Episode Details

If you are a new listener to this podcast, welcome! I'm Craig. This is Reza.

With over 40 years of teaching between us, Reza and I will help you improve your English and take it to the next level.

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More Podcasts to improve your English at: http://www.inglespodcast.com/

In this episode: Sentence Inversions

Listener Feedback:

AINHOAHi Reza and Craig!I want to thank you for your great job (work). I've listened to different podcasts and yours are the best English learning podcasts ever! They're not only interesting but also fun. I hear (I listen to) you every morning on my way to work and I enjoy your stories, examples and "sexy voices" (as Reza says...haha). Thanks again and keep on podcasting.

A voice message from Carolina from Chile

In spite of and despite mean the same and have the same grammar:

We went to the beach in spite of the weather.We went to the beach despite the weather.

In spite of winning the championship he failed the drug test.Despite winning the championship he failed the drug test.

In spite of the fact that it was a nice day, we stayed at home.Despite the fact that it was a nice day, we stayed at home.

Despite the fact that it was raining, we still went to the beach.In spite of the fact that it was raining, we still went to the beach.

Sentence Inversions

Usually, we speak English like this:“I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman.”

If we want to be more dramatic, we can invert the sentence for greater effect:“Never have I seen such a beautiful woman.”

Here’s another example:“As soon as I finished the beer, he bought me another one”

This can be inverted to:“No sooner had I finished the beer than he bought me another one.”

You could also say:“Hardly had I finished the beer when he bought me another one.”“Barely had I finished the beer when he bought me another one.”“Scarcely had I finished the beer when he bought me another one.”

¡OJO!No sooner......than......Barely/Scarcely/Hardly......when

Here’s an inversion with 'not only'“Pepito not only speaks English, but he also speaks Japanese.”

“Not only does Pepito speak English, but he also speaks Japanese.”

We can invert sentences for emphasis and dramatic effect. Here’s another example:

“Reza didn’t start shooting until he saw the whites of their eyes.”For more effect, we can say:“Not until he saw the whites of their eyes, did Reza start shooting.”

We can also say:

“Only when Reza saw the whites of their eyes, did Reza start shooting.”Or“Only after he saw the whites of their eyes, did Reza start shooting.”

"She little suspected that she would be famous one day." - "Little did she suspect that she would be famous one day."

"We have never been more proud of our podcast." - "Never before have we been more proud of our podcast."

"You rarely see such a magnificent performance." - "Rarely do you see such a magnificent performance."

"I hadn’t eaten a better steak anywhere." - "Nowhere had I eaten a better steak."

"You shouldn’t be late on any account." - "On no account should you be late."

"You shouldn't forget your wallet under any circumstances." - "Under no circumstances should you forget your wallet."

"His wife knew little of his serious drinking habit." - "Little did his wife know of his serious drinking habit."

"If I had listened to my teacher, I would have passed the exam." - "Had I listened to my teacher, I would have passed the exam."

First Conditional:"If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.""Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us."

Second Conditional: "If you got the job, woul