Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
Only after the audit ............... how serious the accounting errors were.
Wrong!
After a restrictive adverbial like "Only after", we use inversion with an auxiliary before the subject.
Not until the final rehearsal ............... comfortable with the new choreography.
Wrong!
With "Not until" at the start, use inversion: auxiliary plus subject.
Seldom ............... a manager admit fault so openly in a staff meeting.
Wrong!
Negative adverbials like "Seldom" trigger inversion: auxiliary before the subject.
Hardly ............... the announcement when the phones started ringing nonstop.
Wrong!
With "Hardly" at the beginning, use inversion in the past perfect: "had" before the subject.
No sooner ............... the contract than the client demanded new terms.
Wrong!
"No sooner" is followed by inversion with "had" in the past perfect.
Under no circumstances ............... personal data on a shared drive.
Wrong!
After a negative phrase like "Under no circumstances", use inversion with a modal.
At no point ............... that the figures had been manipulated.
Wrong!
"At no point" requires inversion with the auxiliary "did" in the past simple.
Not only ............... the deadline, but she also delivered a flawless presentation.
Wrong!
"Not only" at the start takes inversion with an auxiliary.
Little ............... that the quiet intern would end up leading the project.
Wrong!
"Little" as a negative adverb triggers inversion with "did" in the past simple.
Only by working weekends ............... keep the launch on schedule.
Wrong!
After "Only by" plus a gerund phrase, use inversion with a modal or auxiliary.
Rarely ............... such a thorough risk assessment before approving a merger.
Wrong!
Negative adverbials like "Rarely" require inversion with the auxiliary "do" in the present simple.
In no way ............... responsible for the supplier's delays.
Wrong!
After a negative phrase like "In no way", use inversion with the verb "be".
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Only after the audit did we realise how serious the accounting errors were.
- Not until the final rehearsal did the cast feel comfortable with the new choreography.
- Seldom have I heard a manager admit fault so openly in a staff meeting.
- Hardly had she finished the announcement when the phones started ringing nonstop.
- No sooner had the lawyer signed the contract than the client demanded new terms.
- Under no circumstances should you store personal data on a shared drive.
- At no point did he suggest that the figures had been manipulated.
- Not only did she meet the deadline, but she also delivered a flawless presentation.
- Little did we suspect that the quiet intern would end up leading the project.
- Only by working weekends could the team keep the launch on schedule.
- Rarely do they conduct such a thorough risk assessment before approving a merger.
- In no way is the company responsible for the supplier's delays.
