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INVERTING THE SUBJECT AND VERB WITH CONDITIONALS

Sometimes, the subject and verb may also be inverted In various conditional structures. It can take place when the helping verb in the conditional clause is had, should, or were, and the conditional connector (if) is omitted.

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

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

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

Look at the examples above. There are three examples that express the inversion of subject and verb. In each of the example above, you can see that the subject and verb are in the regular order when if is included, (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 like these: had he taken, were I, should you arrive.

Now, please look at the example below:



In the example above, you should know that there is a connector (if). There should also a subject and verb are needed, but if could be omitted. Therefore, the subject and verb inverted.

          The correct answer is (D)
         
          Analysis:

·         Answer (A) is incorrect because it contains the connector if and the subject care but no verb.
·         Answer (B) is incorrect because it contains the subject care and the verb had been taken but does not have a connector.
·         In answers (C) and (D), if has been omitted. Because it is correct to invert the subject more care and the helping verb had, answer (D) is correct.

Study the following chart. It lists the conditional verbs that may invert and the sentence patterns:


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