel my trip. (= If I were you...)
Type 3: Had he known, he would have made arrangements. (= If he had known...)
- After so, neither / nor, as when expressing agreement.
“I hate horror films.” “So do I.” (“So” is used to agree with an affirmative statement.)
“Jane hasn’t returned our calls.” “Neither / Nor has her husband.” (“Neither / Nor” are used to agree with a negative statement).
His colleagues respected him as did his boss.
The subject and the main verb are also usually inverted in the following structures:
Here comes the bride!
Away ran the thief!
- In Direct speech when the reporting verb comes after the quote and the subject is a noun.
“I’ve never seen him,” said Helen.
2. VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUND AND INFINITIVE
| VERBS + ...ING |
VERBS + INFINITIVE |
VERBS –ING or INFINITIVEWith no or little difference in meaning |
Can’t face |
To afford |
To attempt |
Can’t help |
To agree |
To begin |
|
To aim |
To bother |
To admit |
To appear |
Can’t bear |
To appreciate |
To arrange |
Can’t stand |
To avoid |
To ask |
To cease |
To burst out |
To beg |
To continue |
To consider |
To campaign |
To deserve |
To contemplate |
To care |
To dread |
To defer |
To choose |
To fear |
To delay |
To consent |
To hate |
To deny |
To dare |
To intend |
To dislike |
To decide |
To like |
To enjoy |
To demand |
To love |
To fancy |
To fear |
To prefer |
To finish |
To expect |
To start |
To get round to |
To fail |
|
To give up |
To fight |
|
To go on |
To guarantee |
VERBS WITH BOTH and a difference in meaning |
To imagine |
To happen |
|
To involve |
To help |
To forget |
To justify |
To hesitate |
To remember |
To keep |
To hope |
To go on |
To keep on |
To long |
To mean |
To loathe |
To manage |
To regret |
To mention |
To need |
To stop |
To mind |
To neglect |
To try |
To miss |
To offer |
|
To postpone |
To pause |
|
To practise |
To plan |
|
To prevent |
To prepare |
VERBS FOLLOWED BY OBJECT + TO + INFINITIVE |
To put off |
To pretend |
|
To recall |
To promise |
|
To recommend |
To propose |
TO ENCOURAGE SBY TO DO STHG |
To resent |
To prove |
TO FORCE SBY TO DO STHG |
To resist |
To refuse |
TO HELP SBY TO DO STHG |
To risk |
To seem |
TO REMIND SBY TO DO STHG |
To save |
To swear |
|
To spend time |
To tend |
VERBS + OBJECT + INFINITIVE |
To suggest |
To threaten |
|
To tolerate |
To trouble |
|
To understand |
To undertake |
TO HELP SBY DO STHG |
To waste time |
To vow |
TO LET SBY DO STHG |
|
To wait |
TO MAKE SBY DO STHG (PASSIVE : To be made TO do sthg) |
|
To want |
|
|
To wish |
|
|
To year |
|
