KEY INVERSION
Exercise 1 :
1. He was so excited that he could hardly sleep.
-> Such was his excitement that he ….
2. I’ll find that man no matter how long it takes.
-> However long it takes I’ll find ….
3. She never seems to succeed even though she studies much.
-> Much as she studies, she never seems to …
4. The police didn’t believe her until the body was found.
-> Not until the body was found did the police believe her.
5. Rita doesn’t realize how serious her husband’s operation is going to be.
-> Little does Rita realize how serious ….
6. She is not only beautiful but also hard-working.
-> Not only is she beautiful but she is also hard-working.
7. My mother doesn’t do the washing by hand any more.
-> No longer does my mother do the washing by hand.
8. Mary’s voice is so great that all members of my family, even my strict
grandmother, like her songs.
-> Such was Mary’s voice that all members of my family …
9. Although she finished her project successfully, her boss was still unsatisfied.
-> Successfully as she finished her project, her boss was still unsatisfied.
10. The situation was so bad that the smallest incident could have started a riot.
-> Such was the situation that the smallest incident could have started a riot.
11. He never suspected that she was a witch.
-> At no time did he suspect that she was a witch.
12. As soon as the teacher left, the students started shouting again.
-> Hardly had the teacher left when the students started shouting again.
13. The shop can’t possibly be held responsible for customers' lost property.
-> In no way can the shop be held responsible for customers’ lost property.
14. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the ceremony.
-> No sooner had the couple arrived that the priest …
15. The restaurant can never accept animals.
-> Under no circumstances can the restaurant accept animals.
16. The presidential visit attracted such an enormous crowd that all traffic came to a
standstill.
-> So enormous was the crowd which the presidential visit attracted that all traffic
came to a standstill.
17. He got down to writing the letter as soon as he returned from his walk.
-> No sooner had he returned from his walk than he got down to writing the letter.
Get down to = buckle down to = knuckle down to
18. I only realized what I had missed when they told me about it later.
-> Only when they told me about it later did I realize what I had missed.
19. You won’t find a more dedicated worker anywhere than Mrs. John.
-> Nowhere will you find a more dedicated worker than Mrs.John.
20. There is so much uncertainty that I will not invest my money.
-> Such uncertainty is there that I will not invest my money.
Exercise 2 :
1. You washed it in boiling water; that's why it shrank.
-> Had you not washed it in boiling water, It wouldn’t have shrunk.
2. It was raining. That's the only reason I didn't take the children to the beach.
-> But for the rain, I would have taken the children to the beach.
3. The police are not armed so we don't have gun battles in the streets.
-> Were the police armed, we would have had gun battles in the streets.
4. She not once offered us her help.
-> Not once did she offer us her help.
5. They used closed-circuit television. That's how they spotted the shop-lifter.
-> Had it not been for closed-circuit television, they wouldn’t have spotted the shop-
lifter.
6. I live a long way from the centre; that's why I am always late for work.
-> Were I not to live a long way from the centre, I wouldn’t be always late for work.
7. If you need a good make-up remover,please let me know.
-> Should you need a good make-up remover, please let …
8. The canyon lies behind those mountains.
-> Behind those mountains lies the canyon.
9. We only came by bus because there were no taxis.
-> Had there been a taxi/ taxis, we wouldn’t have come by bus.
10. He insisted on a refund.
-> Nothing but a refund could satisfy him.
