INVERSIONS
INTRODUCCIÓN
Las oraciones afirmativas en inglés o negativas llevan un orden establecido de sujeto + verbo + complementos. Pero hay ocasiones en las que este orden se ve alterado. Por ejemplo en las oraciones interrogativas es muy común poner el auxiliar delante del sujeto, quedando oraciones del tipo:
- Are you reading this book?
Las inversiones en oraciones afirmativas se hace para añadir énfasis y formalidad a las frases o para darles un toque más literario. Compara:
- He was late and he didn’t apologise. (oración normal)
- Not only was he late, but he didn’t even apologise (más enfática).
La acción que queda invertida es enfatizada.
TIPOS DE INVERSIONES
Las inversiones se pueden clasificar en distintos tipos según los elementos que intervengan y que las originen.
- Inversión sujeto – auxiliar (con frecuencia obligatorio)
- Inversión sujeto – verbo principal (inversión con frecuencia opcional)
- También se pueden invertir adjetivos y expresiones adverbiales
- Casos de inversión en oraciones condicionales
Y estos distintos tipos de inversiones pueden darse:
1. ¡YO TAMBIÉN!

En ocasiones, cuando estamos de acuerdo con otra persona o en la misma situación podemos usar la expresión ‘yo también‘. Para hacer esto mismo en inglés debemos usar la siguiente estructura:
SO + AUXILIAR + SUJETO (I)
En esta situación el auxiliar debe ser el perteneciente al tiempo verbal que ha utilizado la otra persona en su afirmación.
Veamos unos ejemplos:
- A: I went to the cinema yesterday.
- B: So did I.
- A: I will go to the cinema tomorrow.
- B: So will I.
- I have seen her several times this week.
- So have I.
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Pregunta 1 de 10
1. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I went to the cinema yesterday.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 2 de 10
2. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: We could go together. I’m free tomorrow .
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 3 de 10
3. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: We have an exam tomorrow. I think I should go home to study.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 4 de 10
4. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: Everybody is worried about the situation in the company.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 5 de 10
5. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I have to go home. It’s getting pretty late.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 6 de 10
6. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I have seen Tarantino’s new film.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 7 de 10
7. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: María’s worried about her daughter. She is just interested in hanging out with her friends.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 8 de 10
8. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I should pay for the extra one-year warranty, just in case.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 9 de 10
9. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I want to go to the party. I’m sure It will be great fun.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 10 de 10
10. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: Sheyla has bought the new laptop that they are advertising at the moment.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto
2. ¡YO TAMPOCO!

En ocasiones, cuando alguien expresa algo negativo y nosotros estamos en la misma situación podemos usar la expresión ‘yo tampoco‘. Para hacer esto mismo en inglés debemos usar la siguiente estructura:
NOR/NEITHER + AUXILIAR + SUJETO (I)
Al igual que en la estructura anterior el auxiliar debe ser el perteneciente al tiempo verbal que ha utilizado la otra persona en su oración negativa.
Veamos unos ejemplos:
- A: I didn’t go to the cinema yesterday.
- B: Nor did I.
- A: I won’t go to the cinema tomorrow.
- B: Neither will I.
- I haven’t seen her this week.
- Nor/Neither have I.
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Pregunta 1 de 5
1. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I can’t afford to buy that car.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 2 de 5
2. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I didn’t go to the cinema last weekend.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 3 de 5
3. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I won’t be able to make it to the party tomorrow. I have work to do
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 4 de 5
4. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: I haven’t seen John for several weeks.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto -
Pregunta 5 de 5
5. Pregunta
Choose the best option to complete the dialogue.
A: You shouldn’t do that. It’s really dangerous.
B: __________CorrectoIncorrecto
3. INVERSIONES TRAS EXPRESIONES NEGATIVAS O LIMITADORAS

Las inversiones suelen darse después de palabras y expresiones que tienen un significado negativo, por ejemplo:
1.1. ADVERBIOS NEGATIVOS/LIMITADORES
En ocasiones formales y en textos literarios podemos usar adverbios con un significado negativo al principio de la oración. En estos casos el sujeto y el auxiliar quedan invertidos y en casos en los que no exista auxiliar (como en presente simple o pasado simple en oraciones afirmativas), se pone el correspondiente a dicha forma verbal (do/does en presente simple y did para pasado simple).
- never (before)
- Never before had I met someone so interesting.
- rarely
- Rarely have I met anyone with such enthusiasm.
- seldom
- Seldom do we have goods returned to us because they are faulty.
- barely/hardly/scarcely… when/before
- Hardly had everybody taken their seats when Dr Lee began her lecture.
- no sooner… than
- No sooner had Maria walked through the door than she started to talk about her proposal.
- nowhere
- neither
- nor
- I hadn’t met María before, and nor had the other members of the committee.
- Little (con significado negativo)
- Little did she realise when she set up the project that it would be so influential.
ONLY
Tras only seguido de una expresión de tiempo como after, later, then, if o un sintagma preposicional.
- Only after Maria threatened to withdraw her support did the council back down.
- Only when the famine gets worse will world governments begin to act.
TRAS SINTAGMAS PREPOSICIONALES
Podemos también encontrar casos de inversión tras sintagmas preposicionales como:
- at no time
- At no time has she ever accepted payment for her educational work.
- on no account
- under no circumstances
- She argued that under no circumstances should children from poor background be made to pay for music lessons.
- in no circumstances
- in no way
- no way (informal)
DESPUÉS DE CIERTAS EXPRESIONES CON ‘NOT’
- not only
- Not only has she persuaded YCO members to give up their time, but she has also encouraged visiting musicians to give free concerts in schools.
- not until
- Not until the train pulled in to the station did Miguel find that his coat had gone.
- not since
- not for one moment
- not once
- not a + nombre
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1. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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1. I thought the insurance policy would pay my hospital fees. At no time (I/tell) by the company that it did not cover skiing injuries.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 2 de 9
2. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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2. Seldom (I/hear) piano playing of such maturity from someone so young. I’m very impressed indeed.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 3 de 9
3. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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3. He felt someone bump against him on the crowded bus, but only later (he/discover) that his wallet had been stolen.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 4 de 9
4. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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4. I found the old bracelet while I was walking along the beach. Little (I/realise) then that I had made one fo the most important archaeological discoveries of recent years.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 5 de 9
5. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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5. Not since Philip and Gary Neville last played in 2004 (there be) two brothers in the England football team.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 6 de 9
6. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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6. I asked her to describe her attacker, but only after several minutes (she/answer) me.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 7 de 9
7. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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7. No sooner (he/get) into bed than his flatmate started playing his drums.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 8 de 9
8. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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8. The Atlantic crossing took eight days. I was in Harriet’s company on several occasions, but not a word (she/say) to me until near the end of the hourney.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 9 de 9
9. Pregunta
Complete the sentences with appropriate words. Use the verbs in brackets. Use three words only in each sentence.
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9. Remember that the gas fire is dangerous and on no account (you/turn) it on.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
4. SO & SUCH

SO+ADJETIVO… +THAT CLAUSE
La estructura so + adjetivo… that enfatiza el adjetivo:
- So successful has Music in Schools been, that those involved in music education around the world have visited the city to see the project in action.
TRAS ADVERBIOS SECUENCIADORES
Adverbios usados para secuenciar tiempo como first, next, now, then usados junto a los verbos be y come:
- And then came an invitation to be a special adviser to the government on music education.
Fíjate que si hay una coma o una pausa en la entonación después del adverbio, ya no se hace inversión.
- Then, an invitation came from the government. (nunca Then, came an invitation…)
SUCH+BE… + THAT CLAUSE
La estructura such + be… that, enfatiza el grado o la extensión de algo:
- Such was her understanding of music education that the government wanted to draw on her expertise. (= Her understanding of music education was such that…)
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Pregunta 1 de 5
1. Pregunta
Use inversion to make these sentences more emphatic.
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1. There was never any reason to doubt the results of the experiment.
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Pregunta 2 de 5
2. Pregunta
Use inversion to make these sentences more emphatic.
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2. Credit cards are not accepted under any circumstances
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CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 3 de 5
3. Pregunta
Use inversion to make these sentences more emphatic.
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3. Her knowledge of physics was such that the company wanted to hire her for an inmense sum of money.
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CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 4 de 5
4. Pregunta
Use inversion to make these sentences more emphatic.
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4. The public did not appreciate the significance of this research until much later.
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CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 5 de 5
5. Pregunta
Use inversion to make these sentences more emphatic.
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5. The scientist only realised what had happened when he arrived back at the lab.
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CorrectoIncorrecto -
5. INVERSIONES DEL VERBO PRINCIPAL

TRAS SINTAGMAS PREPOSICIONALES Y ADVERBIOS DE MOVIMIENTO
También se dan inversiones tras sintagmas preposicionales de lugar o movimiento y adverbios que describen dirección de movimiento (más común en narrativa) con verbos también de movimiento:
- Into the committee room walked María. (=María walked into the committee room)
- I opened the box and out jumped a puppy.
Verbos típicos que describen movimiento usados en estas inversiones incluyen: be, come, fly, go, hang, lie, live, march, roll, run, sit, stand, swim, walk, jump, etc.
Pero recuerda que no se suele invertir sujeto y verbo cuando el sujeto es un pronombre.
- Into the commitee room she walked. (nunca Into the committee room walked she).
- I opened the box and out it jumped. (nunca I opened the box and out jumped it)
6. INVERSIONES EN ORACIONES CONDICIONALES

En inglés formal y literario podemos escribir oraciones de segundo o (primer y tercer condicional en algunas sitiaciones) haciendo la inversión sujeto – verbo, y por lo tanto empezando las oraciones con were, should y had.
- Were she ever to leave the orchestra, she would be greatly missed (= If she left… o bien if she were to leave…)
- Were he here tonight, I know that he would want to express his thanks personally to Maria (= If he was/were here tonight…)
- Should you need any more information about Music Schools, please feel free to contact me (= If you need…)
- Had Maria not been around, music education in most schools in this country would have practically disappeared (= If she had not been around…)
En oraciones negativas con inversión no usamos contracciones de la partícula negativa.
- Had Maria not set up the Music Schools project… (nunca Hadn’t Maria set up the Music in Schools project…)
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Pregunta 1 de 8
1. Pregunta
Form new sentences with these elements. Remember that they need to contain iversions to be more emphatic.
1. If you require further details, please contact our public information office.-
should
-
please contact our public information office.
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you
-
further details,
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require
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CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 2 de 8
2. Pregunta
Form new sentences with these elements. Remember that they need to contain iversions to be more emphatic.
2. If today’s match has to be postponed, it will be replayed next week.-
be
-
to
-
it will be replayed next week.
-
match
-
postponed,
-
were
-
today's
View Answers:
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 3 de 8
3. Pregunta
Form new sentences with these elements. Remember that they need to contain iversions to be more emphatic.
3. If anyone had been looking at Martha when the police arrived, they would have noticed the expression of panic on her face.-
anyone
-
at
-
the police arrived,
-
looking
-
Martha
-
they would have noticed the expression of panic on her face.
-
when
-
been
-
had
View Answers:
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 4 de 8
4. Pregunta
Form new sentences with these elements. Remember that they need to contain iversions to be more emphatic.
4. If taxes were to be increased further, there would be a huge public outcry.-
be
-
were
-
taxes
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to
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there would be a huge public outcry.
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further,
-
increased
View Answers:
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 5 de 8
5. Pregunta
Form new sentences with these elements. Remember that they need to contain iversions to be more emphatic.
5. If the doctors had operated sooner, she might have made a full recovery.-
sooner,
-
operated
-
doctors
-
Had
-
she might have made a full recovery.
-
the
View Answers:
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 6 de 8
6. Pregunta
Now write these three sentences again to make them more emphatic.
1/3 If I were president, I would introduce three-day weekends.-
.
CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 7 de 8
7. Pregunta
Now write these three sentences again to make them more emphatic. Use inversions.
2/3 If your flight is cancelled, the insurance company covers a full refund.-
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CorrectoIncorrecto -
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Pregunta 8 de 8
8. Pregunta
Now write these three sentences again to make them more emphatic. Use inversions.
3/3 If heavy snow had been forecast, we would not have begun the climb.-
.
CorrectoIncorrecto -