INVERSION IN ENGLISH

What is an inversion?

 Certain words and phrases can be put at the beginning of a sentence. When this happens, inversion is used, which means placing the verb before the subject. In cases where the tense does not use an auxiliary verb in the affirmative, such as the present simple or the past simple, one must be added. 

Why do we use an inversion?

 To give emphasis or literary or dramatic effect in formal writing and speech.

 When do we use an inversion?

 1. Inversion after negative adverbs and adverbs expressions:

         Never, rarely, seldom, hardly ever, not once (These are most commonly used with present perfect        or past perfect, or with modals such as can and could.

 

Never have I felt better

Rarely had his father been more helpful.

 

 Hardly…when, barely…when, scarcely…when, no sooner….than  These refer to an event which quickly follows another in the past. They are usually used with past perfect, although no sooner can be followed by past simple.

 

Hardly had I arrived home when the phone rang.

No sooner was she back home than she realized her mistake.

 

-                  Expressions containing the word no: Under no circumstances, On no account, At no time, In              no way.

Under no circumstances can customers pay in cash.

In no way do I agree with you.

     Not since, not until, only after, only then, only if, only when, only once, only by (+ verb-ing): in       these expressions, the inversion comes in the second part of the sentence

 

Only when we arrived home did I realize I had lost my purse

Only by working hard, did he get the job.

 

-                In Not only…….. but also inversion is used.

 

Not only did we lose our money, but also we had an accident.

 

     little with a negative meaning

 

Little do they know how lucky they are to live in such a wonderful house.

 2. Conditional clauses in which, if is replaced

   First conditional: replace if with should

Should he call, please tell me.

-          Second conditional: replace if with were and verb in infinitive with to

Were I to meet the Queen of England, I would be delighted.

-          Third conditional: delete if and invert the subject and the auxiliary verb.

Had I my alarm clock worked, I would not have missed the flight.

 

3. Inversion with so/such ……that

       - so+ adjective/little/few/much/many

                        So little did he know about her that he didn't know her name.

                        So exhausted was she that she fell asleep on the couch.

      - such + noun

                        Such was the film's popularity that the cinema was full every day.

EXERCISES:  1   / 2   / 3   / 4   / 5   / 

APTIS GRAMMAR

The grammar test consists of 25 multiple choice questions. It tests things such as prepositions, articles, tense verbs, linkers and so on. There is one mark for each answer.

Here you have some exercises: test 1, test 2, test 3

GRAMMAR A2 / B1 / B2 AND C1

Tests are coming closer and you may need to check your grammar.
This link GRAMMAR EXERCISES can help you. Choose your level and the point of grammar you need to study.

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES: REWRITE THE SENTENCES

Rewrite the following sentences so that they have the same meaning as the original.

First condititonal exercise

Second conditional exercise

Third conditional exercise

Mixed conditional exercises: exercise 1 / exercise 2 / exercise 3 / exercise 4 / exercise 5

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES EXERCISES: FILL IN THE GAPS

Here are some exercises on conditional sentences

Conditional type 1: A / B / C / D / E / F / G /

Conditional type 2: A / B / C / D / E / F / G /

Conditional type 3: A / B / C / D / E / F / G /

Conditional type 1,2 and 3: A / B / C / D / E / F / G /

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES EXPLANATION

Conditional clauses begin with if. The conditional clause can come before or after the main clause. We have to use a comma at the end of the conditional clause when it comes first.

Examples: You'll fail if you don’t work harder.                

                    If you study, you’ll pass your exam.

We can use unless instead of If…not. It is very often used with first conditional:

Example:   Unless you study, you will fail your exam
FIRST CONDITIONAL

We use first conditional to talk about events which are possible.  It can refer to the future or the present.

Conditional clause     Main clause

If + present simple     future simple

If it rains,                  we’ll stay at home

If + present simple     modal verb

If you hurry,              you can be on time

If + present simple     imperative

SECOND CONDITIONAL

We use second conditional for unlikely situations in the present.

Conditional clause     Main clause

If + past simple            conditional                         

If I had money,            I would retire.

If + past simple            could

If I had money,            I could retire.

If + past simple            might

If I had money,            I might retire

THIRD CONDITIONAL

We use third conditional to talk about an event or situation which didn’t happen in the past.

Conditional clause     Main clause

If + past perfect          conditional + perfect

If I’d had an umbrella, I’d not have got wet

Instead of would, we can use could or might

I might have gone to the party if you had told

 Other words with conditional meaning

Many words and expressions can be used with a meaning similar to if and with similar verb forms.

Some of the commonest are provided, providing, supposing, as long as, on condition that.

 

GRAMMAR

Having a good knowledge of grammar is very important when you are learning a new language.
Here are some links so as to study grammar according to your level.

A1 grammar topics: LINK A1

A2 grammar topics: LINK A2

B1 grammar topics: LINK B1

B2 grammar topics: LINK B2

LET´S STUDY IRREGULAR VERBS

Do you have problems learning irregular verbs? 

Do you think pen-and-paper method of learning irregular verbs is boring?

Here you can fin some links to learn irregular verbs in a different way. First you should visit the following website where there are useful tips for learning them- https://www.espressoenglish.net/tips-for-learning-irregular-verbs-in-english/ and then visit this website which has a list of irregular verbs and their pronunciation https://elt.oup.com/student/getsmartitaly/level2/irregularverblist?cc=it&selLanguage=it.

Now it's time to learn while having fun:
- learning them with a rap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZzKe1BC2XU
- learning them with games:
 1. an enjoyable game is Irregular Verb Wheel Game by Macmillan, here you have the  link https://www.macmillandictionary.com/verb_wheel/
2. hangman  http://www.eslgamesplus.com/irregular-verbs-interactive-hangman-game-for-esl-grammar/
3.  jeopardy quiz game: http://www.eslgamesplus.com/irregular-past-tense-esl-grammar-jeopardy-quiz-game/
4. irregular verbs  walk  the plant http://www.firstschoolyears.com/literacy/sentence/grammar/verbs/interactive/irregular.htm

APTIS ADVANCED GRAMMAR

The Aptis Grammar and Vocabulary test consists of two parts. In the first (grammar) part of the test, you will answer 25 questions. Most of the questions test formal written English. A small number of questions test spoken English, such as knowing the appropriate grammar to use in a particular situation (formal or informal situations,for example). All 25 questions are in the format of a three-option multiple choice.

Here you have some links to study grammar 

https://www.examenglish.com/ECCE/ECCE_grammar.htm

https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_grammar.htm

https://www.examenglish.com/IELTS/ielts_grammar_test.htm

https://www.examenglish.com/IELTS/ielts_grammar_test2.htm

  https://www.examenglish.com/ECPE/ecpe_grammar.htm

https://www.examenglish.com/cpe/CPE_grammar.htm