If you are aiming for an IELTS grade of above 7.0, why not consider
writing a sentence in a task 2 essay that uses dramatic inversion in order to emphasise a statement and improve
cohesion? Using inversion well improves
flow and persuasiveness and will demonstrate your mastery of an advanced
grammatical structure that many students do not touch.
<o:p></o:p>
The form is: [Negative adverbial] + [auxiliary verb] + subject + [main verb] … + [rest of sentence]<o:p></o:p>
Here are two examples that would be suitable for an IELTS writing task 2 essay: <o:p></o:p>
a)
“Not only
do governments frequently fail to
respond to the wishes of their electors, but at times, they also display a
worrying lack of professionalism in the implementation of policies.
[= Governments frequently fail to respond…
and they also …]
<o:p></o:p>
b)
“In conclusion, the cost of sports facilities ought
to be borne primarily by their users as opposed to businesses. Neither
should the latter be expected to pay the lion’s share of funds required for
community initiatives, no matter how worthwhile such initiatives are claimed to
be.”
[= In addition, the latter should not be
expected to….]<o:p></o:p>
Did you notice the similarity with question forms? a) is written in the present simple tense and so the auxiliary verb “do” is used. b) uses the modal auxiliary “should”, which again appears before the subject, just like it does in questions.
<o:p></o:p>
You can study these advanced grammatical structures in units 99 and 100 of “Advanced Grammar in Use (Cambridge)”, by Hewings. For a brief overview, see also https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/word-order-and-focus/inversion <o:p></o:p>
Finally, I suggest that you study my example sentences again for some other useful advanced collocations and grammatical structures, for example such, the latter, no matter how, ought to, display a lack of.<o:p></o:p>
Good luck in your writing and feel free to post your examples here PS Every advanced student should try using these structures, not just IELTS students!
Thanks for all the comments.
KP - at your level, I am sure you can master these forms but you need to practise them and get feedback.
Sudeep - Small correction "Not only do people here on italki learn languages, but they come inTO contact with other cultures around the world as well." Excellent effort.
Although I read about Inversion before still I hardly use it in writing and speaking as it doesn't naturally come while speaking or writing. Thank you, Michael for mentioning this useful rule with a clear explanation:)
My Ex: Not only do people here on italki learn languages, but they come in contact with other cultures around the world as well.
Occasionaly I would use 'neither' but i think, I avoid 'not only'... because it is dramatic. I'm not sure about tone/style: stylistically English remains rather obscure for me, and so I 'm afraid of things clearly marked with certain tone. But you are right, it may improve flow.
Thanks, Michael! I really enjoy studying grammar, however, this is the first time that I read something about "inversion"
I'll look into it.
Hi Laura, Actually, inversion appears in a lot of forms and contexts, even in speech ("little did he suspect that..." "so do I"), though mostly forms of inversion are formal. If you've read a lot, I suspect that you've seen inversion a lot but perhaps not paid attention to the form very closely because you understood the meaning quickly.
Small correction:
Not only have I not read many inversion sentences in books but I also do not know how to use them properly!
Here is another way to say the same thing:
I have not read many inversion sentences in books; nor do I know how to use them properly!
Thanks for comment and get inverting!
