Joy English
Joy English
← Back to the lesson

Joy English · Level C2 · Inversionjoy-english.com

Inversion after negative adverbials, so and such

Name:Date:

Put the auxiliary before the subject after negative and restrictive openings and after so and such.

Choose the correct form

Choose the option that completes each sentence correctly.

  1. Not until the committee had read the full report ___ the scale of the problem.
    • a) it understood
    • b) did it understand
    • c) it did understand
    • d) understood it
  2. No sooner had the curtain risen ___ the lights failed.
    • a) that
    • b) as
    • c) than
    • d) after
  3. Under no circumstances ___ the laboratory door be left unlocked.
    • a) do
    • b) should
    • c) has
    • d) were
  4. Such ___ the noise from the building site that nobody could concentrate.
    • a) was
    • b) were
    • c) is it
    • d) did
  5. Little ___ realise that the letter had already been opened.
    • a) had she
    • b) she did
    • c) did she
    • d) was she
  6. Only after the results had been checked twice ___ the findings.
    • a) the team published
    • b) published the team
    • c) the team did publish
    • d) did the team publish
  7. So rapidly ___ the glacier retreat that the map had to be redrawn.
    • a) has
    • b) does
    • c) did
    • d) was
  8. Hardly had she sat down ___ the telephone rang.
    • a) than
    • b) after
    • c) when
    • d) until

Complete the sentence

Type the missing word. Accept only forms that keep the inverted word order.

  1. Never before ___ the city faced such a severe drought.
  2. Not only ___ the proposal cost too much, but it was also badly designed.
  3. At no time ___ the staff told that the office would close.
  4. On no account ___ visitors touch the exhibits.
  5. Only when the ice had melted ___ the explorers able to continue.
  6. So severe ___ the storm that all flights were cancelled.
  7. Seldom ___ she ask for help, even when she was overwhelmed.
  8. No sooner had the meeting ended ___ the arguments began.

Answer key

Choose the correct form

  1. b) did it understandThe main clause is inverted after not until, using did + subject + base verb.
  2. c) thanNo sooner is followed by than.
  3. b) shouldA modal is needed to form the inversion with be left; should the door be left is correct.
  4. a) wasSuch + be is inverted and agrees with the noun that follows. Noise is singular, so was.
  5. c) did sheLittle opens the clause, so we add did and return to the base form: did she realise.
  6. d) did the team publishOnly after + clause is followed by an inverted main clause: did the team publish.
  7. c) didThe past tense of retreat needs did, which matches had to be redrawn.
  8. c) whenHardly takes when, whereas no sooner takes than.

Complete the sentence

  1. had / hasNever before opens the clause, so the auxiliary precedes the subject: had the city faced (or has the city faced).
  2. did / wouldNot only is followed by inversion in its own clause: did the proposal cost.
  3. were / wasAt no time is a negative adverbial, so the passive auxiliary comes before the subject. Staff is normally plural in British English.
  4. must / should / may / can / shallOn no account requires a modal before the subject; must, should, may, can and shall all fit.
  5. wereOnly when + clause is followed by an inverted main clause: were the explorers able.
  6. wasSo + adjective + be is inverted, and was agrees with the storm.
  7. did / wouldSeldom is a negative adverb, so the auxiliary comes first: did she ask.
  8. thanNo sooner is always completed with than.

Joy English · free English practice · https://joy-english.com/grammar/c2-negative-inversion-so-such