MATERIAL TITLE   :          INVERSION IMPORTANT POINTS:   1. Not only…………..but also   a. * Harry not only missed the train but he also lost his case.     * Not only did Harry miss the train, but he also lost his case.   b. * Tony was not only late, but he had also left all his books behind.     * ………. (Not only was Tony late, but he had also left all his books behind)      2. Never / rarely / seldom   a. * I’ve never watched a better match.     * Never have I watched a better match.   b. * It was the most wonderful book I’ve ever read.      * ….…… (Never have I read such a wonderful book)     3. Hardly …… than (Mention that the meaning is ‘shortly after’)   a. * Shortly after she told them her tale, they discovered the skeleton.     * Hardly had she told them her tale than they discovered the skeleton.      b. * The moment I got into the bath, the phone rang.     *  ……… (Hardly had I got into the bath than the phone rang)     4. No sooner …….than (Mention that the main verb is usually in the Past Perfect.)   a. * As soon as she told the story, some archaeologists found the cellar.     * No sooner had she told the story than some archaeologists found the cellar.   b. * The moment she arrived, she started to complain.     * ……… (No sooner had she arrived than she started to complain)     5. Hardly (The meaning is ‘almost never’)   a. * I had hardly stepped out of the bed when the phone rang.     * Hardly had I stepped out of bed when the phone rang. b. * It is hardly ever possible to get an appointment to see him.     * ………(Hardly ever is it possible to get an appointment to see him.)     6. On no condition   a. * You shouldn’t touch these wires on any condition.     * On no condition should you touch these wires. b. * You shouldn’t send money to us by post on any condition.     * …….…. (On no condition should you send us money by post)     7. Not until…..   a. * I didn’t notice that I had the wrong umbrella until I got home.     * Not until I got home did I notice that I had the wrong umbrella. b. * I didn’t know where I was until I asked a passer-by.     * ………. (Not until I asked a passer-by did I know where I was.)     8. Only after….     a. * I remembered that I had forgotten to put on a stamp only after posting the letter.     * Only after posting the letter did I remember that I had forgotten to put on a stamp. b. * I was certain of the answer only after checking three times.     * ……… (Only after checking three times was I certain of the answer)     9. as….    a. * We were short of money. Most people in our neighbourhood were short of money, too.    * We were short of money, as were the most people in our neighbourhood. b. * I thought that the recession would soon be over. My colleagues thought that the recession would soon be over, too.     * …….. (I thought, as did my colleagues, that the recession would soon be over.)     10. Conditionals   a. * If you hear anything, let me know.     * Should you hear anything, let me know.     * If they were to escape, there would be an outcry.   * Were they to escape, there would be an outcry.     * If I had known, I would have protested strongly.   * Had I known, I would have protested strongly.   b. * If she had seen a doctor, she would have been better.      * ………… (Had she seen a doctor, she would have been better.)     ANSWER KEY  1. No sooner had Robert left than the phone rang. 2. Seldom have I stayed in a worse hostel. 3. Not only was Patrick a well-known detective but he also became a successful author as well. 4. Hardly had I glanced at the report when I was asked for my opinion. 5. Had Holmes not explained, Watson would have never understood the case. 6. Never will the Minister give in to public pressure. 7. Only after it has matured for 10 years, is good champagne ready for consumption. 8. No sooner had been / was the team back on the pitch than it started raining. 9. Were I ever tell you a lie, I wouldn’t be able to look you in the eye. 10. Not only do I respect his opinions but I also admire his character. 11. Not until four days had passed did we arrive at the first oasis. 12. Should he cheat in the exam, he will be punished. 13. Hardly had I come home than I noticed the house had been broken into. 14. Jack failed, as did his classmates. 15. Rarely are artists appreciated while they’re still alive.