So great was the demand: inversion with so, such, as and place

Examples

1. So great was the demand that the tickets sold out in an hour.

2. Such was the noise that nobody heard the alarm.

3. She speaks four languages, as does her brother.

4. At the end of the garden stood an old stone cottage.

Common mistakes

• ✗Wrong: So great the demand was that tickets sold out.

  ✓Right: So great was the demand that tickets sold out.

  After fronted so + adjective, the verb comes before the subject.

• ✗Wrong: Such the noise was that nobody slept.

  ✓Right: Such was the noise that nobody slept.

  Such was + subject: the verb comes second.

• ✗Wrong: Here the bus comes.

  ✓Right: Here comes the bus.

  After here, a noun subject follows the verb (but Here it comes).

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

1. 1Change the sentence.

   Rewrite with so at the start.

   The storm was so violent that trees were uprooted.

   1. ASo was violent the storm that trees were uprooted.
   2. BSo violent the storm was that trees were uprooted.
   3. CSo the storm violent was that trees were uprooted.
   4. DSo violent was the storm that trees were uprooted.
   Show answer

   Answer: D So violent was the storm that trees were uprooted.

   So + adjective + was + the storm.

2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

   1. ASo was his anger that he could not speak.
   2. BSuch his anger was that he could not speak.
   3. CSuch was his anger that he could not speak.
   4. DSuch was angry he that he could not speak.
   Show answer

   Answer: C Such was his anger that he could not speak.

   Such was + noun subject + that.

3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

   Which sentence means the same?

   She has lived abroad, as have most of her friends.

   1. AHer friends have never lived abroad.
   2. BShe has lived abroad like a friend.
   3. CMost of her friends have also lived abroad.
   4. DMost of her friends want to live abroad.
   Show answer

   Answer: C Most of her friends have also lived abroad.

   as have + subject = and so have …

4. 4Fill in the gap.

   So loud _____ the music that the neighbours called the police.

   1. Awas
   2. Bthe
   3. Cit
   4. Dwere
   Show answer

   Answer: A So loud was the music that the neighbours called the police.

   So + adjective + was + singular subject.

5. 5This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

   So tired I was that I fell asleep on the bus.

   1. ASo I was tired that I fell asleep on the bus.
   2. BSuch tired was I that I fell asleep on the bus.
   3. CSo tired was I that I fell asleep on the bus.
   4. DSo tired was I, that I was fell asleep on the bus.
   Show answer

   Answer: C So tired was I that I fell asleep on the bus.

   Invert after fronted so + adjective: was I.

6. 6Put the words in the right order.

   In the doorway stood a tall stranger

   Show answer

   Answer: In the doorway stood a tall stranger.

   After a fronted place phrase, the verb can come before a noun subject.

7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

   Where would you most likely read this?

   Such was the scale of the damage that the town was evacuated.

   1. AA shopping list
   2. BA text message to a friend
   3. CA news report or a history book
   4. DA chat at a party
   Show answer

   Answer: C A news report or a history book

   This inversion belongs to formal written English.

8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AHere does the bus come at last!
   2. BHere comes the bus at last!
   3. CHere comes it at last!
   4. DHere the bus comes at last!
   Show answer

   Answer: B Here comes the bus at last!

   After here, the verb comes before a noun subject.

9. 9Change the sentence.

   Rewrite with such at the start.

   The response was so strong that the company changed its policy.

   1. ASo such was the response that the company changed its policy.
   2. BSuch a response was that the company changed its policy.
   3. CSuch the response was that the company changed its policy.
   4. DSuch was the response that the company changed its policy.
   Show answer

   Answer: D Such was the response that the company changed its policy.

   Such was + subject + that: the strength is implied.

10. 10Choose the correct sentence.

    What is true?

    He earns more than do most of his colleagues.

    1. AHis colleagues earn more than he does.
    2. BThey all earn exactly the same.
    3. CHe does most of his colleagues’ work.
    4. DMost of his colleagues earn less than he does.
    Show answer

    Answer: D Most of his colleagues earn less than he does.

    than do + subject = than most colleagues earn.