INVERSION OF SUBJECT AND VERB

People usually use some forms of inversions to emphasize .There are some kinds of inversions:
1. Inversion with negatives
- hardly ever
- hardly ….when / scarcely….when / no sooner….than
- not only…..
- not until / till
- nowhere
- on no account
- only by
- only in this way
- only then / when
- scarcely ever
- seldom
 structure: phrases + auxiliary verb + subject+ main verb
Example:
a. Never in my life have I seen such a strange behavior
b. Only after arriving at the office did I realize that I had forgotten to turn off the gas cooker
c. No sooner does he learn a few English words than he forgets them all
d. Under no circumstances can you open this door
e. Not until he had retired did he think about having a holiday
f. Not only did he pass the exam but she also got scholarship
g. Nowhere have I felt as comfortable as this town
2. After the structure “ so+adjective….that” , “ such + be …that”, “ neither/ nor”
Example
a. So alike were the twins that few people could tell them apart
b. Such is the popularity of the play that the theater is likely to be full every night
c. He had no money,nor did he know anyone he could borrow from
d. After the accident, Jane couldn’t hear, and neither could she see
3. Inversion with place expressions with “stand,sit,lie,come,go….”
Example
a. Around the corner is the hospital
b. On the grass sat an enormous frog
c. In the doorway stood her father
d. Under the tree was lying some children
4. Inversion with conditionals
we can use ‘should, were, had” at the beginning of the sentence
Example:
a. If you see Jane, Please give her this message
= Should you see jane, please give her this message
b. He would get the job if he were more careful in writing his résume
= He would get the job were he more careful in writing his résume
c. If the goalkeeper had played better, we would have won the game
= Had the goalkeeper played better , we would have won the game
 BAI TAP AP DUNG
Exercise 1: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences:
1. Not only…………………………………………..
a. he refused to help me but he also made fun of me
b. did he refuse to help me but he made fun of me also
c. did he refuse to help me but he also made fun of me
d. he did refuse to help me but also made fun of me
2. ………………………..had she open the cupboard than she stood in front of it petrified
a. No sooner
b. As soon as
c. Hardly
d. The fact
3. …………………….with enough life-boats she wouldn’t have caused so heavy casualties
a. Were the Titanic to be equiped
b. The Titanic were to be equiped
c. The Titanic was to be equiped
d. Had the Titanic been equiped
4. It was not until the doctors asked him to comment on his death……………recognised
their craziness
a. when he
b. and he
c. that he
d. he
5. George would certainly have attended the meeting…………………
a. if he didn’t get a flat tire
b. if the flat tire hadn’t happened
c. had he not had a flat tire
d. had the tire not flatterned itselt
6. ………………………..received law degrees as today
a. Never so many women have
b. Never have so many women
c. The women aren’t ever
d. Women who have never
7. ……………..during his dinner with us
a. Not did my grandfather say single word
b. Not said a single word did my grandfather
 c. Not my grandfather said a single word
d. Not a single word did my grandfather say
8. There is no water on the moon , nor …………………..an atmosphere around it
a. there is
b. it is
c. there is not
d. is there
9. …………………the work when his wife came in with two policemen
a. Had he hardly finished
b. Had hardly he finished
c. Hardly he had finished
d. Hardly had he finished
10.Not until the first land plants developed………………
a. land animals appeared
b. did land animals appear
c. would land animals appear
d. the land animals appeared
KEY: 1C 2 A 3D 4C 5C 6B 7D 8D 9D 10 B

Exercise 2: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences:
1. Not only…………………in the field of psychology but animal behavior is examined as
well
a. is studied human behavior
b. is human behavior studied
c. did human behavior study
d. human behavior studied
2. It was not until she had arrived home …………………remembered her appointment with
the doctor
a. when she
b. that she
c. and she
d. she
3. Not until a student has mastered algebra…………………the principles of geometry,
trigonometry, and physics
a. he can begin to understand
b. can he begin to understand
c. he begins to understand
d. that he can begin to understand
4. ……………………………………they go to the threater
 a. Only on rare occasions
b. Only on rare accasions do
c. On rare occasions only
d. Only do on rare occasions
5. ………………………….pleased with himself
a. Only after John received the first was he
b. Only after John received the first prize he was
c. After John received the first prize only was he
d. After John receivd the first prize only he was
6. ………………………..the lights went out
a. Hardly had the performance begun when
b. Hardly the performance had begun when did
c. Hardly had the performance begun than
d. Hardly the performance had begun than did
7. ……………..visited her
a. Had I know she was sick, I would have
b. No sooner had I know she was sick, I would have
c. No sooner had I know she was sick than I
d. Hardly had I know she was sick when I
8. ………………………………..I would give a party
a. Were she to come next month
b. She were to come next month
c. She comes next month
d. She would come next month
9. …………………more help , I could call my neighbour
a. Needed
b. Should I need
c. I have needed
d. I should need
10.…………………… my father sat down for lunch than there was a knock at the door
a. Hardly had
b. No sooner had
c. At no time had
d. Never before had
KEY: 1B 2B 3B 4 B 5 A 6A 7A 8A 9B 10 B

Exercise 3: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences:
1. ……………………………the book , please return it to me
a. Should you find
 b. Will you be finding
c. Will you find
d. Will you have found
2. …………………………graduated from college
a. Nowhere does he found a job after he had
b. Nowhere did he find a job after he had
c. Not anywhere did he find a job after had he
d. Nowhere did he find a job after had he
3. ………………………… he sold the house
a. Hardly did he have time to settle down when
b. Hardly has he had time to settle down when
c. No sooner had he had time to settle down when
d. No sooner had he had time to settle down than
4. ……………………………………lost all his clothes
a. Before arriving in New York had he spent all his money
b. No sooner had he arrived in New York than had he spent all his money
c. Not only had he spent all his money before arriving in New York but he also
d. Not only had he spent all his money before arriving in New York but had he also
5. ………………………….to speak to his wife about his ex-girlfriend !
a. Never has he again dared
b. Never again has he dared
c. Again never has he dared
d. Never again did he have dare
6. ………………………..to say too much about oneself
a. Seldom does it wise
b. Seldom is it wise
c. Seldom wise it is
d. Seldom wise is it
7. Not until…………………………………………………………
a. I approached the flat did I realized that it was completely empty
b. did I approach the flat that I realized it was completely empty
c. I approached the flat that I realized was it completely empty
d. did I approach the flat I realized that it was completely empty
8. ………………………………..most of the soldiers gave up!
a. So was the exercise difficult that
b. So difficult was the exercise that
c. So was the exercise difficult that did
d. So difficult was the exercise that did
9. …………………be impolite to our parents
 a. Not in any circumstances should we
b. In any circumstances shouldn’t we
c. In no circumstances should we
d. No circumstances permit us to
10.…………………… send the telegram.
a. No sooner the train should be delayed shall I
b. No sooner should the train be delayed than shall I
c. Should the train be delayed , I shall
d. Should the train is delayed shall I
KEY: 1A 2B 3 D 4 C 5B 6 B7 A 8 B 9 C 10 C

Exercise 4: Choose the sentence that best rewrites the original one:
1. John certainly can’t be held responsible for the accident
a. In no way can John be held responsible for the accident
b. Certainly can’t John be held responsible for the accident
c. For any reason can John not be held responsible for the accident
d. On no account can John not be held responsible for the accident

2. The police didn’t at all suspect that the judge was the murder
a. At all didn’t the police suspect that the judge was the murder
b. Little did the police suspect that the judge was the murder
c. Seldom did the police at all suspect that the judge was the murder
d. Never before suspected the police that the judge was the murder
3. You won’t find fossil like this anywhere else
a. Nowhere else will you find fossils like this
b. Nowhere will you find fossils like this else
c. Anywhere else won’t you find fossils like this
d. Anywhere will you not find fossils like this else
4. The money is not to be paid under any circumstances
a. Under no circumstances is the money not to be paid
b. Under any circumstances isn’t the money to be paid
c. In any circumstances is the money not to be paid
d. In no circumstances is the money to be paid
5. The demand for the tickets was so great that people queued day and night
a. So great the demand for the tickets was that people queued day and night
b. So great was that the demand for the tickets people queued day and night
c. Such was the demand for the tickets that people queued day and night
d. Such great was demand for the tickets that people queued day and night
6. Just after the play started there was a power failure
 a. Hardly did the play start then there was a power failure
b. Hardly had the play started when there was a power failure
c. No earlier had the play started than there was a power failure
d. No sooner did the play start before there was a power failure
7. Harry broke his leg ,and also injured his shoulder
a. Not only did Harry break his leg but he also injured his shoulder
b. Not only Harry broke his leg but also did he injure his shoulder
c. Harry broke his leg and also did he injure his shoulder
d. Also injured his shoulder did Harry break his leg
8. The way so much money has been spent to so little purpose must be a record
a. Never before so much money has been spent to so little purpose must a record be
b. So much money has been spent to so little purpose must be a record
c. So little must purpose be that so much money has been spent
d. Never before has so much money been spent to so little purpose
9. It was only the office phoned me that I found out about the meeting
a. Not until did the office phone me did I find out about the meeting
b. Not until the office phoned me did I find out about the meeting
c. Only the office phoned me did I find out about the meeting
d. Only after did the office phone me that I found out about the meeting
10.He never suspected that she was a witch
a. At no time did he suspect that she was a witch
b. Never did he suspect that a witch she was
c. Never a witch did he suspect that she was
d. No before did he suspect was she a witch
KEY: 1 A 2 B 3 A 4 D 5 C 6 B 7A 8 D 9 B 10 A
Exercise 5: Rewrite the following sentences, using Subject-Verb Inversion
1. An ancient castle stands on the hill opposite my house
On……………………………………….
2. Harvard is one of the best universities in the world
One……………………………
3. Some villagers lie along the river banks
Along……………………………….
4. His was such a sensational masterpiece that it was adored by many critics
So………………………………………
5. A huge lion was silently approaching them
Silently………………………………..
6. The two climbers were so weak that they couldn’t accomplish their mission
So……………………………..
7. Harry Potter is completely banned in many countries
 Completely………………………………………
8. Mr.John Thomas is great fashion designer
A……………………………………..
9. Many postesters stood in front of the City Committee Hall
In………………………………
10.Washing your mouth with salt water is much better than with other substances
Much…………………………………….
11.Singapore is so clean that you can hardly find any garbage on the streets
So…………………………..
12.A strange man appeared on the stage
On………………………………
13.The hurricane was so destructive that nearly the whole town was torn apart
So……………….
14.The eagle soared up in the air
Up……………………………
15.That was such a terrible fire that all houses were burned down
So………………………….

KEY:
1. On the hill opposite my house stands an ancient castle
2. One of the best universities in the world is Harvard
3. Along the river banks lie some villages
4. So sensational was his masterpiece that it was adored by many critics
5. Silently approaching them was a huge lion
6. So weak were the two climbers that they couldn’t accomplish their mission
7. Completely banned in many countries is Harry Potter
8. A great fashion designer is Mr.John Thomas
9. In front of the City Committee Hall stood many protesters
10.Much better is washing your mouth with salt water ( than with other substances)
11.So clean is Singapore that you can hardly find any garbage on the streets
12.On the stage appeared a strange man
13.So destructive was the hurricane that nearly the whole twon was torn apart
14.Up in the air soared the eagle
15.So terrible was the fire that all the houses were burned down

Exercise 6: Rewrite the following sentences with the words given

1. She realised she hadn’t locked the door after the train had left
Only after……………………………………….
2. I can’t come to her weeding next Saturday night
 In no way……………………………
3. More and more disasters happen, and they are becoming more destructive these
days
Not only……………………………….
4. I had just climbed to the first branch of the tree before I felt down
Hardly………………………………………
5. The supervisors hadn’t known about the escape until the next morning
Not until………………………………..
6. We will not give up in any circumstances
In no……………………………..
7. I had little information about the test today
Little………………………………………
8. It rained cats and dogs as soon as I had just left home
No sooner……………………………………..
9. Parents rarely pay attention to what their teenage children need
Rarely………………………………
10.After many forests have been destroyed, we become conscious of its importance
Only after…………………………………….
11.A true sportman never defies his rivals
Never…………………………..
12.I have never enjoyed such gorgeous sceneries anywhere
Nowhere………………………………
13.The extreme hurricane made its landfall on the state capital right after it had wiped
a big town out
Barely……………….
14.I haven’t watched such an amazing movie before
Never before……………………………
15.The students went on to do their assignment as soon as the holidayhad been over
Scarcely………………………

KEY:
1. Only after the train had left did she realize she hadn’t locked the door
2. In no way can I come to her weeding next Saturday night
3. Not only do disasters happen more and more , but they are also becoming
more destructive these days
4. Hardly had I climbed to the first branch of the tree when I fell down
5. Not until the next morning had the supervisors known about the escape
6. In no circumstances will we give up
7. Little information did I have about the test today
 8. No sooner had I left home it rained cats and dogs
9. Rarely do parents pay attention to what their teenage children need
10.Only after many forests have been destroyed, do we become conscious of its
importance
11.Never does a true sportman defy his rivals
12.Nowhere have I ever enjoyed such gorgeous sceneries
13.Barely had the extreme hurricane wiped a big town out when it made its
landfall on the state capital
14.Never before have I watched such an amazing movie
15. Scarcely had the holiday been over when the students went on to do their assignment
 CHỦ ĐỀ : COLLOCATION
Với phần lớn những người học tiếng Anh, việc học cách kết hợp từ trong tiếng Anh không đơn

giản vì hầu như không có quy luật cho những cách kết hợp này. Bên cạnh đó, việc học cách kết hợp từ

trong các ngôn ngữ nói chung và tiếng Anh nói riêng đóng vai trò rất quan trọng đối với việc giao tiếp

hàng ngày. Vì vậy, việc tìm ta một phương pháp học tập vấn đề này một cách hiệu quả là một việc rất

quan trọng.

Khái niệm "Collocation "

Collocation là cách các từ kết hợp với nhau trong ngôn ngữ để tạo ra sự tự nhiên, trôi chảy cho

lời nói và bài viết.

Collocation là một trong những yếu tố để đo đạc khả năng sử dụng tiếng Anh tự nhiên, lưu loát

và mức độ hiểu từ vựng của bạn. Càng nhớ và sử dụng đúng nhiều Collocation thì không chỉ giao tiếp

tiếng Anh dễ dàng, chính xác hơn; mà còn giúp bạn được điểm cao hơn khi làm các bài test tiếng Anh,

đặc biệt là ở kỹ năng Nói và Viết.

Chưa hết, một số Collocation còn giúp bạn ghi nhớ và hiểu sâu hơn về nghĩa và cách dùng của các từ

vựng tiếng Anh.

Ví dụ vài Collocation sau của Fast và Quick:

- Người ta nói fast train, fast car, fast food chứ không phải là quick train, quick car, quick food.

- Đổi lại thì chỉ có quick shower, quick meal, quick meeting chứ không có fast shower, fast

meal, fast meeting.

=> Fast để chỉ tốc độ mà sự vật, sự việc được tiến hành, trong khi Quick lại ám chỉ thời lượng mà sự

vật, sự việc đó diễn ra (hoặc là để chỉ mức độ khẩn trương)

 
Có rất nhiều người cho rằng học tiếng Anh căn bản thì không cần học Collocation vì nó phức tạp đa

dạng. Tuy nhiên theo quan điểm của tôi thì khi bắt đầu học từ vựng tiếng Anh, bạn rất cần học ngay

luôn Collocation để tránh việc biết từ vựng nhưng lại sử dụng sai, sau này lập thành 1 thói quen khó

sửa.

Các dạng Collocation cơ bản

Nói chung thì việc phân loại cũng chả giúp ích gì mấy trong việc ghi nhớ

 Collocation có thể ở các dạng sau:

1. Adj + noun: blonde hair ≠ yellow hair

2. Verb + noun: have a coffee ≠ drink a coffee

3. Noun + verb: athlete performs … ≠ athlete runs … athlete swims …

4. Adv + adj: fully aware ≠ well aware

5. Verb + adv/preposition: go on holiday ≠ go holiday

6. Noun + noun: ballet performance ≠ ballet dance

Ngoài ra, phrasal verb cũng có thể coi như là một dạng collocation.

Học Collocation như thế nào?

Dù có lẽ khi tìm hiểu về Collocation, bạn sẽ bắt gặp nhiều lời khuyên, nhiều chỉ dẫn các quy tắc

Collocation để học. Nhưng gọi là quy tắc chứ thực ra số lượng “quy tắc” này cũng vô vàn, cộng thêm

với một lượng “bất quy tắc” đông đảo không kém. Nên tôi nghĩ cách học tốt nhất chỉ có thể là gặp, tra

cho kỹ rồi ghi lại mà học thuộc lòng.

Tuy nhiên, tôi cũng có ít mẹo ghi chép để giúp bạn nhớ các collocation dễ hơn khi học.

Khi học, bạn có thể kẻ bảng kiểu như sau:

Nghĩa     Danh từ Danh từ 2

Uống cà phê Have A Coffee  

Tóc vàng hoe   Blonde Hair  

Miễn học phí Free Access to Education  

Xe tập lái     Student Driver

 ….        

Bạn làm 1 cột để ghi nghĩa cả cụm từ, cách ra 2-3 cột nữa rồi đến 1 cột danh từ, 1 cột nữa cho

danh từ thứ 2. Tôi chia như thế này là vì về cơ bản, số lượng Collocation có chứa danh từ là nhiều nhất,

nên tôi chọn danh từ để làm mốc, rồi điền các từ khác vào vị trí tương ứng trong các ô còn lại. Tùy vào

kinh nghiệm học từ vựng tiếng Anh của bạn, cũng có thể làm một cột động từ làm mốc, hoặc là chẳng

có cột mốc nào cũng được, chỉ cần chia ra mỗi từ mỗi ô là được.

Sau đó, khi học, bạn đọc to, rõ nhấn mạnh từng từ một: HAVE – A – COFFEE, FREE – ACCESS –

TO – EDUCATION ….v…v

Khi cần ôn tập, bạn có thể nhờ ai đó tạo giúp cho tôi một bài tập Collocation dựa trên những từ hay lầm

lẫn cách kết hợp từ kiểu như sau:

a person a bank money a car a shop a wallet

rob

steal

Một số Collocation thường gặp

have do make

have a bath do business make a difference

have a drink do nothing make a mess

have a good time do someone a favour make a mistake

have a haircut do the cooking make a noise

have a holiday do the housework make an effort

have a problem do the shopping make furniture

have a relationship do the washing up make money

have a rest do your best make progress

have lunch do your hair make room

have sympathy do your homework make trouble

take break catch

take a break break a habit catch a ball

take a chance break a leg catch a bus

take a look break a promise catch a chill

take a rest break a record catch a cold

take a seat break a window catch a thief

take a taxi break someone’s heart catch fire

take an exam break the ice catch sight of

take notes break the law catch someone’s attention

take someone’s place break the news to someone catch someone’s eye

take someone’s temperature break the rules catch the flu

pay save keep

pay a fine save electricity keep a diary

pay attention save energy keep a promise

pay by credit card save money keep a secret

pay cash save one’s strength keep an appointment

pay interest save someone a seat keep calm

pay someone a compliment save someone’s life keep control

pay someone a visit save something to a disk keep in touch

pay the bill save space keep quiet

pay the price save time keep someone’s place

pay your respects save yourself the trouble keep the change

come go get

come close go abroad get a job

come complete with go astray get a shock

come direct go bad get angry

come early go bald get divorced

come first go bankrupt get drunk

come into view go blind get frightened

come last go crazy get home

come late go dark get lost

come on time go deaf get married

come prepared go fishing get nowhere

come right back go mad get permission

come second go missing get pregnant

come to a compromise go on foot get ready

come to a decision go online get started

come to an agreement go out of business get the impression

come to an end go overseas get the message

come to a standstill go quiet get the sack

come to terms with go sailing get upset

come to a total of go to war get wet

come under attack go yellow get worried

BÀI TẬP ỨNG DỤNG

COLLOCATIONS ONE word can be used to complete all of phrases or the sentences below.

What is this WORD? (Chỉ MỘT từ có thể dùng để hoàn chỉnh TẤT CẢ các câu hoặc cụm từ sau

đây. Từ đó là gì?)

CÂU 1

1. a piece of .... adjoining the airport

2. The rush for fuel and food will lead to a global .... grab.

3. It's very fertile countryside where you can just live off the .....

4. His family had always worked the .....

5. Many people leave the .... to find work in towns.

CÂU 2

1. She was in a deep ..... because not even a postcard had arrived from Ricky.

2. the general economic .....

3. He was sunk in deep ..... at the prospect of being alone.

4. I sank into ..... and depression. 5. The news filled me with ......

CÂU (3)

1. The .... requires a variety of skills and experience.

2. The unenviable .... of telling my parents fell to my teacher.

3. The team have no illusions about the size of the .... confronting them.

4. a hard .... for the committee 5. one of the first ....s in language learning

CÂU (4)
1. He stood in high ...... at the court of Lewis the Pious.

2. In the Christian tradition, the world exists only as an act of divine .......

3. This did not meet with public .......

4. The bishop was said to have enjoyed the king's .......

5. Her political views have not found ...... in recent years.

CÂU (5)

1. The rival TV companies are in a .... to bring out the first film drama of his life.

2. Who will win the .... for the White House?

3. He is lagging behind in the .... for the presidency.

4. a .... between the developing countries

5. the .... for nuclear supremacy

CÂU (6)

1. the early ....... of the trade union movement

2. things that happened in recent .......

3. the official ....... of the university

4. They had an affair once, but that's past ....... now .

5. She created a piece of ....... by winning her fourth title

KEY
1 Land 2 Gloom 3 Task 4 Favour 5 Face 6 History