Page 120 - Grasp English C1 (Student Book)

9 Law and Order

Grammar Conditionals and inversions

Inversion of the subject and the first auxiliary verb is These adverbs do not have inversion in the clause
used in some formal and literary situations. which immediately follows, but the second clause
In these cases, do/does is used with a simple tense should be inverted.
verb, and did is used with a past tense verb.
Only if/Only when/Only after
Not until
Inversion occurs if a sentence starts with these
negative adverbs:
Only if the crisis worsens will the government
Seldom, never (before), rarely, only once/by chance intervene.
/in this way, At no time/Under no circumstances Inversion can be used in some conditional
(+ should), Little… know/realise, Not until...
sentences instead of if.
Seldom does the CEO visit the office.
If + present simple Should + subject + infinitive
Only once has he visited in the last three years.
If you need… Should you need…
At no time should you use this door.
If + subject + past perfect
Little did we know the trouble we caused.
Had + subject + past participle
Not until August did he cancel his subscription.
If you had asked, … had you asked, …

These adverbs require inversion in the first clause, plus
a second clause which is not inverted.
No sooner…than/when
Correct the mistakes.
Barely/scarcely… when, ...
1. Rarely people do visit this place.
Not only… but...
2. No sooner had he arrived he left again.
No sooner had we arrived when we were called into 3. If had you invited him, he would have started
a meeting. an argument.

A. Choose the correct word to complete the sentences.

1. should you interrupt me when I am at work.
a) No sooner b) Under no circumstances c) Only if
2. were we soaking wet, but we were also freezing cold.
a) Not only b) No sooner c) Not until
3. had we sat down when the film started.
a) Not until b) Scarcely c) Little
4. did Emma realise the effect her words would have.
a) Little b) Scarcely c) Not until
5. had we visited this island before.

a) Only if b) Only once c) Only when
6. were we told any of this information.
a) Only when b) At no time c) Had

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