Basic Details
Word: Inversion
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Turning something upside down or reversing its usual order; in grammar, putting the verb before the subject.
Synonyms: reversal, overturning
How to Spell Inversion
Syllables: in - ver - sion
Tricky part: The ending is sion, not tion. The verb invert ends in t, but the t changes to s in the noun.
Watch out for: invertion, inverzion, invershun
Memory tip: Invert gives inversion, and the same t-to-s change turns divert into diversion and convert into conversion.
Usage Examples
Example 1: In 'Never have I seen such rain', the inversion puts have before I.
Example 2: The roller coaster has three inversions, where riders hang upside down.
Example 3: The magician's trick depended on the inversion of a glass of water.
Fun Fact
Air usually gets colder as you go higher, but in a temperature inversion a layer of warm air sits above cooler air and traps smoke and dust close to the ground.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. converzion 2. excurtion 3. diversoin 4. inversion
a) turning something upside down or reversing its order
b) a different route used when a road is closed
c) a change from one form or belief to another
d) a short trip for pleasure or study
Show answer
a) turning something upside down or reversing its order. Conversion, diversion and excursion all end in sion when spelt properly; inversion already does.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to inversion as used in the sentence:
The inversion of the usual order, with the youngest children running first, made sports day great fun.
a) approval
b) repetition
c) reversal
d) removal
Show answer
c) reversal. Putting the youngest first turns the order round; that is a reversal.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The smog hung low over the valley because of a temperature vinesrnoi.
a) incision
b) aversion
c) invasion
d) inversion
Show answer
d) inversion. The jumble has a v and an r but no a or c, which leaves inversion.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which sentence shows inversion?
a) We rarely see snow here.
b) We see snow rarely.
c) Snow is rare here.
d) Rarely do we see snow here.
Show answer
d) Rarely do we see snow here.
2. Inversion is the noun of which verb?
a) invest
b) invert
c) involve
d) invent
Show answer
b) invert
