Inversion and Emphasis

Never · Not only · Seldom · Hardly · No sooner

About this worksheet

Exercises practising Inversion and Emphasis. Total: 24 points. Vocabulary from the B2 word bank is used throughout.

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Exercise 1

Rewrite with inversion

10 points

Rewrite each sentence beginning with the word given. Do not change the meaning.

I have never seen such a devastating impact on biodiversity.
Never

The company not only reduced carbon emissions but also improved its work ethic.
Not only

She had hardly launched the start-up when investors began to take notice.
Hardly

Automation rarely creates jobs at the same rate as it removes them.
Rarely

The company had no sooner addressed the breach than another occurred.
No sooner

Exercise 2

Key word transformation — inversion

8 points

I have never seen such a committed team in my career.
NEVER
______ such a committed team in my career.

The policy not only reduced inequality but also improved social mobility.
NOT ONLY
______ inequality, but it also improved social mobility.

She had just published her findings when the journal contacted her.
SOONER
No ______ her findings than the journal contacted her.

Companies rarely invest in staff well-being without external pressure.
SELDOM
______ in staff well-being without external pressure.

Exercise 3

Correct the inversion errors

6 points

Never I have seen such gross inequality.

Not only the company did reduce emissions, but also cut costs.

Hardly she had begun her presentation when the projector failed.

Exercise four — Production

Write original sentences using the target structure. Feedback appears automatically as you type.
Scoring: full marks for correct structure · partial for present but imperfect · zero for absent.

Write a sentence beginning with "Not only..." using correct inversion.

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