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Inversion in conditional sentences
Conditional sentences with inversion are more formal than those that follow the usual word order.
1) In real conditionals inversion is found with the modal verb should, but it is only used in formal language.
Look at the following examples:
If you need more information, call our office in Green Street.
If you should require any further information, please contact us at our office in Green Street. (formal)
Should you require any further information, please contact us at our office in Green Street. (more formal than the previous example)
2) In unreal conditionals it is common to find inversions in formal language.
Were the negotiations to fall through, it would bring about unforeseen problems. (If the negotiations were to fall through,...)
Had I known about Mr Smith's behaviour sooner , I would have fired him immediately. (If I had known about Mr Smith's behaviour sooner,...)
In negative clauses with inversion, we don't use contracted forms:
Had the people not been informed, the situation would have been much worse.
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