Inversion with Adverbial Phrases
Only once __________ (I / see) such a breathtaking performance.
Only once have I seen such a breathtaking performance.
It was __________ (Maria / bake) the cake, not her mother.
It was Maria who baked the cake, not her mother.
I want to buy a car, and she wants buy one too.
I want to buy a car, and she wants to buy one too.
She promised to call me, and she finally __________.
She promised to call me, and she finally did.
You __________ (not / smoke) in here; it’s against the rules.
You must not smoke in here; it’s against the rules.
Only once __________ (I / see) him lose his temper, and that was years ago.
Only once did I see him lose his temper, and that was years ago.
She moved to London because she wanted to study drama.
→ What she wanted was __________.
What she wanted was to study drama so she moved to London.
He has his own reasons, but I don’t know __________.
He has his own reasons, but I don’t know what they are / them.
He said he would contribute to the project, but he never __________.
He said he would contribute to the project, but he never did (so).
I’m sure she’s at home because the lights are on.
→ She __________ at home.
She must be at home.
I had no sooner closed the door than the phone rang. → No sooner __________ the phone rang.
No sooner had I closed the phone rang.
(Spot the mistake)
It was last summer which we first met.
It was last summer that we first met.
Some people enjoyed the film, while others didn’t think __________.
Some people enjoyed the film, while others didn’t think so.
(Spot the mistake)
She didn’t finish the report, but I did it.
(Spot the mistake)
She didn’t finish the report, but I did.
(Spot the mistake)
He may to be the best candidate for the job.
He may be the best candidate for the job.
(Spot the mistake)
Seldom people have expressed such outrage at the decision.
Seldom have people expressed such outrage at the decision.
It was not until he apologized that __________ (they / forgive) him.
It was not until he apologized that they forgave him.
I expected an apology, but I never received one.
→ I expected an apology, but __________ never came.
I expected an apology, but it never came.
They could have left early, but they didn’t __________.
They could have left early, but they didn’t do so.
You look tired. You __________ (have / sleep) better last night.
You look tired. You can’t have slept / must not have slept better last night.
She didn’t realize until much later how valuable his advice was.
→ Not until much later __________ how valuable his advice was.
Not until much later did she realize how valuable his advice was.
They discovered her talent in that small theatre.
→ It was in that small theatre __________.
It was in that small theatre that they discovered her talent.
Some students passed the exam; others didn’t think __________.
Some students passed the exam; others didn’t think they would / so.
He said he would improve his grades, and eventually he __________.
He said he would improve his grades, and eventually he did so.
It was unnecessary for you to buy all those tickets.
→ You __________ all those tickets.
You needn't have bought all those tickets.