Inversion in Conditional Sentences: Had you paid attention,

you would not have burned your food!

Advanced
Note: The expressions taught in this lesson are formal and are not usually found in everyday conversation. Familiarize yourself with them so
that you understand them, but do not feel a need to use them when speaking.

Exercise 1
Sentence Practice
Teacher's note
Read each sentence and let the student repeat.
 Should you see Mark, tell him to call me.
 Were he to come to work on Saturday, we would be grateful.
 Were I you, I would eat breakfast every morning.
 Had we come earlier, we would have gotten champagne.

Grammar Focus
Teacher's note
Read these grammar points with your student. Make sure they understand them.
We have learned to form conditionals using the word 'if'.  In formal contexts, it is possible to form conditional statements by
using inversions instead of 'if'.

Were you to...

In sentences with 'if [subject] were to...', remove the 'if' and move 'were' to the front:

 If you were to come tonight, I would be very happy.

Had you...

In sentences with 'if [subject] had...', remove the 'if' and move 'had' to the front:

 If I had known he would lie to me , I wouldn’t have trusted him.

Should you...
Note that the 'should' here is not the same 'should' as in 'you  should wake up'. It is a formal way to show that a situation is possible.

In sentences with 'if [subject] should...', remove the 'if' and move 'should' to the front:

 If they should go to the party, they would have a good time.

Exercise 2
Sentence Practice
Teacher's note
Read each sentence and let the student repeat.
 Were I to come with you on this trip, I would have to ask my boss for a few days off.
 Were they to have stayed a while longer, I would have lost my temper.
 Had he come earlier, there wouldn’t have been anyone at home.
 Had he not been careful, he would have fallen into the hole in the pavement.
 Should he decide to buy a new car, he would have to sell his old one.
 Should you have any questions, please ask me.
 Should you come across my pen, please return it to me.

Exercise 3
Rephrasing Sentences
Invert the bold sections of these sentences.

1.
If you should get hired, you will be very happy at this company.
Answer
Should you get hired

2.
If they worked harder, they would be paid more.
Answer
Were they to work harder
3.
If they had bought a new computer, they could have played this game.
Answer
Had they bought

4.
If you had taken swimming lessons, you would know how to swim.
Answer
Had you taken

5.
If they should arrive earlier, tell them to wait for me outside.
Answer
Should they arrive

6.
If you need more information, call our office.
Answer
Should you need

7.
If she had been more cautious, she wouldn't have had to buy a new phone.
Answer
Had she been

8.
If I had known about her behavior, I would have fired her already.
Answer
Had I known

9.
If it had not been for his help, we would not have found this house.
Answer
Had it not been

10.
If it were not for my father, I would not have gone to university.
Answer
Were it not

Exercise 4
Sentence Building
Your friends are a mess. Jokingly lecture them using the 'had you + past tense' form.
He forgot to bring an umbrella and is now wet. → "Had you brought an umbrella!"
 She didn't wear a coat and is now cold.
 He didn't put on sunscreen and is now burnt.
 She forgot to turn in her invoice, and was not paid at work.
 He forgot to feed his goldfish and now they are dead.
 She forgot about her brother's birthday and now he's mad at her.
 He forgot to pay the water bill, so the company stopped his water.
 She wasn't paying attention to her food, and burned it.

Inversions With Negative Adverbials: Never have I had

Advanced
After this lesson, you will be familiar with some common English expressions that will make your speech more dramatic.

Exercise 1
Sentence Practice
Teacher's note
Read each sentence and let the student repeat.
 I have never seen such a rainy day.
 Never  have I seen such a rainy day.
 He not only lied, but he also stole from us.
 Not only did he lie, but he also stole from us.
 We did not find out that she had a cold until she came to work.
 Not until  she came to work did we find out that she had a cold.
 I did not know that he was a professional chess player.
 Little  did I know that he was a professional chess player.

Grammar Focus
Teacher's note
Read these grammar points with your student. Make sure they understand them.
Why use Negative Adverbials?

'Negative adverbials' are used at the beginning of a sentence in order to make it more emphatic or
dramatic. Compare the following sets of sentences:
[Situation: At the park, I sat down to play chess with an old man.]

 I did not know that  he was a professional chess player.

Sentence (1) is a simple statement of fact: you were not aware of something.  Sentence (2) however is much more
dramatic: the old man was so good at chess, he surpassed your expectations, etc.

How to use Negative Adverbials

Negative adverbial sentences take this form:  negative adverbial + helping verb + subject + verb.  The most
common negative adverbials are  'not only', 'not until', 'never'  and 'little'.

 I have never seen such a beautiful sight.

 I knew little that he was a professional chess player. ( note that we don't actually say 'I knew little...'
anymore)
 Little did I know that he was a professional chess player.

Exercise 2
Sentence Practice
Teacher's note
Read each sentence and let the student repeat.
 Not only does he play the piano,  but he also  plays the trumpet!
 Not until he wins  the award will he enter  the team.
 Never have I met  such a smart person before.
 Little did I know  how expensive the repair would be.
 Never have we spent  so much time together.
 Little did I know  what she meant.
 Not only is he a terrible singer,  but his dance moves are very bad  too.
 Never has there been  a more wonderful student in the history of our school.

Exercise 3
Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentences.

1.
 does she know that we organized a surprise party for her.

1. A.

Little

Correct

2. B.

Not only

2.
 have I been at such a great concert.

1. A.

Never

Correct

2. B.

Not until

3.
 do I know how to drive a car, but I can also drive a motorcycle.

1. A.
Little

2. B.

Not only

Correct

4.
 he came to visit did I know how much I had missed him.

1. A.

Not until

Correct

2. B.

Little

5.
 has she felt so ill in her life.

1. A.

Not only

2. B.

Never

Correct

6.
 did they understand what it takes to be an astronaut.

1. A.

Little

Correct

2. B.

Never

7.
 is she smart, but beautiful too!

1. A.

Little

2. B.

Not only

Correct

8.
 he showed up did the real party start.
1. A.

Not until

Correct

2. B.

Never

9.
 before have I read something so beautiful!

1. A.

Not until

2. B.

Never

Correct

Exercise 4
Rephrasing Sentences
Rephrase the following sentences so they include negative adverbials at the beginning of the sentence.
I have never been so disappointed. → "Never have I been so disappointed. "

1.
They were not only late, but they also forgot to bring the camera.
Answer
Not only were they late, but they also forgot to bring the camera.

2.
We have never had to run for such a long time.
Answer
Never have we had to run for such a long time.

3.
He not only stole, but he also broke a window.
Answer
Not only did he steal, but he also broke a window.

4.
I have never seen such beautiful scenery.
Answer
Never have I seen such beautiful scenery.

5.
We are not only making cakes, we are also making cookies.
Answer
Not only are we making cakes, but we are also making cookies.

6.
I have never realized how difficult it is to understand that.
Answer
Never have I realized how difficult it is to understand that.

7.
I did not know he was a professional chef.
Answer
Little did I know that he was a professional chef.