Inversion: the full system
Beyond negatives: so/such inversion, conditional inversion (Had I known, Should you need), and place-phrase inversion
I can use so/such, conditional and locative inversion for formal emphasis.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Should you require assistance, our staff will be happy to help.
Should you require assistance, our staff will be happy to help.
Such was the silence that we could hear the snow falling.
Such was the silence that we could hear the snow falling.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Three more inversion families:
| Family | Example |
|---|---|
| so/such ... that | So loud was the music that windows shook. Such was the demand that servers crashed. |
| conditional (drop if) | Had I known, I'd have come. Should you need anything, call. Were she here, ... |
| place + verb of position | On the hill stood a ruined tower. Here comes the bride. |
Conditional inversion replaces if in formal writing; negatives don't contract: Had I not seen it…
- *Hadn't I known → Had I not known
- *So the music was loud that → So loud was the music that
- Place inversion with transitive verbs — only position/motion verbs invert
Common Error Patterns
Contracted negative inversion
Had I not seen — no n't
so/such inversion order broken
So + adj + verb + subject + that
Should you require assistance, our staff will be happy to help.
Should you require assistance, our staff will be happy to help.
Should-inversion: the formal-notice register.
Such was the silence that we could hear the snow falling.
Such was the silence that we could hear the snow falling.
Such was X that: literary emphasis.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in C1 course exercises