Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1Only after the audit ............... how serious the accounting errors were.
Wrong!
After "Only after" at the beginning, use inversion, so the correct answer is "did we realise".
2Not until the final rehearsal ............... comfortable with the new choreography.
Wrong!
After "Not until" at the beginning, use inversion, so the correct answer is "did the cast feel".
3Seldom ............... a manager admit fault so openly in a staff meeting.
Wrong!
After "Seldom" at the beginning, use inversion, so the correct answer is "have I heard".
4Hardly ............... the announcement when the phones started ringing nonstop.
Wrong!
With "Hardly" before a past event, use past perfect inversion, so the correct answer is "had she finished".
5No sooner ............... the contract than the client demanded new terms.
Wrong!
With "No sooner" before a past event, use past perfect inversion, so the correct answer is "had the lawyer signed".
6Under no circumstances ............... personal data on a shared drive.
Wrong!
After "Under no circumstances" at the beginning, use modal inversion, so the correct answer is "should you store".
7At no point ............... that the figures had been manipulated.
Wrong!
After "At no point" at the beginning, use inversion with "did", so the correct answer is "did he suggest".
8Not only ............... the deadline, but she also delivered a flawless presentation.
Wrong!
After initial "Not only", use inversion in the first clause, so the correct answer is "did she meet".
9Little ............... that the quiet intern would end up leading the project.
Wrong!
When "Little" means "not at all" at the beginning, use inversion, so the correct answer is "did we suspect".
10Only by working weekends ............... keep the launch on schedule.
Wrong!
After "Only by" at the beginning, use inversion, so the correct answer is "could the team".
11Rarely ............... such a thorough risk assessment before approving a merger.
Wrong!
After "Rarely" at the beginning, use present simple inversion, so the correct answer is "do they conduct".
12In no way ............... responsible for the supplier's delays.
Wrong!
After "In no way" at the beginning, invert the verb "be", so the correct answer is "is the company".
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.