KEY INVERSION Exercise 1 : 1. He was so excited that he could hardly sleep. -> Such was his excitement that he …. 2. I’ll find that man no matter how long it takes. -> However long it takes I’ll find …. 3. She never seems to succeed even though she studies much. -> Much as she studies, she never seems to … 4. The police didn’t believe her until the body was found. -> Not until the body was found did the police believe her. 5. Rita doesn’t realize how serious her husband’s operation is going to be. -> Little does Rita realize how serious …. 6. She is not only beautiful but also hard-working. -> Not only is she beautiful but she is also hard-working. 7. My mother doesn’t do the washing by hand any more. -> No longer does my mother do the washing by hand. 8. Mary’s voice is so great that all members of my family, even my strict grandmother, like her songs. -> Such was Mary’s voice that all members of my family … 9. Although she finished her project successfully, her boss was still unsatisfied. -> Successfully as she finished her project, her boss was still unsatisfied. 10. The situation was so bad that the smallest incident could have started a riot. -> Such was the situation that the smallest incident could have started a riot. 11. He never suspected that she was a witch. -> At no time did he suspect that she was a witch. 12. As soon as the teacher left, the students started shouting again. -> Hardly had the teacher left when the students started shouting again. 13. The shop can’t possibly be held responsible for customers' lost property. -> In no way can the shop be held responsible for customers’ lost property. 14. The couple had no sooner arrived than the priest started the ceremony. -> No sooner had the couple arrived that the priest … 15. The restaurant can never accept animals. -> Under no circumstances can the restaurant accept animals. 16. The presidential visit attracted such an enormous crowd that all traffic came to a standstill. -> So enormous was the crowd which the presidential visit attracted that all traffic came to a standstill. 17. He got down to writing the letter as soon as he returned from his walk. -> No sooner had he returned from his walk than he got down to writing the letter. Get down to = buckle down to = knuckle down to 18. I only realized what I had missed when they told me about it later. -> Only when they told me about it later did I realize what I had missed. 19. You won’t find a more dedicated worker anywhere than Mrs. John. -> Nowhere will you find a more dedicated worker than Mrs.John. 20. There is so much uncertainty that I will not invest my money. -> Such uncertainty is there that I will not invest my money. Exercise 2 : 1. You washed it in boiling water; that's why it shrank. -> Had you not washed it in boiling water, It wouldn’t have shrunk. 2. It was raining. That's the only reason I didn't take the children to the beach. -> But for the rain, I would have taken the children to the beach. 3. The police are not armed so we don't have gun battles in the streets. -> Were the police armed, we would have had gun battles in the streets. 4. She not once offered us her help. -> Not once did she offer us her help. 5. They used closed-circuit television. That's how they spotted the shop-lifter. -> Had it not been for closed-circuit television, they wouldn’t have spotted the shoplifter. 6. I live a long way from the centre; that's why I am always late for work. -> Were I not to live a long way from the centre, I wouldn’t be always late for work. 7. If you need a good make-up remover,please let me know. -> Should you need a good make-up remover, please let … 8. The canyon lies behind those mountains. -> Behind those mountains lies the canyon. 9. We only came by bus because there were no taxis. -> Had there been a taxi/ taxis, we wouldn’t have come by bus. 10. He insisted on a refund. -> Nothing but a refund could satisfy him.
