Inversion / So&Such / Wishes&Regrets

Gap-fill exercise

Read the instructions and fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if an answer is giving you trouble. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints!
Complete the rule:
Many negative adverbs are followed by omission/inversion of the verb and subject when they start/end a sentence. The effect is to make the sentence more formal/informal and emphatic. Many negative adverbs connected with time are followed by inversion. Adverbs only if, not until, only when, and only after are followed by a clause and the inversion is in the subordinate/main clause.
Read he sentences and then decide if the statements about 'so' and 'such' are true (T) or false (F):
Such were the region's economic problems that it would prove hard to recover.
So huge were his debts that he would never pay them off.

1. 'So+adjective' and 'such' used at the beginning of a sentence with the verb 'to be' are followed by inversion.
2. 'Such' means 'so great' in this case.
3. 'So' and 'such' are used in this way only in very formal English.
Complete the sentences with the correct negative adverb:
Barely - Little - Not once (x2) - Not only - No sooner - On no account - Only after (x2) - Only if

1. did the bank's customers suspect that it would fail.
2. had he won the money than he started receiving begging letters.
3. should you risk your money on those shares.
4. three years' hard work, did the business start making profit.
5. did the boss mention a pay rise.
6. is the interest rate on the loan low, but the repayment terms are favourable.
7. had he paid one bill when another larger one arrived.
8. you are over 18 will the bank issue you with a credit card.
9. interest rates fell, was she able to take on a mortgage.
10. did they warn us that a weak currency would lead to food prices rising.
Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets in the correct form:
1. Hardly the students adult life when they were already in debt. (begin)
2. Never I so much on a birthday present, but it's for my daughter. (spend)
3. Not until the landlord the deposit, will he give tenants a key. (receive)
4. The mayor stressed that under no circumstances public officials bribes in the recent scandal. (accept)
5. At no point the stock market signs of recovery yesterday. (show)
6. In no way the government corruption, according to its spokesman. (condone)
Decide if these sentences about Tom are grammatically correct (C) or incorrect (I) and then complete the rule:
a. If only Tom hadn't lost all his money on the stock market.
b. Tom wishes he weren't broke.
c. Tom's wife wishes Tom hadn't lost all his money.
d. Tom's wife wishes he would get a job.
e. Tom wishes he could get a job, too.
f. It's time Tom got a job.
g. Tom wishes he would get a job.
h. Tom acts as if he doesn't lose all his money.
After 'if ' any/only and 'wish' we use unreal/real past forms. We can only use 'if only' and 'wish + 'should/would to talk about other people. We use unreal past after 'as if' to show that something is always/not true and after 'it's time' to show that something should happen.
Write the correct words:
1. The shopkeeper would rather we paid/had paid cash, if we have it.
2. It's time the children learnt/to learn to spend the money responsibly instead of frittering it away.
3. If only this restaurant had made/made a profit, we wouldn't have closed it.
4. You had better/would prefer take some financial advice before buying a house.
5. I wish you would stop/stopped wasting my hard-earned cash on expensive holidays!
6. The prominent businessman would rather/prefer not disclose his salary.
7. I would rather you not have/hadn't made that stupid financial decision.
8. Marc acts as if he owned/owns the restaurant, but actually he is just the head waiter.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets:
1. I wish you (not fall out) with your parents. We won't get any inheritance money now!
2. If only we (buy) a house in London back in the early noughties - we'd be rolling in it by now.
3. The media are (act) as if the currency devaluation had nothing to do with the recent vote.
4. It's obvious that it (be) now time to raise interest rates and give savers some positive news.
5. I wish we (not be) so reliant on government benefits to pay our bills every month.
6. I would rather he (get) a job straightaway, than waste a load of money on a pointless degree.
For questions 1-5, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. DO NOT change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given.
1. Don't sell your house now, whatever you do. no
On sell your house now.
2. The economy did not recover for another decade. until
Not the economy recover.
3. In view of the recent drop in prices, he regrets buying the house. wishes
In view of the recent drop in prices, he the house.
4. The manager never discussed his finances with his friends. no
At his finances with his friends.
5. Debit cards withdraw the money from a bank account immediately. sooner
No the money leaves your bank.