1. Inversion Conditionals Unreal situations Indirect speech
Cutting Edge Advanced Chapter 3

2. What is Inversion?
In statements the subject normally comes before the verb.
I hadn’t thought I would end up becoming a teacher.
Sometimes, after certain words or expressions, this word order is reversed and this is called Inversion
Never had I thought I would end up becoming a teacher.

3. When do we use Inversion?
Inversion is used for dramatic emphasis.
It is most common in formal English.
Never shall I forget your kindness.

4. Now you try We did not get confirmation of our order until Wednesday.
Not until
Not until Wednesday did we get confirmation of our order
I haven’t ever seen such a big crowd.
Never
Never have I seen such a big crowd.

5. No auxiliary verb
If there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence we add:
Do in Present Simple sentences
subjects I, we, you, they
Does in Present Simple sentences
Subjects he, she, it
Did in Past Simple sentences
I never thought I would win.
Never did I think I would win.

6. Now you try I only understood what he meant many years later.
Not until
Not until many years later did I understand what he meant.
They rarely go on holiday.
Rarely
Rarely do they go on holiday.

7. Inversion can be used with
Some time expressions with never
Never, Never before, Never again
I will not go there again.
Never again will I go there.

8. Inversion can be used with
Some expressions with no/not/neither
No sooner … than, No longer, Nowhere, Not until, Not since, Not often, Not only … but, Neither … nor
Hugh owns a Las Vegas hotel and a movie studio.
Not only does Hugh own a Las Vegas hotel, but he also owns a movie studio.

9. Inversion can be used with
Some expressions with only
Only when, Only then, Only later
I saw only then the danger we were in.
Only then did I see the danger we were in.
I realised I had made a mistake when I noticed the time.
Only when I noticed the time did I realise that I had made a mistake.

10. Inversion can be used with
Some other negative adverbials
Scarcely/Hardly/Barely … when, Rarely, Seldom, Little
I have seldom heard such beautiful singing.
Seldom have I heard such beautiful singing.
The Chargers found themselves 7-0 down just after the game had begun.
Hardly had the game begun, when the Chargers found themselves 7-0 down.

11. Inversion can be used with
So/Such … that
So emphasises an adjective
Such emphasis a noun
The soap opera was so popular that people actually stayed home to watch it.
So popular was the soap opera that people actually stayed home to watch it.
Such was the popularity of the soap opera that people actually stayed home to watch it.

12. Inversion can be used with
Some formal expressions
Under no circumstances
On no account
At no time
No way
Under no circumstances will cheating be tolerated.
On no account should you disclose personal details in s.
At no time are dictionaries to be removed from the library.

13. Hypothetical situations

14. Possibilities
We can use different constructions for hypothetical/imaginary/unreal situations
Conditionals (if-sentences)
I wish/If only
I’d rather/I’d prefer
It’s high time/it’s about time
As if/as though

15. Basic types: Zero conditional
Zero conditional describes situations which are always true
If + present simple, present simple
If I eat dairy products, I get a rash on my skin.
Now you try:
If it (rain), it (not freeze).
If it rains, it doesn’t freeze.

16. Basic types: First conditional
First conditional describes a possible situation in the future, something that can still happen.
If + present simple, will + infinitive.
If the virus spreads, it will poison everyone in the village.
Now you try:
If it (rain) this afternoon, I (take) my umbrella.
If it rains this afternoon, I will take my umbrella.

17. Basic types: Second conditional
Second conditional describes an unlikely or imaginary situation in the present or the future, something unlikely to happen.
If + past simple, would + infinitive.
If I had more time, I would cook a better meal
Now you try:
I (have) a look at today’s paper if I (be) you.
I would have a look at today’s paper if I were you.

18. Basic types: Third conditional
Third conditional describes an imaginary situation in the past, something that had a chance of happening but didn’t.
If + past perfect, would + have + past participle
If I had known, I would have come sooner.
Now you try:
I (pass) my exams if I (start) studying in time.
I would have passed my exams if I had started studying in time.

19. Replacing if
If can be replaced by words or expressions with a similar meaning. The most common are:
as long as
assuming (that)
on condition (that)
on the assumption (that)
provided (that)
supposing (that)
Unless
with the condition (that)

20. Variations on 1st and 2nd cond.
We can add should to first conditionals to refer to a realistic but hypothetical situation in the future. The effect is more formal and it sounds less certain.
If + should + inf, will + inf.
If these trends should continue, there may be major consequences for our health .
(less certain, more formal)

21. Variations on 1st and 2nd cond.
We can add were to to Second Conditinoal sentences to refer to an unreal, hypothetical situation in the present/future. Again, this makes it less probable and more formal.
If + were to + infinitive, would + infinitive
If you were to drink leaded wine, you would end up with major health problems.
(less probable, more formal)

22. Inversion with conditionals
1. Conditional sentences with should
If is replaced by should
If these trends should continue, there may be major consequences to our health.
Should these trends continue, there may be major consequences to our health.

23. Inversion with conditionals
2. Conditionals with were to
if is replaced by were to
If you were to drink leaded wine, you would end up with major health problems.
Were you to drink leaded wine, you would end up with major health problems.

24. Inversion with conditionals
3. Conditional sentences with had
if is replaced by had
If the British had reacted to the famine, the independence movement might never have had so much influence.
Had the British reacted to the famine, the independence movement might never have had so much influence.

25. General rule
We use Past simple to talk about unreal situations in the present
We use Past Perfect to talk about unreal situations in the past
I wish they didn’t have to drive so far to get home. (but they do)
I wish I had gone to France last year. (but I didn’t)

26. I wish/if only
I wish/if only are used to express regret or irritation about a situation that is hard/impossible to change.
If only is more dramatic
If only I had known, I would have helped you. (but you didn’t)
I wish I knew where my sister was at the moment (but I don’t)

27. Now you try I wish you (call) sooner. He has just left.
I wish you had called sooner. He has just left.
If only he (marry) her, she wouldn’t have killed herself.
If only he had married her, she wouldn’t have killed herself.
I wish I (know) where to go, I’m lost.
I wish I knew where to go, I’m lost.

28. Would rather/sooner, would prefer
‘d rather/’d prefer with Past Perfect are used to express regret or irritation.
I’d rather you hadn’t told me (but you did)
‘d rather/’d prefer with Past Simple are used to make a strong request or suggestion.
I’d prefer it if you didn’t pay. (I really don’t want you to pay)

29. Now you try
I’d rather you (not leave) your wet umbrella in the corridor.
I’d rather you didn’t leave your wet umbrella in the corridor. (strong request)
I’d rather you (not paint) the house green.
I’d rather you hadn’t painted the house green. (but you did)
Would you rather we (go) somewhere else?
Would you rather we went somewhere else? (suggestion)

30. It’s about time/it’s high time
It’s about time/it’s high time are used with the past simple to suggest that something should be happening now, but isn’t
It’s about time you cleaned your room!
It’s high time they bought a new car.

31. As if/as though (1)
As if/as though are used to make an unlikely comparison about something.
He treats us as if we were idiots (we are not, only his treatment suggests we are)
She looked as though she had just seen a ghost (It’s unlikely this happened)

32. As if/as though (2)
As if/as though can be used with other tenses to make realistic comparisons
He looks as though he’s French. (he probably is)
She sounds as if she loves the guy. (she probably does)

33. Now you try They act as if they (be) drunk. At this hour!
They acted as if they were drunk. (they probably aren’t)
They look as though they (be) brothers.
They look as though they are brothers. (they probably are)
It looked as if the little boy (kill) the baby, not his father.
It looked as if the little boy had killed the baby, not the father. (it is very unlikely)

34. Indirect speech Direct speech  Indirect speech
-Tom said: 'My sister works here.'
-What did Tom say?
-He said that his sister worked here.
If the reporting verb (said) is in the past, the rest of the sentence is put further in the past.

35. Present Simple > Past Simple Present modals > Past modals
Directe speech
He said:…
…'She is late.'
…'He always sings.'
…'I will explain.'
Indirecte speech
He said that…
…she was late.
…he always sang.
…he would explain.

36. Past Simple > Past Perfect
Directe rede
He said:…
…'She was late.'
…'Bob always rang.'
Indirecte rede
He said that…
…she had been late.
…Bob had always rung.

37. Now you try He said: 'She has lost all her money.'
He said that she had lost all her money.
They asked: 'Did we write a good letter?'
They asked if they had written a good letter.
She said: 'I may go on holiday in May.'
She said that she might go on holiday in May.

38. She thought: 'He is my brother.' She thought that he was her brother.
Mum shouted: 'But we already had lunch!'
She shouted that they had already had lunch.
He says: 'I will be late again?'
He says that he will be late again.
Says = present simple so the verbs don’t change!