Practice English in Mylot

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Skill 18: Invert the subject and verb with conditionals

In certain conditional structures, the subject and verb may also be inverted. This can occur when the helping verb in the conditional clause is had, should, or were, and the conditional connector if is omitted.

If he had taken more time, the result would have been better.
Had he taken more time, the result would have been better.

I would help you if I were in a position to help.
I would help you were I in a position to help.

If you should arrive before 6:00, just give me a call.
Should you arrive before 6:00, just give me a call.

In each of these examples you can see that when if is included, the subject and verb are in the regular order (if he had taken, if i were, if you should arrive). It is also possible to omit if; in this case, the subject and verb are inverted (had he taken, were i, should you arrive).

INVERTED SUBJECT AND VERBS WITH CONDITIONALS

had should were

When the verb in the conditional clause is had, should, or were, it is possible to omit if and invert the subject and verb.

(omitted if) v s
were he here, he would help.

it is also possible to keep if. Then the subject and verb are not inverted.

if s v
if he were here, he would help.

No comments:

Post a Comment