Questions tagged [inversion]
Inversion is the placing of words or whole phrases in the reverse of their usual order in a sentence. It can serve a grammatical or a rhetorical purpose.
288
questions
-1
votes
1answer
43 views
Is this inversion correct?
Could you please tell me if I have used inversion correctly or not?
On no account can reforms be postponed any longer.
2
votes
1answer
39 views
I have always seen this inversion in past tense. Is this correct for simple present?
Is the following sentence correct? I used inversion, and instead of telling "people are able to", I wrote "are people able to"
Only after a well-planned diet are people able to ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Omitting “if” at the middle of a sentence
In my book, it just told me about omitting "if" at the beginning of a sentence. Then what about "if" in the middle of a sentence?
Example:
I wouldn't do that if I were you.
I ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
The following sentence is correct in terms of grammar?
What I'm trying to say - [I'm not studying or working at the moment]
The sentence that I like to use - I'm not studying nor am I working at the moment.
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Inversion in interrogative questions
In indirect questions, the so-called penthouse principle disallows Subject-AV inversion.
Thus,
Cathy wonders what did Sam eat. (Incorrect)
Cathy wonders what Sam ate. (Correct)
What is the rule for ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
A weird “such” inversion
Is “So beautiful a day was it that...” grammatically correct? Does such a weird case of inversion even exist?
I know that this question doesn’t hold up in terms of pertinence or practicality but the ...
-2
votes
1answer
26 views
Is there a mistake in my sentences? (inversion)
Inversion to emphasize a negative or limiting adverbial
1.We didn't discover the mistake until much later.
Ans: Not until much later did we discover the mistake.
2.Nowadays People no longer go by sea.
...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
What is negative inversion for “She made no sound as she crept upstairs”?
What is the negative inversion for this sentence?
She made no sound as she crept upstairs
My Answer:
No sound did she made as she crept upstairs
Is this correct? If not, how could it be improved?
0
votes
2answers
26 views
Inversion usage in “Despite being cheap and efficient, hardly does crayon capture the artists’ true intention.”
Is it correct to use inversion in the second part of the following sentence?
Despite being cheap and efficient, hardly does crayon capture the artists’ true intention.
Is it better to revise the ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
How to invert “He was never silly.” to emphasize the negative adverb?
What is the correct sentence if you want to make inversion for the following sentence to emphasize the negative adverb?
He was never silly.
Never was he silly.
This is recommended as correct form ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
“… said Sally” or “… Sally said”?
I have always hesitated about the order S+V or V+S after a quote. For example, in the following sentence should I write "... said Sally" or "... Sally said"?
"If everything ...
-1
votes
1answer
32 views
Is neither … nor used correctly in this sentence?
Consider the following sentence:
Therefore, they neither need someone else to flatter them, nor depend in great part on a government pension.
Is it grammatically a correct sentence?
Is there any ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Inversion in the sentence
Is it possible to use an inversion in this way?
Only after people had started working harder, did they improve their skills
Is it natural enough or awkward?
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Mixed conditionals and inversion
I've been trying to play around with mixed conditional clauses and inversion. These topics are obviously not the easiest ones, so I have experienced some issues.
My sentence:
Weren’t professionals ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Inversion in this sentence: “Nothing can/could I do…”
Is it possible to use an inversion like this:
"Nothing could (can) I do in that situation."
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Inversion of a negative sentence including there
Sometimes inversion seems really complicated. Suppose the following sentence:
If there had not been modern communication platforms across the globe,
there could have not been any scientific progress.
...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Inversion in comparative sentences
I came across this sentence in my English textbook :
They seem to vary in brain dominance more than do right handers.
But I think a more grammatically correct sentence would be:
They seem to vary ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
I wonder why are … vs i wonder why the majority of people who … are …?
Do we say
I wonder why the majority of people who liked this are ....(adjective)
Or
I wonder why are the majority of people who liked this ....(adjective)
0
votes
1answer
23 views
“To …” as a subject of a sentence?
To the Mall’s polite formality-- its “tulips all in a line,” in House’s words-- has come a contrasting presence: a wetland visible from the Capitol sprouting cattails, wild rice and about 1,440 ...
asked Nov 3 '20 at 3:37
HypnoticBuggyWraithVirileBevy
1,8551 gold badge7 silver badges24 bronze badges
0
votes
1answer
15 views
Change your mind as you will, you will gain no…
I saw sentences like "Try as he might, he couldn't get the door open." I'd like to know whether the same pattern can be applied to the following sentence.
Change your mind as you will, you ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
inversion: sing as you do
Is the following sentence correct, on the model of "try as you may"?
Sing as you do today, he is never going to be happy with you.
Live as I do in Japan, I will never be treated as a local....
0
votes
0answers
23 views
The usage of “preposition+noun”
Under the siege was the hardest time.
Through the long hard slog was depressing.
Through the wood is the nearest way.
I’ll give you until the next morning.
Are those sentences natural?
I’m wondering ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Is this an inversion?
Only if upward compatibility and speed are important issues should a system supporting the double extended format also support single extended.
Is this sentence the same as following one?
Only if ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Structure of a sentence from The War of the Worlds
You know how that blackness looks on a frosty starlight night. In a
telescope it seems far profounder. And invisible to me because it was
so remote and small, flying swiftly and steadily towards me ...
0
votes
2answers
81 views
What is the sentence structure of “Divergent as the arguments are, It is my firm conviction that…”?
What is the sentence structure of "Divergent as the arguments are, It is my firm conviction that..."?
Is it a correct sentence? It seems like an inversion but I can't find this structure ...
0
votes
1answer
11 views
Asking multiple questions successively and grammar structure
Do you see where I am coming from or my idea is still not clear?
Do you see where I am coming from or is my idea still not clear
I was thinking which is more grammatically correct, I know that, in a ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
About exclamatives with interrogative form
Did I do something stupid last night!
I suppose it can be expressed by: What a stupid thing I did last night!
Wow! Can she sing!
It means that She is really good at singing.
Look at those ones! ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Which is correct, would you or you would?
What is one question would you like to ask a time traveler from 1000 years in the future?
or
What is one question you would like to ask a time traveler from 1000 years in the future?
0
votes
2answers
81 views
Is this inversion? “Seldom is the weather more dramatic…”
Seldom is the weather more dramatic than when thunderstorms strike.
Is it an inverted sentence?
Or what is it?
0
votes
1answer
13 views
Do some subjunctive sentences mean the same with the sentences with the pattern “ Too…for…to ”?
The question is " Can I use inversions and subjunctives " in the same sentence ? ". In subjunctive sentence ,it says " It's so important that he get back home early " ,then ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
How can I apply inversions to sentences that include “because”?
Which of the following sentences is correct?
Because did I love the dinner, I ate it to my full
Or
Because I loved the dinner, did I ate it to my full
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Is “When I got back home, did the lights go out?” grammatically correct?
Is the sentence:
When I got back home, did the lights go out?
grammatically correct, as compared to its inverted form:
Did the lights go out when I got back home?
0
votes
2answers
284 views
Only if ~ is~ : inversion?
Sentence: Only if we go out there and clean it up this amount of plastic is going to go down.
Is this grammatically correct? I heard that when "Only if" is used, we invert the subject and ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
“A formidable figure she was too, in her belted smock and green breeches” Is this sentence a relative clause?
A formidable figure she was too, in her belted smock and green breeches
Is this sentence a relative clause ?
like 'A formidable figure (which) she was too'
0
votes
1answer
395 views
If I had money / Had I money, I would like to buy a car
If I had money, I would like to buy a car.
Had I money, I would like to buy a car.
Are they correct and if not, why?
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Why is the usage of inversion incorrect? While It seems it should be right
The sentence is as below:
I wish I had never worked there.
And the sentence with inversion is as below:
I wish never had I worked there.
0
votes
1answer
258 views
If you don't mind me asking + Wh. words
I am well aware what does the indirect speech mean.
Example:
Person a. How old are you?
Person b. I didn't notice what he asked!
Person C. He asked how old you are. [Indirect speech]
But could ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Is it possible to leverage two inversions into one sentence?
I don't have the foggiest idea about the rectitude of my instance, as well as about the viability of the creation of this sort of sentence. If my example is not correct, and if putting two inversions ...
0
votes
2answers
55 views
Subject-verb inversion
I've seen these sentences :
There goes the train!
There goes Peter!
Here comes Peter!
But
There he goes!
Here he comes!
Why is there a subject-verb inversion when the subject is ...
1
vote
0answers
133 views
“He/Peter said” vs. “Said he/Peter”
We often see "said he/Peter" or "he/Peter said" after the direct speech :
"Your information is out of date" he said.
"Your information is out of date" said he.
"Your information is out of date" Peter ...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
“Left dislocation” of object for emphasis
I admire her. (SVO).
Her I admire. (OSV).
The left dislocation of the object is due to emphasis on it.
"I know when he will come."
Here, the object is "when he will come".
Is 'left ...
0
votes
1answer
205 views
“As can I.“ Is this grammatically correct?
I know English has inversion features. And So does my first language.
She can speak Swahili and so can I.
— this sounds totally correct.
Then how about using as instead of so:
She can speak ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Could you explain “had it not been for”?
Could you explain the grammar of this sentence?:
...my own father would have drowned himself had it not been for my mother's prayers and faith.
I didn't understand the construction of this ...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
Why in “Frozen” the statement “Am I so ready for this change” has an inversion?
In the first "Frozen" movie, while the city prepares for the Coronation Day, Anna is singing a song describing how she imagines the new situation she is going to encounter on that day. At some point ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
'Not until three years ago _________ to work outside.' [(a) he began (b) he begins (c) began he (d) did he begin ]
'Not until three years ago _________ to work outside.'
[(a) he began (b) he begins (c) began he (d) did he begin ]
Hi guys, I know the answer to this question is 'd', but I've had someone ask me ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
Which one is correct? “Why is art a culture” or “Why art is a culture”?
I'm just a little bit confused today. If I were to ask a question, would it be "Why is art a culture?" or "Why art is a culture?". Is there a difference? I'm thinking the correct ...
1
vote
2answers
108 views
subject questions and inversion
I was told that we don't use inversion when asking about the subject of a sentence.
I encountered these two sentences while surfing the internet.
Whose book won the prize?
Whose gloves are these?
If ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Meaning of 'have it they did'
When they had the ultimate audacity and have it they did then you needn't wonder that everything was turned upside down.
In this sentence, what is the meaning of 'have it they did'? Please tell me I ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Inversion in the adverbial clause
Two questions about this sentence
Only now could he see what a terrible decision he had made.
The inversion should happen in the main clause and not in the adverbial clause, isn't it?
The ...
0
votes
1answer
431 views
“Not only can I not help you, but also (never/ under no circumstances) can our parents help you.”
Is my sentence grammatically correct?
Not only can I not help you, but also (never/ under no circumstances) can our parents help you.
