Textbooks write English correctly_07 ppt

lesson 6 - Interesting Matters of English Syntax
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THE EXPLETIVE
Hònh như khöng co ai trong nha ca.
There seems to be no one in the house.
Luc ₫o tònh cơ co möt chiḯc tăc xi ₫ang trơ tơi.
There happened then to be an approaching taxi.
Giưa hai ngươi hònh như chăng con gò.
There seems to be nothing left between two of them.
Phai co nhưng biïn phap manh hơn ₫ï̉ chö́ng tham nhung.
There should be stronger measures to fight corruption.
Cền phai co möt kḯ hoach ro rang ₫ï̉ giup nhưng gia ₫ònh trong khu
vưc tư giup mònh.
There should be a definite project to help the poor families in
this area to help themselves.
NOTE 1
Khöng thï̉ ₫oan trươc ngay mai se ra sao.
There is no predicting that what will happen tomorrow.
Khöng thï̉ nao hiï̉u ₫ươc trai tim cua möt ngươi ₫an ba.
There is no understanding a woman’ s heart.
There is no probing a woman’s heart.
Khöng thï̉ nao tiïu diït ₫ươc töi ac.
There is no eliminating the evil altogethe.
NOTE 2
Cư luön than phiï̀n thò chăng ñch gò.
There is no use/good in complaining all the time.
Cư tiḯp tuc chơ ₫ơi thḯ nay thò chăng ly gò hḯt.
There is no point in waiting on like this.
Cho ai thư gò mònh khöng cền nưa thò chăng tö́t lanh gò.

THERE BE NO DOING ST = IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ST

THERE IS NO (
GOOD/POINT/USE/MERIT
) IN DOING ST
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THE EXPLETIVE
There is no merit in giving away something one no longer need.
Chung töi mong se co thïm nhiï̀u cai tö̉ tai Viït Nam trong năm tơi.
We expect there to be more reforms in VN next year.
Töi tin la ₫a co möt chut hiï̉u lềm giưa hai ngươi.
I believe there to have been some misunderstanding between
two of you.
Chung töi, tre con, chỉ muö́n co hoa bònh trïn thḯ giơi khö́n khö̉ nay.
We, children, only want there to be peace in this miserable.
There comes the bus.
There it comes!
There come the bride and the groom!
There goes the last bus.
There is the status I was talking to you about.
There it is: just to the right of the church.
There goes the school bell, I must run.
The THERE interjection expresses annoyance or encourage-
ment.
Đo, ₫êu co ₫au lăm ₫êu, phai khöng?
Clauses of this kind normally appear after such verbs
as BELIEVE, EXPECT, HATE, HOPE, LIKE, MEAN,
WANT etc.
Never confuse the adverb THERE in initial position
with the THERE-Expletive

Never confuse the interjection THERE in initial position
with the THERE-Expletive
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THE EXPLETIVE
There! It didn’t hurt much, did it?
Kòa kòa.
There, there!
Đo, anh lai lam be dêy rö̀i kòa.
There, you are waking up the baby!
3. THE FOR EXPLETIVE
The FOR-Expletive is very commonly used to introduce an
Infinitive Clause which functions as a noun. As a noun, this
clause is used as the subject of sentence, the object of verb or a
subjective complement.
a. The For-Expletive as the Subject of a Sentence
Đï̉ cho con gai nho chung töi tiḯp tuc hoc ơ hoa ky la mong muö́n
cua chung töi trong nhiï̀u năm qua.
For our younger daughter to continue her studies in the US has been
our wish for many years now.
Đï̉ anh quan ly dư an nay la y kiḯn cua öng chu tịch HĐQT.
For you to take charge of this project is the idea of the chair man of
the BOD.
Co möt cai thang cưu hö ơ phña sau toa nha la cền thiḯt.
For there to be a fire escape at the back of the building is essential.
Töi ma lếy möt tïn như thḯ thò khöng thï̉ ₫ươc.
For me to marry such a man is unthinkable.
Đï̉ öng ta trơ thanh ngươi lanh ₫ao la chñnh xac ₫iï̀u chung töi ₫ang
nghĩ.
For him to become our leader is exactly what we have in mind.

Đï̉
töi ra ₫i bêy giơ la khöng thï̉.
For me to go now is impossible.
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THE EXPLETIVE
Đï̉ cho con gai nho chung töi tiḯp tuc hoc ơ hoa ky la mong muö́n
cua chung töi trong nhiï̀u năm qua.
It has been our wish for many years now for our daughter to con-
tinue her studies in the US.
Co möt cai thang cưu hö ơ phña sau toa nha la cền thiḯt.
It is essential for there to be a fire escape at the back of the build-
ing.
b. The For-Expletive as the Object of a Verb that also takes an
OC
True O is normally a PHRASE or a CLAUSE, in which a
FOR CLAUSE expresses a thing/situation that
doesn’t happen at the moment of speaking and a
THAT CLAUSE epresses a thing/situation that
already happened.
Töi nghĩ nha nươc khöng thay ₫ö̉i chñnh sach ngoai giao thò rết kho.
I think it very hard for the government not to make a few changes
in its foreign policy.
Töi nghĩ möt cö gai tre sö́ng möt mònh ơ sai gon thò khöng an toan.
I don’t think it safe for a younger to live alone in SG.
The above constructions are very formal and mainly
used in formal writing. The use of the dummy IT will
make the construction less formal. In other words, the
dummy subject IT is more frequently used in this case
to move FOR CLAUSE to the end of the sentence.

M
S
M
P: V IT OC
trueO
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THE EXPLETIVE
Đï̉ thḯ giơi khöng thay ₫ö̉i sau chiḯn tranh Iraq la ₫iï̀u khöng thï̉.
I think it impossible for the world to remain unchanged after the war
in Iraq has come to an end.
c. The FOR-Expletive as the SC
SC is normally a PHRASE: GP/IP
or a CLAUSE: FOR/ THAT/ WH
Muc ₫ñch cua dư an nay nhăm giup nhưng gia ₫ònh ngheo tư giup
mònh.
The aim of this project is for poor family help themselves.
Y cua xḯp la ₫ï̉ anh thuyïn chuyï̉n sang möt bö phên khac.
The manager’s idea is for you to transfer to another department.
Ươc muö́n cua ho la ₫ï̉ cö con gai cai quan cöng viïc khi cö ta tö́t
nghiïp ₫ai hoc.
Their wish is for their daughter to take over their business when
she finishes college.
Săp ₫ăt cua chung töi la ₫ï̉ anh găp anh ta ơ phi trương.
Our arrangement is for you to meet him at the airport
Đêy la cơ höi ₫ï̉ ban chưng to kha năng cua mònh.
This is an opportunity for you to prove your abilities.
Nang mơ cưa ₫ï
̉ anh năng ban mai tran vao phong.

She opened the windows for the sunshine to stream in.
Nang mơ cưa sö́ ₫ï̉ khöng khñ trong lanh ban ₫ïm ua vao phong.
She opened the window for the fresh night air to flow in.

M
S
M
P: V SC
Do not mistake the FOR-Expletive for the preposition
which normally introduces a phrase that functions as an
adjective or an adverb.
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THE EXPLETIVE
Kha năng chung ta tham gia vao dư an nay la rết ñt.
The chance for us to take part in the project is very little.
Co vai chuyïn töi cền giai quyḯt trươc khi ₫i.
There are a few things for me to settle before I leave.
Mon tiï̀n nay ₫u ₫ï̉ cho hăn sö́ng suö́t ₫ơi ma khöng lam gò ca.
This sum is enough for him to live all his life without working hard.
Cö ta ₫a phến ₫ếu ₫u ₫ï̉ chung ta tăng lương cho cö ta.
She has been working hard enough for us to give her a rise.
Căn nha khöng ₫u lơn ₫ï̉ tết ca chung ta sö́ng.
The house is not big enough for all of us to live in.
Cha me thơi nay khöng nong long cho con gai mònh thanh gia thêt
băng như cha me cach ₫êy 30 năm.
Parents today are not so anxious for their daughter to get married as
parents 30 years ago.
Hăn gia qua töi lếy hăn sao ₫ươc.
He is too old for me to marry.

Chung ta phai ha gia ₫ï̉ doanh sö́ tăng lïn.
We have to lower our prices for our sales to increase.
4. THE AS EXPLETIVE
The AS-Expletive introduces an oppositive as an OC. It nor-
mally occurs after such verb as: APPOINT, BAPTIZE,
BELIEVE, CALL, CHOOSE, CONSIDER, DESCRIBE,
ELECT, FIND, FEEL, KEEP, NAME, MAKE, PAINT,
PROVE, REGARD, SEE, THINK, VIEW VOTE. In other
words, AS usually appears in pattern 4.
Möt sö́ ngươi xem ₫ơi la möt bi kịch; möt sö́ ngươi khac xem ₫ơi la
möt vơ hai kịch; möt sö́ khac nưa xem ₫ơi la möt bi hai kịch.
Some people view life as a tragedy; some others view it as a
comedy; some others still view it as a tragicomedy.

TOO/ENOUGH FOR CLAUSE
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THE EXPLETIVE
Tư ₫o trơ ₫i, dên lang coi cêu be như möt ngươi mang lai may măn.
From then on, the people in the village regarded the boy as a
sort of mascot.
Đưng xem ₫ơi như möt tham hö̀ng; ma cung ₫ưng xem no như möt
₫am gai.
Don’t view life as a bed of roses; don’t view it as a mass of
thorns, either.
Hay chon chết lương va sư tin cêy như möt khểu hiïu cua chung ta.
Let’s select QUALITY & TRUST as our motto.
5. THE OR EXPLETIVE
The OR-Expletive has no meaning of its own and has no gram-
matical function either. Like the AS-Expletive, the OR-Exple-

tive introduces an appostive.
Địa chết hoc, hay la mön hoc vï̀ vo trai ₫ết, ₫a co khoang 10 thḯ ky
nay.
Geography, or the science of the earth’s crust, is more than 10 cen-
turies old.
Đa lat, hay la thanh phö́ hoa anh ₫ao, mat me quanh năm.
Dalat, or the city of cherry blossom, is cool all the year round.
Cên năng 10kg, hay la hơn 2 pound möt chut.
It weights 10kg, or just more than 2 pounds.
Samuel Clement, hay la Mark Twain, viḯt rết nhiï̀u vï̀ dong söng
Misisipie.
Samuel Clement, or Mark Twain, wrote a lot about the Misisipie
river.
6. THE OF EXPLETIVE
The OF-Expletive also introduces an appositive.
Thanh phö́ Luên Đön năm bïn bơ söng Thames
The city of London is located on the Thames River.
Thị trến Đơn Dương năm cach thanh phö́ Đa Lat khoang 30 km vï̀
phña ₫öng nam.
The town of Dơn Dương is about 30km southeast of the city of
Dalat.
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THE INVERSIONS
Cang Hai phong ₫ang trơ thanh möt cang bên rön nhết nươc.
The port of Haiphong is becoming the busiest port in Vietnam.
Möt cuö́n sach vï̀ giao duc.
A book on the issue of education.
II. THE INVERSIONS
A. WHAT IS AN INVERSION?

An inversion is an instance of placing a syntactical element out
of its normal position, place or order. In reality, an inversion
usually means placing a V before its S in an affirmative state-
ment.
Then we get the question: what are the inversions for? The
answer is that inversions are done for emphasis (1) or for rhetor-
ical reason (2).
1. INVERSIONS DONE FOR EMPHASIS REASON
a. Inversion with Negative Adverbial Expressions in the Initial
Position
(a) Single Negative Adverbs
The most common negative adverbs are: NEVER, NO
WHERE, NO SOONER, NO MORE, NEITHER (NOR)
RARELY, BARELY, SCARELY, HARDLY, LITTLE (less,
least), SELDOM, etc.
Normal position
Inversion
S HAD
scarely/barely/hardly

DONE ST

when + simple past
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THE INVERSIONS
Or
Inversion
Töi va vơ töi chưa bao giơ ₫i Ha Nöi.
My wife and I have never been to Hanoi

Never have my wife and I been to HN.
Chưa bao giơ nhiï̀u ăn xin trïn ₫ương phö́ như thḯ nay.
There have never been so many beggars on streets like this.
Never have there been so many beggars on streets like this.
Töi khöng cền anh nưa.
I need you no more.
No more do I need you.
Ban khöng tòm thiïn ₫ương ơ ₫êu ngoai thḯ gian nay.
You could find Heaven no where except right on this earth.
No where could you find Heaven except right on this earth.
Töi chưa kịp ngö̀i ₫a nghe tiḯng go cưa.
I had hardly sat down when there was a knock at the door.
Hardly had I sat down when here was a knock at the door.
Dao gền ₫êy töi ñt ra ngoai vao ban ₫ïm.
I have rarely gone out recently.
Rarely have I gone out recently.
Töi ñt ₫i chơi sau 10 giơ ₫ïm.
I seldom stay out later than 10 pm.
Seldom do I stay out later than 10pm
scarely/barely/hardly
HAD S

DONE ST

when + simple past
S HAD
NO SOONER


DONE ST THAN

+ simple past

NO SOONER
HAD S

DONE ST THAN
+ simple past
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THE INVERSIONS
Little
The adverb LITTLE is used before BELIEVE, EXPECT,
HOPE, SUSPECT, THINK, etc.
Töi ₫a ñt hy vong la party se thanh cöng.
I little expected that the party would be a success.
Little did I expect that the party would be a success.
Töi hều như khöng nghĩ răng cö ta se lương gat töi.
I little thought that she would deceive me.
Little did I think that she would deceive me.
Luc ₫o töi khöng chut nghi ngơ răng hăn ₫a ăn căp tiï̀n cua töi.
I little suspected that he had stolen my money.
Little did I suspect that he had stolen my money/
Cöng viïc nay khöng con la trach nhiïm cua töi nưa.
This affair is no longer in my hand.
No longer is this affair inmy hand.
Chưa vui sum hop ₫a sều chia tay.
We had no sooner delighted in being reunited than we felt sorry of
being separated again.
No sooner had we delighted in being reunited than we felf sorry of
being separated again.

(b) Inversion with NEGATIVE ADVERBIAL PHRASES in
the Initial Position.
IN NO WAY / AT NO TIME / IN NO CIRCUMSTANCE / BY
NO MEANS / UNDER NO CONDITION/ IN NO CASE etc.
She is not in any way to blame for what had happened.
In no way is she to blame for.
Cöng ty chung töi khöng pham luêt luc nao ca.
The company did not break the law at any time.

PREPOSITION NO NOUN
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THE INVERSIONS
At no time did our company break the law.
You should not sign the form in any circumstance.
In no circumstance should you sign the form.
You should not try to become rich by any means.
By any means should you try to become rich.
Con khöng nïn mết y chñ muö́n sö́ng trong bết cư hoan canh nao.
In no circumstances should you lose your will to live.
Anh khöng nïn noi cho hăn nghe chuyïn gò ₫a xay ra trong bết cư
₫iï̀u kiïn nao.
You should not tell him what happed on any condition.
Under no condition should you tell him what happened.
Khöng thï̉ co ngoai lï trong bết cư trương hơp nao.
An exception can not be made in any case.
In no case can an exception be made.
NOT UNTIL THEN / NOT OUT OF PITY / NOT IN ANY
PLACE / NOT BECAUSE OF STH etc.
Cho ₫ḯn luc ₫o töi ₫a khöng hiï̉u ra răng tònh yïu cua cö ta danh

cho töi ₫a khöng con nưa.
I didn’t realize until then that her love for me was gone.
Not until then did I realize that her love for me was gone.
Cö ta lếy hăn khöng phai vò thương hai.
She didnt marry him out of pity.
Not out of pity did she marry him
Ho khöng phai chia tay vò hiï̉u lềm.
They didnt separate because of misunderstanding.
Not because of misundertanding did they separate.
(c) Inversion with NEGATIVE ADVERBIAL CLAUSES in
the Initial Position.
NOT
PREPOSITION PHRASE
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THE INVERSIONS
Ban chưa thếy cuöc ₫ơi thu vị chưng nao ban chưa thếy no ₫ềy
thach ₫ö́.
You will not find life enjoyable until you have found it challeng-
ing.
Not until you have found life challenging do you find it enjoy-
able.
Ngươi ta thương khöng nhên ra gia trị thưc cua cai gò ₫o cho ₫ḯn khi
ngươi ta ₫anh mết no ₫i.
One does not realize the true value of something until one has
lost it.
Not until one has lost something one realize the true value of it.
Se khöng ₫am bao hoa bònh thḯ giơi chưng nao vu khñ nguyïn tư
chưa bị huy bo.
The world peace will not be secured until all nuclear weapons

have been eliminated.
Not until all nuclear weapons have been eliminated will the
world peace be secured.
(d) Inversion with the adverb SO and NEITHER in Initial
Position.
Töi chưa ₫i Ha nöi lền nao, va vơ töi cung thḯ.
I have never been to Hanoi, and neither has my wife.
Cuöc ₫ơi khöng tö́t vơi ai, ma cuöc ₫ơi cung cha xếu vơi ai.
Life is not kind to anyone, and neither is it mean to anyone.
Töi khöng thñch nhac rap, va con gai töi cung thḯ.
I don’t like rap music, and neither does my daughter.
NOT
ADVERBICAL CLAUSE MC
IC 1 , AND NEITHER
inversion
IC2
IC 1 , AND SO
inversion
IC2
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THE INVERSIONS
Töi thñch nhac pop, va con gai töi cung thḯ.
I like pop music, and so does my daughter.
Töi khöng phai ban anh, ma töi cung khöng phai la ke thu cua anh.
I’am not a friend of yours, neither am I an enemy of yours.
(e) Inversion Both Clauses with the Pairs of Coordinators
NEITHER , NOR
Thiïn ₫ương khöng gền, ma thiïn ₫ương cung cha xa.
Heaven is not near, nor is it far.

Heaven is not near, and it is not far, either.
Neither is the Heaven near, nor is it far.
Töi khöng phai la ban anh, ma töi cung chăng phai ke thu cua anh.
I am not a friend of yours, nor am I an enemy of yours.
I am not a friend of yours, and I am not an enemy of yours,
either.
Neither am I a friend of yours, nor am I an enemy of yours.
Khöng nhưng cö ta thöng minh, ma me cö ta cung vêy.
Not only she is intelligent, but her mother is, too.
(no inversion because of 2 different subjects)
Khöng nhưng töi la ngươi ₫ều tiïn ₫ḯn vơi anh ma töi con la ngươi
sau cung rơi bo anh.
Not only was I the first to come to you, but I am also the last to
leave you.
(there is inversion in the 1
st
cls because the
same S is used in both cases.
Khöng nhưng sư ghen tuöng mu quang cua cö ta ₫a giḯt chḯt tònh
cam cua hăn danh cho cö ta , ma con lam cö ta mết ₫i tònh yïu cuöc
sö́ng.
Not only have her petty jealousy killed his love for her, but they
have also killed her love of life.
NOT ONLY + IC 1, BUT (ALSO) + ICS
There is an inversion in the first clause when the same S
is used in both clauses.
lesson 6 - Interesting Matters of English Syntax
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THE INVERSIONS
(f) Inversion with the adverb ONLY modifying an adverbial

expression in the initial position. This adverbial expres-
sion may be a single word, a phrase or a clause.
Ngươi ta tòm thếy thiïn ₫ương hoăc ₫ịa nguc chỉ ơ ₫êy, ngay trïn
trền gian ₫iïn dai nay ma thöi.
One finds Heaven or Hell only right here, on this wild earth.
Only right here, on this wild earth, does one find Heaven or Hell.
Chỉ ₫ḯn luc ₫o töi mơi nhên ra tònh yïu cua nang danh cho töi hḯt
rö̀i.
I realised only then that her love for me was gone.
Only then did I realised that her love for me was gone.
Chỉ ₫ḯn luc ₫o hăn, gian giao va ₫öc ac, mơi nhên ra mònh ₫a pham
sai lềm khöng thï̉ tha thư.
He, cunning and wicked, realised only then that he had committed
an un forgivable mistake.
Only then did he, cunning and wicked, realise that he had commit-
ted an unforgivable mistake.(Stephen King, The Eyes of the Dragon)
Hăn giḯt vơ chỉ vò ghen tuöng mu quang.
He killed his wife only out of blind jealousies.
Only out of blind jealousies did he killed his wife.
Töi lam vêy chỉ vò long tö́t.
I did that only out of (my) kindness.
ONLY
HERE / THERE / NOW / THEN / ONCE / RECENTLY
BECAUSE OF
OUT OF
WITH / BY
AFTER THEN
BY ACCIDENT
FOR (sb)
ONLY

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THE INVERSIONS
Only out of (my)kindnessdid I do that.
Chỉ vơi sư chên thêt mơi co tònh ban chên thêt.
True friendship is possible only with honesty.
Only with honesty is true friendship possible.
Hu tuc nay chỉ con hiïn diïn ơ nhưng vung xa xöi cua ₫ết nươc ma
thöi.
This evil practive prevails only in distanced parts of the country.
Only in distanced parts of the country does this evil practive
prevail.
Chỉ sau ₫o töi mơi nhên ra mònh ₫a ₫ăt tònh yïu khöng ₫ung chö̃.
I realized only after then that I had misplaced my affection.
Only after then did I realize that I had misplaced my affection.
Chung ta nïn kiḯm sö́ng băng mö̀ höi nươc măt cua mònh ma thöi.
We should earn our living by our sweets and tears.
Only by our sweets and tears should we earn our living.
Loai hoa nay chỉ moc ơ nhưng vung nui lanh ma thöi.
This kind of flowers grows only in cold- mountained climate.
Only in cold-mountained climate does this kind of flowers grow.
ONLY modifying Adverbial Clauses.
(*** see the Special Note below for distinguishing between
ONLY IF and IF ONLY)
Ban se hiï̉u ₫ươc thḯ nao la long cha me chỉ khi nao ban trơ thanh
cha me ma thöi.
One gets to understand what being a parent is like only when
one becomes a parent onself.
Only when one becomes a parent oneself does one gets to
understand what being a parent is like.

(g) Inversion with the Adverb SO in the construction below,
which is used to express the idea of DEGREE +
RESULT
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THE INVERSIONS
Cö ta ñch ky qua, chỉ co sa tăng mơi thñch cö ta thöi.
She is so selfish that only Satan likes her.
So selfish is
she that only Satan likes her.
Thiïn ₫ương cao qua nïn ñt ngươi leo tơi nơi.
Heaven is so high that few people can climb up to.
So high is the Heaven that few people can climb up to.
Con cho cua töi ₫anh tra dung manh tơi nö̃i ma con cho kia phai bo
₫i.
My dog fought back so fiecely that the other dog had to run away.
So fiercely did my dog fight back that the other dog had to run
away.
Đo la möt ky niïm ₫au buö̀n ₫ḯn nö̃i chung töi bêy giơ vễn chưa
quïn.
It was so unhappy a memory that we havent forgotten so far.
So unhappy was a memory that we havent forgotten so far.
Đo la möt cơn bao manh ₫ḯn nö̉i hơn möt nưa sö́ nha trong lang bị
giêt sêp.
It was so violent/firece a storm that more than half of the
houses in the village were swept down.
So fiercely a storm was it that more than half of the houses in
the village were swept down.
(h) Inversion with the Adverb SUCH in Initial Postion.
So

ADJ/ ADV
that
So

ADJ/ADV
main verb

that
INVERSION
So

ADJ + MAIN VERB +
(a/an) CN’s

that
Such

ADJ + MAIN VERB
+ (a/an) CN’s

that
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THE INVERSIONS
Đo la nhưng ngay thang tuyït vơi ma chung töi chưa bao giơ quïn
va se khöng bao giơ quïn.
Those were such happy days that weve never forgotten and
will never forget.
Such happy were those happy days that weve and will never

forget.
(i) Inversion with the below construction in the initial posi-
tion:
Hăn phong ₫ai sư ₫ong gop cua hăn ₫ḯn mưc ma chung töi ai cung
bêt cươi.
He exaggerated his contribution to such a degree that we all burst
out to laugh.
To such a degree did he exaggerate his contribution that we all
burst out to laugh.
Hăn lơi dung töi ₫ḯn mưc ma töi khöng thï̉ chịu ₫ưng hăn thïm nưa.
He took advantage of my kindness to such a point that I could no
longer tolerate.
To such a point did he take advantage of my kindness that I
could no longer tolerate him.
(i) Special Note
IF ONLY
This construction expresses strong impossible wishes = I
WISH. The person who uses this expression is also the person
who makes the wish.
TO
such

A DEGREE
TO
such
A POINT
TO
such
A LENGTH
Take care not to mistake IF ONLY for ONLY IF

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THE INVERSIONS
The Wish and the Act of Wish is at the same time
Ươc gò bö́ töi tre lai ñt tuö̉i.
If only my father were a few years younger.
Ươc gò töi ₫ươc sö́ng lai thơi thơ ếu.
If only I could live my childhood again.
The Wish is Later Than The Act of Wish
Töi ươc gò töi ₫a la möt ₫ưa con ngoan hơn.
If only I had been a better daughter.
Töi ươc gò töi ₫a hoc hanh chăm chỉ hơn.
If only I had studied much harder.
The Act of Wish is Later than the Wish
the wish
the act of wish
S
WISHED/ WISH/ WILL WISH (THAT) PAST SUBJUNCTIVE
(WERE)
S
WISHED/ WISH/ WILL WISH (THAT) PAST PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
(HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE)
S1
WISHED/ WISH/ WILL WISH (THAT)
S2
COULD + SIMPLE PRESENT
S1
WISHED/ WISH/ WILL WISH (THAT)
S2
COULD / WOULD + S. PRESENT

lesson 6 - Interesting Matters of English Syntax
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THE INVERSIONS
Ươc gò anh ơ bïn em.
If only I could be with you.
Töi ươc gò anh töi co thï̉ giup ban.
I wish that my brother would/could help you.
b. Inversion Done for Rhetorical or Stylish Reason
(a) Inversion with the THERE and the IT-Expletive
Quyï̀n lơi cua chung ta năm ơ chö̃ nao thò ₫a ro.
It’s obvious where our interest lies.
Chuyïn hăn thết bai chăng co gò la.
It’s no wonder that he fails.
It’s no surprising that he fails.
Co möt thơi ₫ï̉ yïu va co möt thơi ₫ï̉ nhơ.
There are times to love and there are times to remember.
Co cuöc sö́ng ngoai thḯ giơi nay khöng?
Are there any worlds beyond this earth?
(b) Inversion with ADVERBIAL PHRASE of PLACE in the
Initial Position
This inversion is done for stylistic reason. In this case, VERBS
OF PLACE AND MOVEMENT are normally used, such as:
APPEAR, COME, EMERGE, FOLLOW, GO, HAPPEN, LIE,
OCCUR, SIT, STAND etc.
Chuöng reng va nhưng ₫ưa be chay ra.
The bell rang, and the children ran out.
The bell rang and out ran the children.
Tiḯng cho sua vu vơ văng lai tư phña bïn kia söng.
The vague barking of a dog came from across the river.
From across the river came the vague barking of a dog.

IT PREDICATIVE TRUE S [P6]
THERE PREDICATIVE TRUE S [P7]
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THE INVERSIONS
Mui ca chiïn bö́c lïn tư dươi bḯp.
The smell of frying fish came up from the kitchen.
Up from the kitchen came the smell of frying fish.
Möt dai sa mac bao la hiïn ra trươc măt chung töi
A vast expanse of desert appeared before us.
Before us appeared a vast expanse of desert.
Tiḯng nhac cua ban ABBA văng ra tư möt quan ca phï, ö̀n ao va dö̀n
dêp.
The music by the ABBA came out from a coffee shop, noisy and
quick.
Out from a coffee shop came the music by the ABBA, noisy and
quick
(c) Inversion Done by Omitting the Conjunction IF from a
conditional sentence, chiefly a sentence that expresses
an impossible condition.
Past Impossible Condition - Past Impossible Result
Nḯu cu gia khöng ve chiḯc la trïn tương thò cö gai tre co le ₫a chḯt
rö̀i.
If the old man had not painted the leaf on the wall, the young
lady would have lost her life.
Had the old man not painted the leaf on the wall, the young
lady would have lost her life.
Past Impossible Condition - Present Impossible Result
IF CLAUSE
(past perfect subjunctive)

IF + HAD + PP
MAIN CLAUSE
could
should
might
would
have + PP
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THE INVERSIONS
Nḯu töi nghe lơi anh thò bêy giơ töi ₫a khöng găp kho khăn rö̀i.
If I had listened to you, I would not be in trouble now.
Had I listened to you, I would not be in trouble now.
Present Impossible Condition - Past Imp. Result
Nḯu töi la phu nư thò töi ₫a lếy hăn rö̀i.
If I were a woman, I would have married him.
Were I a woman, I would have married him.
Present Imp. Condition - Present Imp. Result
Present Imp. Condition - Future Imp. Result
Future Imps Condition - Future Imp. Result
IF CLAUSE
(past perfect subjunctive)
IF + HAD + PP
MAIN CLAUSE
could
should
might
would
do sth
IF CLAUSE

(past subjunctive)
WERE
MAIN CLAUSE
could
should
might
would
have done sth
lesson 6 - Interesting Matters of English Syntax
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THE INVERSIONS
Nḯu töi ơ vao trương hơp anh, thò töi nhên cöng viïc nay ngay.
If I were you, I would take this job.
Nḯu khöng co nươc, thò se khöng co sư sö́ng.
If there were no water, there would be no life.
Were there no water, there would be no life.
Nḯu khöng co hoa thò cuöc ₫ơi se rêt buö̀n chan.
If there were no flowers, life would be dull.
Nḯu tương lai co thï̉ ₫oan ₫ươc thò se khöng con khö̉ ₫au hay vui
sương gò nưa.
If future were predictable, there would be no more happiness or
suffering.
Were future predictable, there would be no more happiness or
suffering.
NOTE 1 Below construction is used for impossible supposition at
present time or in future. (suppose that )
Gia sư răng trai ₫ết se nö̉ tung trong 15 phut thò anh se lam gò?
If the earth were to explode in 15 minutes, what would you do
in the meantime?
Were the earth to explode in 15 minutes, what would you do in

the meantime?
Gia sư töi phai lếy möt tïn như hăn thò töi tha sö́ng ₫öc thên suö́t ₫ơi
IF CLAUSE
(past subjunctive)
WERE
MAIN CLAUSE
could
should
might
would
do sth
IF CLAUSE
IF WERE TO DO STH,
MAIN CLAUSE
could
should
might
would
do sth
lesson 6 - Interesting Matters of English Syntax
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THE INVERSIONS
con hơn.
If I were to marry such a man, Id rather remain single the rest of
my life.
Were I to marry such a man, I’d rather remain single the rest of
my life.
NOTE 2 Below construction is used to express an idea of ability or pos-
sibility.
Nḯu ban co thï̉ trơ thanh möt con chim se hoăc ö́c sïn, ban se trơ

thanh con gò?
If you could be a sparrow or a snail, what would you rather be?
Could you be a sparrow or a snail, what would you rather be?
Could I be a flower, Id rather be a sunflower.
Could I be a bird, Id rather be a white dove.
NOTE 3 The construction is used to express a possible condition but
very improbable.
Nḯu co ai goi ₫iïn thoai, vui long noi la töi bên.
Should anyone call, please tell him Im busy.
Nḯu anh ₫ö̉i y, lam ơn cho töi hay.
Should you change your mind, please let me know.
Nḯu ban hiï̉u ₫ươc răng mònh ₫au khö̉ phền lơn la do sư ngu dö́t cua
chñnh mònh thò ban se thếy bơt năng nï̀.
Should you understand that you suffer mostly because of your
own ignorance, then youll feel life less busy.
IF CLAUSE
IF COULD,
MAIN CLAUSE
could
should
might
would
do sth
(to all persons)
IF CLAUSE
SHOULD SB VERB ,
MAIN CLAUSE
SIMPLE PRESENT/FUTURE
lesson 6 - Interesting Matters of English Syntax
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THE INVERSIONS
NOTE 4 In advanced writing, it is necessary to speak only the 2nd
clause.
If I had not been standing there, I would not have met you.
Had I not been standing there, I would not have met you.
If they were coming today, everything would be OK.
Were they coming today, everything would be OK.
I could have got caught in that scandal.
I should have married you.
c. Inversion that Involves the SC after Linking Verb BE Done
for Rhetorical Function
Đa qua rö̀i nhưng ngay thang chung ta vui ve bïn nhau.
The days when we were happy together are long gone.
Long gone are the day when we were happy together.
Möt ngươi noi möt ₫ăng lam möt neo thò khöng ₫ang tin.
A person who means one thing and says another is unstrust-
worthy.
Untrustworty is a person who means one thing and says He
who has few worries in life is lucky indeed.
Möt ngươi co ñt phiï̀n muön trong ₫ơi thưc sư may măn.
Lucky indeed is he who has few worries in life.
IF CLAUSE
IF SHOULD/WOULD,
MAIN CLAUSE
WILL

S
P: V SC
SC V S
lesson 6 - Interesting Matters of English Syntax

-183-
SHIFT
d. Inversion with DO, normally a clause, in the Initial Posi-
tion.
Töi thỉnh thoang tư hoi khöng biḯt con ngươi vï̀ ₫êu sau khi chḯt
I sometimes wonder where men go after death.
Where men go after death, I sometimes wonder.
Töi khöng möt giêy phut nao nghi ngơ răng y ₫ịnh cua anh la tö́t.
I don’t for a minute doubt that your intention is good.
That your intention is good, I don’t doubt for a minute.
Töi khöng biḯt tai sao cö ta lai vï̀ sơm như thḯ.
I got no idea (of) why she left so early.
Why she left so early, I got no idea.
III. SHIFT
A. WHAT IS A SHIFT?
One of the noticable characteristics in English is the fact that
one word may perform one function in one sentence and
entirely different function in another. In other words, a given
expression may be used at one time as one part of speech, and at
another time as another part of speech. Then a shift is a given
expression that may perform a different grammatical functin in
different context. Let’s take the word FOOT for example.
He caught his foot on a tree root and stumble.
(FOOT=N= Object of ‘caught’)
They camped at the foot of the mountain.
(FOOT=N= Object of the preposition ‘at’)
Her husband seemed to expect to be served hand and foot.
(FOOT=N)
His father has one foot in his grave.
IDM=nearly die (informal) to be so old or ill that not likely to live

longer.
I got a new foot pump.