L’inversion consiste à placer l’auxiliaire avant le sujet dans une phrase affirmative pour créer un effet de style ou d’emphase. C’est une structure très courante dans l’anglais formel et littéraire.
1. Après des adverbes négatifs ou restrictifs
C’est le cas le plus fréquent. On inverse le sujet et l’auxiliaire après des mots comme Never, Rarely, Seldom, Hardly, Scarcely, No sooner.
- Structure : Adverbe + Auxiliaire + Sujet + Verbe.
- Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset. (Au lieu de : I have never seen…).
- Hardly had I arrived when the phone rang.
2. Après “Only” et “Not only”
- Not only did he arrive late, but he also forgot his books.
- Only then did I realize my mistake.
3. Dans les structures conditionnelles formelles
On peut supprimer le “If” en utilisant l’inversion avec Should, Were ou Had.
- If you should need help -> Should you need help…
- If I were you -> Were I you…
- If I had known -> Had I known…
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
Réécris les phrases en utilisant l’inversion.
À toi de jouer ! ✍️
#1 I have never heard such a lie. -> Never heard such a lie.
#2 He not only lied, but he also stole. -> Not only lie, but...
#3 We rarely see such talent. -> Rarely see such talent.
#4 If you need more info... -> need more info...
#5 He had no sooner left than it rained. -> No sooner left than...
#6 I little knew about the surprise. -> Little know about the surprise.
#7 If I had been there... -> been there...
#8 You must not enter under any circumstances. -> Under no circumstances enter.
#9 They had hardly started when it broke. -> Hardly started when...
#10 If she were my boss... -> my boss...