That particular type of wording is more common in books, and not used that much in everyday conversation (at least I don't talk like that!) For 1) If I had more money... and If you need anything (should is acceptable here, and common, though a little more formal) For 2) I had scarcely crossed... and I had never heard such... Little do they know... (This one is common)

1. Had I HAD more money, I would have bought a much better present or IF I had more money, I would have bought a much better present 2. hardly, scarcely, no sooner, never, nothing, not only Not wrong, a bit old fashioned and it is better to say I had hardly crossed the threshold, when a huge dog jumped on me and started licking my face. Never had I heard such terrible singing. - miss out the 'a', again a bit old fashioned and better to say I had never heard such terrible singing Little do they know how lucky they are to have such a good friend. - perfect hardly - I use this but hardly at all...... scarcely - I don't really use it but it is used by people around me no sooner - this is part of an idiom, no sooner said than done. I don't use it in any other way ever never - use it every day nothing - use it every day not only - I don't use it

Hi Dalena, All of your sentences turn up only on Russian websites for teaching English. Lampon is right in correcting the first sentence to "had I had"... To answer your questions, we use the inversion in conditional and unreal phrases to imply "if". Even though it's slightly formal, it is also economical and the meaning is perfectly clear. You should be able to use both forms if you don't want to sound limited as an English user. The other sentences use inversion to put one clause in "second place". Therefore, as a reader or listener our focus is directed to the uninverted clause as the main clause. This helps shape the sentence and the message is clear and fluent... more so than simple "blocky" phrases. In short, there is a very practical reason for doing this, and yes we really do speak like that. Keep listening - you will hear us use it! ;)

If I have more money, I would bought a much better present. Using "had" rather than "have" has a slight implication. In using "had" means that in the past you did not have more money. "have" means you still don't have that much money in the present. It depends on the context of the situation. "Should you need anything, please feel free to let me know" 2. The "a" in "a singing" should be left out but is okay in conversation. This kind of dialog are spoken by people from higher class and with better educated backgrounds. Usually in formal settings etc. How you speak reflects on your social status and background. You would find this more common in British society than in US. However, you don't expect Obama to speak like one from Harlem!

sometimes I use the inversion