Only if Vs if only

[Kony]

Hey friends,

Could you tell me how to use ONLY IF and IF ONLY? One more thing, when do we use inversion grammar?

Thanks.

[Kimlong]

Hi Kony, welcome to the site!!

Only if (adv): means never except when, in case of ( most time is used to show the significant envents)

If only used when you want to say how doing something simple would make it possible to avoid something unpleasant.

Ex: If only she tried to study hard, I am sure she would pass the exam easily.


The inversion grammar is being used while the speaker wants to emphasize his reaction to what others said or mentioned.
Ex: Never have I found such a good question like this= This question is very good indeed!

Have fun!!
Kimlong

[Kony]

Hi Kimlong,

Thanks for your advice. Anyways, I found out that it is diificult to understand or know how to use inversion grammar when I have a test. For example:

.........more prompt with his answers, he would not have been punished.

A. Has he been      B. If he would be  C. Had he been     D. If he would have been

Sometimes, it is hard for me to select the proper one. Could you give more detail about that?

[Kimlong]

Hi Kony!!! Please look at the following!

Inversion involves putting an auxiliary verb before the subject of a clause. We do this in a number of different situations:

Questions

The most common use of inversion is in the forming of questions. We use the auxiliary verbs be (for progressive and passive forms), have (for perfect forms) and do (for most other forms). Modal verbs can also be inverted to form questions:

Were they ready when you arrived?
Where was it made?
Have you ever visited France?
Where do you live?
What should we do now?

Negative and restrictive adverbs

In formal English, it is quite common to use inversion after negative adverbial expressions and restrictive words such as only, never, hardly and little.

At no time did he get permission for what he was doing.
Not until the next morning did she realise how serious it was.
Only later did they learn his terrible secret.
Never before have I seen such awful behaviour.
Hardly had we walked in the door when the phone started ringing.
Little do you know how much trouble you are in.


So, nor and neither

Inversion is common when using these words to expression agreement or disagreement.

I'm from Turkey. So am I.
I don't like monsters! Nor/Neither do I.


Conditional clauses

In formal English, the if clause in conditional sentences can be rephrased through inversion:

Were you to win the election, what's the first thing you'd do? = If you won the election …
Had we known what the weather would be like, we wouldn't have come = If we had known what …


May

When we are making wishes, we can use inversion:

May you both live happily ever after!

Exclamations

We can use inversion to make exclamations:

Aren't you a silly girl!
Isn't it a lovely day!

I hope it will be off service for you!!
Have fun!!

Kimlong

[vutha_cupid]

If only means I wish or We wish.
e.g. If only he gave me money. = I wish or we wish he gave me some money.

Inversion also happens in comparition:

He is as tall as am I. = He is as tall as I am.
I spend more money than does he. = I spend more money that he does.
She can run faster than can he. = She can run faster than he can.

[Kimlong]

e.g. If only he gave me money. = I wish or we wish he gave me some money

Are you sure?

[chantha]

hi all of you here,
Let me join this,

I think Vutha_cupid's eg, is right (e.g. If only he gave me money. = I wish or we wish he gave me some money).
IF ONLY is used to say that you wish that sth happened or had happened.
ONLY IF is used when you want to state that ONLY a certain situation that sth can take place.

For Kony question :.........more prompt with his answers, he would not have been punished.

A. Has he been      B. If he would be  C. Had he been     D. If he would have been

For me, the correct choice is letter C. Because ".........more prompt with his answers, he would not have been punished." is third conditional sentence, but the word IF is omitted and the word order in IF clause is inverted.
 The original sentence is :IF HE HAD BEEN MORE PROMPT WITH HIS ANSWERS, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUNISHED.
 So it would become: HAD HE BEEN MORE PROMPT WITH HIS ANSWERS, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUNISHED.

That is all my try, Please correct me if i make any mistakes !
 see you,

[Kimlong]

We can use English words or phrases in various ways not merely one.

IF ONLY is used to say that you wish that sth happened or had happened.
ONLY IF is used when you want to state that ONLY a certain situation that sth can take place.

You are rite, Chantha!!

[ret]

i force the same explanation of kimlong.by the way i also have alot of problems with it.it's hard for me maybe cause of my knowledge is so poor.he..he.how pitty am i..but i'm no disapointed .i try my best..herk