Inverted Conditionals

In previous posts we have seen the use of negative inversion. Here are some examples to jog your memory:

• Not only did he win gold,  he also broke the world record
• Not only will she be the first woman Prime Minister, but she will also be the youngest person to hold the office.
• Under no circumstances must you talk during the exam.
• On no account should he get all the blame for the mix-up.
• Never does my boss admit that she is wrong.
• Rarely will an opportunity this good come our way again.
• Little did I know that we would end up working for the same firm.
• Only then did I realise that something was wrong.
• At no point did he show any signs of stress.
• No way am I going to do that again.
• No sooner had he arrived than a heated discussion began.

We can also use inversion with conditionals.

Consider these examples of zero and first conditional:

• If you need any more information, don't hesitate to call us..
• If you want to go ahead, let me know asap.
• If the flight is delayed more than three hours, you can get compensation.
• If you don't follow the rules, you might get a fine.

We can make the above sentences more formal or polite by adding should before the verb in the if clause or using inversion; effectively replacing if with should. As it is a formal structure, try to use more formal words and expressions.

• Should you require further information, don't hesitate to contact us. (If you should require ...)
• Should you wish to proceed, please inform me as soon as possible.
• Should the flight be delayed for more than three hours, you will be entitled to compensation.
• Should you not comply with the rules, you may be fined. (Shouldn't you comply ... ✗)

Consider these examples of second conditonal:

• If the government lost the vote of confidence, it would trigger an election.
• If I said it was my fault, I'd probably not get a promotion.
• If he let me go to the meeting, Im sure I could sort the problem out.
• If you were not happy with the product, you'd get your money back.

Were to (followed by the verb in its infinitive form) can be used  to emphasize that the conditional form is extremely unlikely or unthinkably horrible. Using the inversion form makes it sound more formal.

• Were the government to lose the vote of confidence, an election would have to be held.
• Were I to admit I was at fault, I doubt I would be promoted. (If I were to admit ...)
• Were he to allow me to attend the meeting, I believe I would be able to resolve the issue.
• Were you not to be satisfied, you would be refunded. (Weren't you to be ... ✗)

Consider these examples of  third and mixed conditional:

• If you had listened to me, we wouldn't be in this mess.
• If more people had kept to the rules, not so many people would have died.
• If you hadn't wasted so much time, we'd be there by now.
• If it hadn't been for my teacher, I would have failed.

We can use inversion here to add emphasis.

• Had you listened to me, we would not be in this mess.
• Had more people abided by the rules, fewer people would have lost their lives.
• Had you not wasted so much time, we would be there now. (Hadn't you wasted ... ✗)
• Had it not been for my teacher (But for my teacher), I would have failed.

Use inversion to change the following sentences:

1. If my wife happens to phone, tell her I am in a meeting.
2. They'd sack me if I made such a mistake.
3. If he'd studied harder, he'd probably have passed the exam.
4. If he was not my best friend, I doubt I'd forgive him.
5. There will be nobody here to meet them if they arrive early.
6. If you had not reminded me about it, I would have forgotten.
7. We wouldn't have missed the train if we'd left earlier.
8. We'd have to call off the event if it rained.
9. We can always hire extra staff if the need arises.
10. She might have noticed the gap if she had been paying more attention.