Common Mistakes in Written English 12 - Word Order & Inversion

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Notes & Exercises

Types of Sentences
A. Simple Sentences
Pattern: Subject + Verb + (Object/ Others) = SV(O)

B. Compound Sentences
Pattern: SV(O) + Coordinate Conjunction + SV(O)

Note - An intransitive verb does not need an object.
- A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences, which are combined by means of coordinate conjunctions (and, but, or, either or, neither nor).

C. Complex Sentences
Pattern: SV(O) + Subordinate Conjunction + SV(O)

Note - A complex sentence consists of a principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses, which are combined by            means of subordinate conjunctions.
- Subordinate clauses include noun clauses, adjective (relative) clauses and adverb clauses.
- Subordinate conjunctions: e.g. when, while, before, after, until, because, since, as, although, if, so that, that, who, which ……

D. Multiple Sentences
Pattern: SV(O) + Subordinate Conjunction + SV(O) + Coordinate Conjunction + SV(O)

Note - A multiple sentence is a combination of compound and complex sentences.

Inversion
Inversion means the verb is placed before the subject for emphasis. It occurs:

A. in questions.
e.g. Are you hungry?
      What have you done to solve the problem?
Note: No inversion when the question word is the subject.
e.g.  Who invented the computer?

B. in question tags.
e.g. He loves her very much, doesn’t he?
       They cried, didn’t they?

C. after “so, neither/nor, as”.
e.g. He is polite and so is his brother.
       Ann was not at home and neither/nor was Ben.
      His colleagues respected him, as did his boss.

D. in exclamation.
e.g. Here comes my aunt!
       There goes the taxi!
Note: No inversion when the subject is a pronoun.
    e.g. Here he comes!

E. after adverbs of place/direction.
e.g. On top of the mountain lies a farm.
       Away ran the thief!

F. after verbs of reporting.
e.g. “ Can you find it?” asked David.
       “I have never seen it,” said Helen.

G. in “there be” structure.
e.g. There were three students in the classroom.
       There must be some misunderstanding.

H. in emphatic sentences with a negative word or idea.
e.g.
1. Never have I heard such a strange story.
    = I have never heard such a strange story.

2. Seldom do they visit us.
    = They seldom visit us.

3. Little did she suspect that she was cheated.
    = She little suspected that she was cheated.

4. Rarely have we watched such a moving film.
    = We have rarely watched such a moving film.

5. Not until Monday did he return the camera to me.
    = He did not return the camera to me until Monday.

6. Nowhere can you buy such cheap jeans.
    = You cannot buy such cheap jeans at anywhere.

7. No sooner had he arrived than he called us.
    = As soon as he had arrived, he called us.

8. Hardly/Scarcely had he returned from the journey when he fell ill.
     = As soon as he had returned from the journey, he fell ill.

9. Under no circumstances will I give way to his demands.
      = I will not give way to his demands under any circumstances.

10. In no way can they help you.
      = They cannot help you in any way.

11. At no time was I aware of what was happening.
      = I was at no time aware of what was happening.

12. On no account will she forgive him.
      = She will not forgive him on any account.

I. in adverbial expressions placed at the beginning.
e.g. 1. Often have I heard that corruption doesn't pay.
   = I have often heard that corruption doesn’t pay.

2. Twice has he been warned to keep away from drugs.
   = He has been warned twice to keep away from drugs.

3. So desperate was their situation that they decided to sell their house.
    = Their situation was so desperate that they decided to sell their house.

4. Only after a hot debate did they agree to compromise.
    = They agreed to compromise only after a hot debate.

5. Not only was he the producer but he was also the director of the film.
    = He was not only the producer but also the director of the film.

Note: Inversion also occurs in other expressions like:
Only afterwards/ later/ yesterday/ last week/…
Only if   Only when   Only after   Not since

J. with “Should, Were, Had” in conditionals when “If” is omitted.
Type 1: Should you see him, tell him to call me.
               = If you should see him, tell him to call me.
Type 2: Were I you, I would cancel my appointment.
               = If I were you, I would cancel my appointment.
Type 3: Had he known, he would have solved the problem.
              = If he had known, he would have solved the problem.

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Notes & Exercises